Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil
Safflower oil
No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.
Also written as: Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil · Safflower Oil · High Oleic Safflower Oil
What it is
Safflower seed oil is pressed from the seeds of Carthamus tinctorius, a thistle-like plant grown for oil and dye. The traditional high-linoleic variety is around 70 to 75% linoleic acid, one of the highest figures of any common oil, while high-oleic cultivars are around 75% oleic acid instead. Both share the same INCI name. It is light, almost colourless and widely used as a base oil for masks and facial oils.
What it does well
One of the richest plant sources of linoleic acid
Safflower is included in dermatology reviews of plant oils with barrier-repair and anti-inflammatory potential, and its fatty acid ratio sits at the favourable end of the linoleic-to-oleic scale that researchers associate with better barrier tolerance.
Limited evidence
Worth knowing
The label cannot tell you which variety you have
High-linoleic and high-oleic safflower behave quite differently on skin and have opposite shelf-life profiles, but both are declared identically. The high-linoleic type also oxidises quickly and needs antioxidant protection.
Matters most toPeople choosing an oil specifically for its linoleic acid content.
Where the EU stands
No specific restriction
Not listed in any Annex of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, so there is no specific concentration limit; it is still covered by the general safety assessment every cosmetic product must pass before sale.
Sources (1)
Every link goes to the original: a journal, a PubMed record or an EU document.
- [1]Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils
International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2017 · doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
Reviews the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and barrier-repair evidence for around twenty plant oils including safflower, sunflower, olive, avocado, jojoba and shea butter.
