Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables

What Is It?

Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil is a pale yellow oil made from sesame seeds. Other ingredients made from sesame seed oil that may be used in cosmetics and personal care products include Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables and Sodium Sesameseedate.

Sodium Sesameseedate is the sodium salt of the fatty acids derived from Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil. In cosmetics and personal care products, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil and the sesame oil-derived ingredients may be used in the formulation of a variety of products including moisturizers, lipstick and other makeup products, sunscreen products, skin cleansers, and hair products.

Why Is It Used?

The following functions have been reported for Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil and the sesame oil-derived ingredients.

  • Binder – Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil
  • Emulsion stabilizer – Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil
  • Hair conditioning agent – Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables, Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil
  • Skin-conditioning agent – emollient – Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil
  • Skin-conditioning agent – miscellaneous – Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables
  • Skin-conditioning agent – occlusive – Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil
  • Slip modifier – Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil
  • Surfactant – cleansing agent – Sodium Sesameseedate
  • Surfactant – emulsifying agent – Sodium Sesameseedate
  • Viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous – Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil, Sodium Sesameseedate

Scientific Facts

Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil is obtained by pressing the seeds of the plant, Sesamum indicum. Sesame oil and sesame seeds have been consumed by humans for thousands of years.

Crude expressed sesame oil can be used as a food with little or no refining. Sesame oil is consumed primarily as a cooking and salad oil and is an important flavor in Asian food. Asian sesame oil is made from roasted seeds and has an amber color.

Safety Information

Sesame is included on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) list of spices and other natural seasonings and flavors considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). The FDA permits polyglyceryl esters of fatty acids derived from sesame oil to be directly added to food.

The safety of Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables and Sodium Sesameseedate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel.

The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables and Sodium Sesameseedate were safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use.

CIR Safety Review:

The four main fatty acid components of Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acid, have been previously assessed for safety by the CIR Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel noted that Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil was not a skin or eye irritant, skin sensitizer or photosenitizer. Studies showing a lack of acute oral toxicity, mutagenicity and developmental toxicity were also used to support the conclusion that Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables and Sodium Sesameseedate were safe for use as cosmetic ingredients.

FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for sesame

Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sesame Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil Unsaponifiables and Sodium Sesameseedate may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_packaging/co0013_en.htm

More Scientific Information

The oil content of sesame seeds is between 45 and 54%. Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil consists of triglycrides primarily composed of oleic, linoleic, palmitic and stearic acids.

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/default.htm

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/