Meadowfoam seed oil is a seed oil, extracted from the seeds of Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam). The seeds contain 20-30% oil. Meadowfoam seed oil is extraordinarily stable, primarily because it contains over 98% long-chain fatty acids.^[rx] Meadowfoam oil is most similar to rapeseed oil, with which it competes directly for high-volume industrial oilseed applications.^[rx] Meadowfoam oil is widely used in cosmetic and hair-care applications due to its stability, emolliency and smooth, soft skin feel.^[rx] The oil in its unpurified form is not suitable for human consumption, primarily because of its erucic acid content.

Meadowfoam is a small, herbaceous winter-spring annual. The name Meadowfoam is derived from the typical white blooming of plants which gives the image of white foam covering the soil. A meadowfoam carrier oil is highly resistant to oxidation due to naturally occurring tocopherols and is one of the most stable lipids known. As a result, it has an extremely long shelf life. Meadowfoam has superior moisturizing and rejuvenating properties and is highly recommended for use in cosmetics and skincare products. It has mild ultraviolet (UV) protection properties.

Average fatty acid content of meadowfoam seed oil^[rx]

Name	Composition range
Eicos-5-enoic acid	58-64%
Docos-5-enoic acid	3-6%
Docos-13-enoic acid (Erucic acid)	10-14%
Docosa-5,13-dienoic acid	15-21%

 

The seeds of the plant Limnanthes alba are cold-pressed to extract the oil which contains above 90% of long-chain fatty acids. The oil is yellow, clear, and is odorless. It is stable as well as resistant to oxidation. It is inherent to Southern Oregon, Northern California, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island. It has a high concentration of triglyceride levels. The emollient properties found in Meadowfoam oil helps to make the skin soft. It is widely used in lotions, soaps, skincare products, and creams.

Meadowfoam oil facts

The oil is a great source of Vitamin E such as tocopherols. It possesses about 97% of fatty acids. It is liquid at room temperature. The oil is extracted from the seeds by using the cold pressing method. It possesses moisturizing and softening properties. The texture of Meadowfoam oil is waxy which resembles jojoba oil. It contains about 98% of long-chain fatty acids so it is stable.

Health Benefits of Meadowfoam oil

The rejuvenating properties of Meadowfoam oil help to maintain skin health by retaining its moisture. It has a high content of antioxidants and Vitamin E that prevents the cells from free radical damage. Some other benefits of Meadowfoam oil are:

Meadowfoam seed oil skin benefits

Meadowfoam seed oil acts as an emollient when applied to your hair or skin, according to a 2017 study

Emollients are substances that create a protective seal over your skin to lock in moisture. Other emollients commonly used in skincare products include

When applied topically, emollients smooth out your skin and help keep it soft and supple. Most commercial moisturizers include emollients in their formula, along with other ingredients that draw water into your skin.

The meadowfoam seed oil has several traits that may make it a good choice to include in your skincare routine.

It contains more than 98 percent long-chain fatty acids that give it one of the highest stabilities of any vegetable oil and long shelf life — without losing its effectiveness.

Plus, meadowfoam oil doesn’t leave a greasy feeling when applied to your skin like some other emollients do.

Meadowfoam seed oil for stretch marks

One 2016 research review found positive results for treating stretch marks with a mixture of shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, and meadowfoam seed oil. Although it’s impossible to draw conclusions from this single study, it’s at least a potential area for future research.

A small 2016 study found that a mix of argan oil and other emollients also showed positive results for early treatment of stretch marks. However, there were only 22 participants in the study and the researchers didn’t test meadowfoam seed oil specifically.

Meadowfoam seed oil for sun damage

A 2018 lab study examined two chemicals derived from meadowfoam, called 3-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate and 3-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile, to assess whether they could protect the skin from UVB rays found in sunlight.

The researchers exposed isolated human skin cells and human skin grown in vitro to UV light, and they found that these two chemicals did play a protective role.

The same researchers are also looking into the photoprotective effects of chemicals in the seed meal created as a by-product of meadowfoam seed oil production.

Meadowfoam seed oil hair benefits

The emollient properties of meadowfoam seed oil give it the potential to keep your hair hydrated by locking in moisture. And keeping your hair hydrated may prevent:

A form of meadowfoam seed oil called dimeadowfoamamidoethylmonium methosulfate is sometimes used in hair conditioners to create a protective seal over your hair.

It’s thought that conditioners containing meadowfoam seed oil may be a good choice for dyed hair since it’s resistant to oxidation and may minimize color stripping compared with other oils.

Meadowfoam seed oil helps to moisturize skin from inside as well as outside. It has a waxy texture which is similar to human sebum. It promotes the protective layer production that retains moisture to the skin by providing various nutrients.

