Camellia oil, also called tea seed oil, is pressed from the seeds of the Camellia oleifera plant, a relative of the tea plant, and has long been used in East Asian beauty traditions.
It is rich in oleic acid and natural antioxidant compounds like polyphenols and vitamin E.
Laboratory research measuring its antioxidant activity has found it holds up well compared to other common plant oils, and separate research has found it can help inhibit the enzyme responsible for producing excess pigment in skin. Its light texture and antioxidant content have made it a popular ingredient for both hair and skin care in recent formulations.
Camellia Oil (Tea Seed Oil) References
Antioxidant Activity and Bioactive Compounds of Tea Seed (Camellia oleifera Abel.) Oil, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2006
Melanogenesis Inhibitory and Antioxidant Effects of Camellia oleifera Seed Oil, Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2017
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Ingredients with documented potential to irritate skin, disrupt the barrier, or trigger sensitization in some users, often synthetic fragrance, drying forms of alcohol, or certain essential oils. Not automatically a dealbreaker for every skin type, but worth knowing about before you commit to a product.
