TRITICUM VULGARE GERM OIL
Wheat germ oil is the common name for Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, the oily fraction obtained from wheat germ. The germ is the embryo of the grain, so this ingredient is not wheat flour or bran. On an ingredient list, it signals a plant oil derived from that particular part of the cereal grain.
TRITICUM VULGARE GERM OIL: what it is
Wheat germ oil is the common name for Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, the oily fraction obtained from wheat germ. The germ is the embryo of the grain, so this ingredient is not wheat flour or bran. On an ingredient list, it signals a plant oil derived from that particular part of the cereal grain.
Wheat germ oil is made chiefly of triglycerides, with linoleic acid described as its main fatty acid. Scientific literature also makes an important distinction: commercial oil, separated germ, and germ lipids are not identical materials. The raw material and processing can change details of the oil composition used in a finished product.
TRITICUM VULGARE GERM OIL: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, wheat germ oil mainly works as an emollient and skin-conditioning ingredient. In practical terms, an oil of this kind can make a product spread more smoothly and contribute to a softer, less rough feel on the skin after application.
It is also listed as a humectant, a role associated with helping hold water in a preparation and at the surface where it is applied. The available scientific review describes the oil's lipid composition rather than a clinical test of a finished topical cosmetic, so it does not support claims that Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil treats wrinkles, dark spots, wounds, or skin disease.
Products containing this ingredient
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