Can Meadowfoam Seed Oil Improve the Health of Your Hair and Skin?

Compared with widely recognized oils used in beauty products — like coconut and jojoba — meadowfoam seed oil remains fairly obscure.

Even if the name is unfamiliar, meadowfoam seed oil’s distinct chemical makeup could help moisturize skin and hair without a heavy, oily residue, though additional studies are required to confirm these effects.

This oil comes from the seeds of the white-flowering meadowfoam plant that grows natively in Oregon, California, and parts of Western Canada. The plant is also known by its scientific name, Limnanthes alba.

Continue reading to learn what makes meadowfoam seed oil potentially useful for skin and hair care and why you might want to seek it out in cosmetic products.

Potential benefits of meadowfoam seed oil

Research specifically focused on meadowfoam oil for skin and hair is sparse. Much of the claimed benefits are anecdotal or inferred from the oil’s known properties.

Below are some possible advantages of meadowfoam seed oil for skin, hair, and general use.

Meadowfoam seed oil for skin

A 2017 study describes meadowfoam seed oil functioning as an emollient when used on skin or hair.

Emollients form a protective layer on skin to help retain moisture. Other commonly used emollients in skincare include:

• shea butter
• avocado oil
• macadamia butter

Topical emollients smooth the skin’s surface and help maintain softness and suppleness. Most commercial moisturizers combine emollients with ingredients that attract water to the skin.

Meadowfoam seed oil offers several qualities that might make it a useful addition to skincare formulations.

It contains over 98 percent long-chain fatty acids, giving it exceptional oxidative stability and a lengthy shelf life while retaining its functional properties.

Additionally, meadowfoam oil tends not to leave a greasy after-feel on skin compared with some other emollients.

Meadowfoam seed oil and stretch marks

A 2016 review reported favorable outcomes for stretch mark treatment using a blend of shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, and meadowfoam seed oil. Although this single review is not conclusive, it points to a possible avenue for more investigation.

Another small 2016 trial observed benefits from a formulation containing argan oil and other emollients for early-stage stretch marks. That study had only 22 subjects and did not specifically evaluate meadowfoam seed oil.

Meadowfoam seed oil and sun-related skin damage

A 2018 laboratory investigation explored two compounds derived from meadowfoam — 3-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate and 3-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile — to see if they could guard skin against UVB radiation.

When isolated human skin cells and lab-grown human skin were exposed to UV light, these compounds appeared to offer protective effects.

The same research team is also evaluating photoprotective properties of constituents from the seed meal produced as a by-product of meadowfoam seed oil extraction.

Meadowfoam seed oil for hair

Because meadowfoam seed oil works as an emollient, it can help lock moisture into hair. Proper hydration may reduce:

• brittleness
• tangling
• frizz
• dullness

A derivative known as dimeadowfoamamidoethylmonium methosulfate is sometimes included in conditioners to form a protective coating on the hair shaft.

Conditioners with meadowfoam seed oil may be especially suitable for color-treated hair because the oil is resistant to oxidation and may help preserve dye compared with some other oils.

Possible side effects

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has determined that meadowfoam seed oil is safe for use in cosmetic products given current evidence.

Still, introducing any new cosmetic carries a risk of allergic reaction. Signs of a cosmetic allergy can include:

• hives
• redness
• tingling
• swelling
• itching
• rash
• inflamed skin
• scaly patches
• blisters that may leak

Before applying a new product to sensitive areas like your face or scalp, perform a patch test: apply a small amount to a discreet patch of skin and wait 24 hours to observe any reaction.

How to use meadowfoam seed oil

Meadowfoam seed oil is available pure or blended with other oils and appears in many conditioners, moisturizers, and bath products.

Ways to use meadowfoam seed oil on hair include:

• Use a conditioner containing meadowfoam seed oil and follow the product’s directions.
• Massage a small quantity of oil into your hair when it feels dry. Try rubbing about a teaspoon of oil between your palms, then working it through hair with fingertips. Increase the amount if your hair is especially dry or long.
• Leave the oil on the scalp for a few hours or overnight, then wash it out.

Meadowfoam seed oil is often one of several oils in moisturizers. Apply such products as needed when skin feels dry.

You can also place a small amount of pure meadowfoam seed oil into your palms and rub it into dry areas like elbows or hands.

Where to buy meadowfoam seed oil

Many drugstores and retailers that sell beauty products carry moisturizers and conditioners formulated with meadowfoam seed oil, and some offer bottles of the pure oil.

Shop for meadowfoam seed oil online.

Summary

Meadowfoam seed oil may help moisturize hair and skin by creating a barrier that reduces moisture loss.

You can use it directly on hair or skin, or choose products that list meadowfoam seed oil among their ingredients.

Meadowfoam seed oil is sold through many outlets that stock cosmetic items.