Scrubbing

Meadowfoam oil acts as an ingredient in body scrubs. It is added to homemade body scrub by combining with an abrasive ingredient such as salt, brown sugar, or coffee grounds.

Plump lips

This seed oil makes the lip look fuller. It exfoliates lips and makes them soft, smooth, and moisturized.

Condition hair

This oil is used as an ingredient in conditioners and shampoos. It helps to lock the moisture in and makes the hair look healthy and shiny.

Grow eyelashes

It has nourishing properties that promote growth as well as make them thick. It should be applied to the lashes with the use of a clean mascara brush. Then leave it overnight. It should be repeated to get the best results.

Acne and Blackheads

The fatty acid blend in this oil is non-comedogenic. This means that it will not clog pores to contribute to acne and blackheads. It helps to balance oils in the skin. Use this oil during the day to help balance oil production.

Fades stretch marks

The moisturizing and nourishing properties of Meadowfoam oil helps to fade away stretch marks. It is used as a carrier oil with essential oils of frankincense, lavender, patchouli.

Slows down aging

It has tocopherol and Vitamin E that makes the skin moisturized and hydrated. It makes the skin look young for a long period of time by providing all the nutrients.

Use it in body scrubs

Meadowfoam seed oil is the perfect oil to use as the base ingredient in your homemade body scrubs. Add an abrasive ingredient, like sugar, used coffee grounds, or salt, to the oil and it will exfoliate your skin and moisturize it at the same time. It’s the perfect way to get smooth and soft skin, and it doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy either.

It is absorbed easily into the skin

Just like jojoba oil, the meadowfoam seed oil is very close in composition to natural sebum, and that means that it’s absorbed very easily into the skin. When you use the oil on your skin, it locks in moisture and helps other ingredients penetrate deep into the skin as well. For that reason, it’s good to use as a carrier oil with your favorite essential oils.

It is great for mature skin

Because of the high levels of antioxidants that it contains, and the ease with which it is absorbed, the meadowfoam seed oil is very popular with older women who use it as a moisturizer. It penetrates deep down onto the skin and the antioxidants that it contains help to fight off the signs of aging, like lines and wrinkles on the skin.

Use it as a lip plumper

Meadowfoam seed oil can also be used to keep lips looking plump and soft. Try using it as an ingredient when you exfoliate your lips and you will find that it soaks well into the skin and holds onto the moisture, which balances out the oils in your lips and keeps your lips looking full and smooth

Reduces the appearance of stretch marks

The remarkable ability to lock moisture in the skin that meadowfoam seed oil has can make it a very good oil to use to help to fade stretch marks. Use it as the carrier oil for essential oils such as lavender, patchouli, or frankincense oil, and it will boost the fading and healing effects of the essential oil and keep the affected area of skin well moisturized.

Conditions hair

Meadowfoam seed oil is good for your hair as well. It’s often used in shampoo and conditioners because it is so good at hydrating hair and the scalp. The effects last a long time too because the oil helps the hair and scalp retain moisture after you have conditioned. It is also said that meadowfoam seed fights dandruff and prevents hair loss.

Thickens eyelashes

In the same way that meadowfoam seed oil conditions hair, it can also condition and thicken eyelashes too. Apply it as you would your mascara and leave it on overnight. It will hydrate your lashes and encourage them to grow, making your lashes look longer and thicker.

Stops other oils oxidizing

One of the biggest claims to fame of meadowfoam seed oil is that it is so stable that you can use it to extend the useful life of other, less stable, oils. Meadowfoam seed oil is one of the most stable carrier oils that you can find and it can stop other oils from going rancid, even when exposed to the air or to heat.  It’s that high stability that makes it so popular in aromatherapy because it helps keep the aromas of other oils.

Use it as a massage oil

A little drop of meadowfoam seed oil goes a long way when you use it as a massage oil. Just a drop or two of the Meadowfoam seed oil is all you need to massage a large area of skin and it won’t leave an oily residue either.

Anti-aging moisturizer

Meadowfoam seed oil is a great natural anti-aging moisturizer. It contains tocopherol and Vitamin E, both of which are very good for nourishing and hydrating the skin. It’s also very effective in balancing out the production of sebum, so it can be a good moisturizer to use if your skin tends to get greasy during the course of the day.

Fights oxidative stress

The meadowfoam seed oil contains powerful antioxidants that will fight the damage that can be caused by free radicals. This will help keep skin looking soft and smooth and help stop wrinkles and lines from forming.

BENEFITS FOR HAIR

RETAINS MOISTURE. The unique, high-quality, and long-chain fatty acids deep within the oil are ideal for providing moisture without leaving a greasy feeling. They are also the reason why the oil is not absorbed by the hair but instead forms a protective coating around it, in turn helping your hair retain its moisture.

