The ingredient, explained

Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil

A published expert assessment examines cosmetic-use safety.

Skin conditioning

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Limnanthes Alba -Meadowfoam- Seed Oil is the oil extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant, Limnanthes alba, Limnanthaceae.

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Skin conditioning: A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

The assessment includes a 109-person patch test of a facial product containing 71.3% meadowfoam seed oil, judged nonirritating and nonsensitising under that protocol.

What this does not tell us

The test used a finished formulation and is reported within a broader safety assessment. It does not isolate hydration efficacy or guarantee that every user will tolerate this oil.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 29243540 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded targeted searches for the exact ingredient identity in primary research or final expert assessments, with selected-source verification. Not a systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.