Walnut Oil

Active Oil
INCI: Juglans Regia (Walnut) Oil
Comedogenicity: 1-2
Composition: Linoleic acid (up to approx. 60 %), oleic acid (up to approx. 20 %), α-linolenic acid (up to approx. 13 %), palmitic acid (up to approx. 7 %), stearic acid (up to approx. 2 %), vitamin A and K, tocopherols, lecithin, phosphorus.
Iodinde number: 141 – 153.
Cosmetic use: Dry, brittle, chapped skin.
Shelf life: In cool and dark storage up to 12 months.

Plant

Juglans regia, the Persian walnut or common walnut, is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 25 m tall. The bark of the tree is smooth and grey-brown. With age, a deep bark develops. The dark green leaves are alternately arranged, pinnate, and up to 40 cm long. The real walnut is monoecious, which is why both male and female flowers are found on the plant. The plant blooms from April to June. The male flowers sit in inflorescences, the female flowers sit in twos or threes at the branch ends. The fruits are up to 6 cm long, roundish, and surrounded by a brown, tough, fleshy outer shell and a hard, woody inner shell. The seed is 2-4-lobed and has large, oil-rich cotyledons.

Extraction of walnut oil

Walnut oil is produced from roasted and unroasted nuts of the walnut tree and has a golden yellow or light yellow color. The oil can be obtained by cold or hot pressing or by extraction and is usually refined afterward. The highest quality walnut oil is obtained by cold pressing the nuts and requires no refining. Before the nuts can be processed, they are stored for 2-3 months and then ground.

Cosmetic use of walnut oil

Due to its high linoleic acid and lecithin content, walnut oil is quickly absorbed by the skin and makes it smooth and supple. The oil supports the skin’s ability to regenerate and ensures that dry, chapped, and irritated skin becomes smooth and healthy again. Since the oil has a composition similar to that of skin lipids, it is also well tolerated by sensitive skin (except in cases of walnut allergy). The oil can therefore also be applied to sensitive skin areas such as the lips.

Benefits of walnut oil for skin

well tolerated
is absorbed quickly
supports cell function
makes skin supple

Buy walnut oil – what to consider?

When buying walnut oil, you should make sure that it has been gently cold-pressed during production. It should also be produced in organic quality. This ensures from cultivation to the finished oil that it’s of high quality. During cold pressing the oil is only obtained mechanically and it’s not processed with high temperatures or organic solvents. Cheap, refined walnut oils often contain harmful trans fats, which are partly caused by the high temperatures during extraction. High-quality walnut oil can be recognized by it beeing unfiltered and cloudy. The suspended particles give the oil its characteristic aroma. To make the oil last as long as possible, you should buy an oil that is sold in a dark glass bottle. If you buy the oil in a light bottle, you should store it in a cupboard so that it is protected from light.

Sources

Sources: Krist, Sabine (2013): Lexikon der Pflanzlichen Öle und Fett. Vienna: Springer Verlag. | Braunschweig, R. (2020): Pflanzenöle - über 50 starke Helfer für Genuss und Hautpflege. Wiggensbach: Stadelmann Verlag.