MAKES HAIR SMOOTH & SILK. Meadowfoam repairs damaged tresses by sticking to hair shafts and reducing frizz while providing a natural shine.

RESISTANT TO OXIDATION. By evading the corrosive actions of oxidation, meadowfoam seed oil will help your hair keep its color for longer. That’s money you can save on hair color treatments!

Precautions

• Not to be used by people having nut allergies.
• Consult the health practitioner for use.

CULTIVATING AND HARVESTING QUALITY MEADOWFOAM

Meadowfoam thrives in the cool, wet climate of the Pacific Northwest and is adapted to poorly drained soils, as it has a very low tolerance for water stress. The ideal temperature for cultivating this herb ranges from 17 to 26 degrees Celsius. Seeds are sown in late spring and ideal planting conditions place seeds at a depth of 0.6 to 2 cm in soil with a temperature below 12 degrees Celsius and a pH level of 5.5 to 6. For large-scale crop cultivation, rows are planted between 15 and 20 cm apart at a density of about 33 to 40 seeds per hectare. Once harvested, this translates to a production rate of about 110,000 seeds per kg of the crop. Under optimal conditions, Meadowfoam grows to a height of about 25 to 46 cm and due to its shallow fibrous roots, it can be easily transplanted at any stage of growth.

While Meadowfoam flowers possess both male and female reproductive organs, these do not mature in sync with one another and so this plant is not self-pollinating. Rather, when flowering, Meadowfoam requires insect pollinators for fertilization. In good weather conditions, Meadowfoam requires at least 5 bee colonies per hectare of the crop for effective pollination. Weather conditions are important, as they can limit pollinator activity and negatively impact fertilization if they are unfavorable. Inefficient fertilization in turn can have a significant negative impact on crop yields. Another factor that can negatively impact eventual crop yield is competition from other species; Meadowfoam is highly vulnerable to weeds, particularly while in the early stages of growth. Taken together, these circumstances make successful large-scale cultivation of Meadowfoam a complex process requiring careful planning and maintenance for the plants to reach maturity.

Harvest takes place when 90% of the plant’s seed pods are mature; this is indicated by the stems turning a greenish-yellow color. Moisture content in mature seeds should have reached about 42% by the time they are ready for harvest. Crops are machine cut and swathed into windrows to dry naturally. The integrity of the crop is maintained by windrowing early in the morning when dew is present; this helps to prevent unwanted shattering, which is when ripe pods spontaneously drop their seeds. Once cut, Meadowfoam is left to dry for 7 to 10 days to reach a target moisture content of 12-16%. Plants will be brittle by the time the target moisture content is achieved. Lower moisture content facilitates more efficient threshing when the crops are processed for oil production. This plant stores very well once harvested, provided temperature and humidity levels are kept in a low range

EXTRACTING AND REFINING MEADOWFOAM SEED OIL

Each Meadowfoam flower contains five seeds, each of which contains about 20 to 30% oil. Once seeds have been cleaned and their shells removed, oil is extracted from the kernels through a process of cold expression, in which they are crushed under a high-powered mechanical press. Prior to pressing, seeds are broken up into meals by grinding, flaking, or rolling to facilitate the process.

Depending on the design of the press, exerted pressure can reach as high as 30,000 pounds per square inch and about 60-65% of a seed’s oil can be extracted. Oil yield can be increased up to about 90% with seed conditioning pre-treatments, however, this may entail altering some of the oil’s chemical properties with the addition of heat and moisture. Cold pressing is the preferred method for extracting oil from nuts and seeds, as it is known to produce the purest oil. After pressing, the residual material – referred to as the ‘cake’ – may be exposed to a volatile solvent to dissolve the remaining oil (about 5 to 15%). The oil can then be recovered from the solution by evaporating the solvent and the solvent can be recovered for reuse.

Once expressed, the Meadowfoam seed oil is refined for optimal use in its various applications. Typically, it is neutralized, lightened, and deodorized. Leftover Meadowfoam seed meal may be treated to produce compounds that may be added to the oil for industry-specific benefits. For cosmetic purposes, the secondary metabolite glucolimnanthin (GLN) can be enzymatically converted into 3-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate (MBTC) and 3-methoxyphenyl acetonitrile (MPACN). These compounds may then be added to the oil to endow it with enhanced properties for skincare.

Leftover seed meal that is not repurposed for refining the oil can be used in feed for livestock (though it may require additional processing to be safe for certain species). It can also be used in agriculture as green manure and to help control weeds, as GLN is known to have herbicidal effects.

References

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