PRUNUS ARMENIACA KERNEL OIL
Apricot kernel oil is the fixed oil expressed from the kernels inside an apricot stone. The plant is Prunus armeniaca L., an accepted species in the Rosaceae family, so “kernel” refers to the seed within the stone rather than to the soft flesh of the fruit.
PRUNUS ARMENIACA KERNEL OIL: what it is
Apricot kernel oil is the fixed oil expressed from the kernels inside an apricot stone. The plant is Prunus armeniaca L., an accepted species in the Rosaceae family, so “kernel” refers to the seed within the stone rather than to the soft flesh of the fruit.
It is not an apricot essential oil. Essential oils are volatile aromatic fractions, whereas this ingredient is a fixed plant oil obtained from the inner part of the seed. That distinction matters on a label: apricot kernel oil identifies the oily material from the stone, not a fragrance distilled from the fruit.
PRUNUS ARMENIACA KERNEL OIL: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, apricot kernel oil can contribute to skin conditioning, helping a product spread with less drag and leave a softer, more slip-like feel. It can also be part of a formula’s fragrance profile, although the scent someone notices depends on the other ingredients and the amount used.
Published reports describe uses of the oil in facial creams and lip balms, and one formulation study used 8% apricot kernel oil as the oil phase in drug-containing nanoemulsions. That study tested the complete preparation and medicine release, not a cosmetic benefit from the oil by itself, so it does not support expecting the same result from this ingredient alone.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
