Sesame oil is pressed from sesame seeds and is roughly balanced between oleic and linoleic acid, but what sets it apart from most carrier oils is its lignan content, unique antioxidant compounds called sesamin, sesamolin, and sesamol. These lignans scavenge free radicals directly in laboratory testing and, in cell and animal studies, appear to support the body's own antioxidant enzyme systems and calm inflammatory signaling.
Nearly all of this antioxidant and anti inflammatory evidence, however, comes from oral intake, cell culture, or animal research rather than dedicated studies of sesame oil applied topically to human skin, so the mechanistic story is more established than the direct topical proof.
Sesame Oil References
A systematic review on antioxidant and anti inflammatory activity of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) oil and further confirmation by molecular docking, Journal of Food Biochemistry, 2019
Effects of the Intake of Sesame Seeds and Derivatives on Oxidative Stress, A Systematic Review, Nutrients, 2016
Our team reviews ingredient research and uses up-to-date evidence to rate ingredients based on the categories below.
Best
Ingredients with the most rigorous and convincing evidence. These are the standouts backed by consistent findings across independent, peer reviewed clinical research.. When we call an ingredient Best, it has earned that distinction through genuine, reproducible proof that it improves skin.
Good
Reliable, well tolerated ingredients that do their job without complaint. They may not carry the headline benefits of a Best rated active, but they hydrate, stabilize a formula, or support the ingredients around them in ways that make a real difference in how a product performs and feels.
Average
Ingredients that are perfectly safe and serve a clear function, typically as an emollient, thickener, or filler, but do not offer any meaningful skin benefit beyond that basic job. Not a red flag, just not a reason to choose one product over another.
Bad/Worst
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.
