Broccoli vegetable oil: benefits and uses in natural cosmetics

Broccoli originates from Italy where its species was actually created by the Romans from another type of wild cabbage. From its seeds is obtained a vegetable oil after cold pressing. Be careful, this vegetable oil is not ingested but it has a lot of benefits for both skin and hair. You can naturally use it on dry skin or on frizzy, curly hair that is difficult to tame. Latin name: Brassica cretica Lam. Part used: seeds (first cold pressure).

Main properties

  • emollient, moisturizing, nutritive : thanks to its richness in fatty acids, the vegetable oil of Broccoli maintains a perfect hydration of the skin but also hair. Its composition allows it to nourish skin and hair for a shiny and sheathing effect.
  • smoothing, hair conditioner : Broccoli vegetable oil has a smoothing and sheathing effect comparable to silicones. In addition to nourishing the hair, Broccoli oil makes it easier to brush and detangle the latter while acting on frizz, unruly and unruly hair.
  • anti-oxidant, regenerating : Broccoli vegetable oil is rich in vitamins thus giving it very interesting anti-oxidant and skin regenerating properties. It will thus help fight against skin aging and the first emerging wrinkles.

Characteristics and composition

Cosmetic characteristics
  • Skin type: dry, mature.
  • Hair type: all hair types, dry, damaged, brittle, curly, fine, curly.

Organoleptic characteristics
  • Appearance: oily, slightly viscous liquid
  • Color: golden yellow
  • Odor: atypical, smell of cabbage.
  • Touch : bold.

Characteristics for the formulation
  • Unsaponifiable and active ingredients : vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K.
  • Comedogenicity index : 1 (=low comedogenicity)
  • Average saponification value: 180
  • Oxidation stability: good
  • Stability at high temperatures: good
  • INCI name: Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil

Fatty acid composition
  • eicosenoic acid (omega 9 MUFA) : 9 à 15 %
  • linoleic acid (omega 6 PUFA) : 10 à 20 %
  • linolenic acid (omega 3 PUFA) : 5 à 10 %
  • oleic acid (omega 9 MUFA) : 10 à 20 %
  • palmitic acid (SFA): ≤ 5 %
  • stearic acid (SFA): ≤ 5 %
  • erucic acid (omega 9 MUFA) : 40 à 50 %

Physical characteristics
  • Density at 20°C: 0.900 à 0.920
  • Peroxide Index: 15
  • Acid value : 4.000
  • Iodine Index: 88 à 122

Botanical characteristics
  • Botanical family: Brassicaceae
  • Country of origin: Italy.
  • Distilled part: seeds
  • Production process : first cold pressing
  • Latin name : Brassica cretica Lam.

Precautions for use

  • Beware, contrary to what you might think, Broccoli oil is not edible due to its rich erucic acid composition.
  • Broccoli seed oil is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women. It is also forbidden for children under 6 years old.

Authorized use of the product

Dermal route Oral route

Authorized users

Adults and Teens

Storage

Preferably stored in a cool place, away from light and heat.

For Curly Hair, Wavy Hair, Curly Hair

Efficiency : ++++

Once again, it is the richness of fatty acids and that of erucic acid, a very special unsaturated fatty acid that helps repair the hair structure. This composition is thus suitable for curly, wavy and curly hair. Broccoli oil helps maintain the hair by preventing frizz. In addition to providing care, nutrition, Broccoli oil reduces the static effect sometimes observed on the hair, it also facilitates detangling while bringing shine and softness on the entire hair.

  • Application advice : apply as a mask before shampooing Broccoli oil on the tips and lengths. Leave on for several hours or even a whole night and then proceed with a shampoo. It is also possible to use a few drops of vegetable oil in care after shampooing.
  • Other Suitable Plant Oils: Broccoli can be paired with other hair-nourishing plant oils like Shea or Jojoba.

For Dry Skin, Redness

Efficiency : +++

Broccoli vegetable oil is particularly suitable for dry skin or skin with a tendency to redness. It is rich in unsaturated and essential fatty acids allowing to bring care and protection to the skin. This vegetable oil is quite dense, it keeps the skin well hydrated thanks to its emollient action. Its combination with another lighter vegetable oil is ideal, for example Raspberry Seed. It will also allow to camouflage its smell of cabbage. It is not suitable for oily skin. However it is very well suited in case of inflammatory conditions of the skin, in case of eczema and psoriasis. A little extra, its particular texture provides a care suitable for chapped lips.

  • Application advice: massage a few drops of Broccoli oil morning and night on your skin.
  • Other Suitable Plant Oils: In case of dry skin, Raspberry Seed plant oil is very nourishing as is Baobab or even Shea Butter.

For Fine Hair

Efficiency : +++

Broccoli oil and its composition of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly erucic acid, have a smoothing effect but also a structuring effect by filling in the gaps in the hair. Fine hair will then gain in volume. Broccoli oil can be used as a treatment before or after shampooing.

  • Application advice : apply as a mask before shampooing Broccoli oil on the tips and lengths. Leave on for several hours or even a whole night and then proceed with a shampoo. It is also possible to use a few drops of vegetable oil in care after shampooing.
  • Other Suitable Plant Oils: Broccoli can be paired with other hair-nourishing plant oils like Shea or Jojoba.

For Mature Skin

Effectiveness: ++.

Broccoli oil contains mostly monounsaturated fatty acids, erucic acid, oleic acid but also vitamins. Its emollient and nutritive action will be interesting in order to reverse the aging of the skin by keeping it always hydrated. The vitamins it contains participate in the elimination of free radicals that can contribute to the appearance of wrinkles. Vitamin C, for example, is a major antioxidant that helps protect cells. In addition, one of its main functions is to contribute to the manufacture of collagen, an essential protein for the development of skin tissue among other things.

  • Application advice: massage a few drops of Broccoli oil morning and night on your mature skin or to prevent the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Complementary essential oil(s): against wrinkles and to prevent skin aging, you can add a few drops of essential oil of Rose Geranium, Italian Helichrysum or Fine Lavender to your Broccoli oil to increase its effectiveness.
  • Other Suitable Plant Oils: Other plant oils can also be used to fight wrinkles such as Hemp Seed, Apricot Kernel, Purple Rose or Prickly Pear Seed.

For dry hair, brittle hair, damaged hair

Effectiveness: ++.

Due to its high erucic acid content, Broccoli oil provides amazing shine to hair. It is a reference oil for our fabulous mane as it is often described as a conditioner with effects comparable to silicones, but without their undesirable effects (choked and weakened hair). Broccoli oil can therefore be used as a mask before or after shampooing and even enter the composition of your washing care. Thanks to it, the hair finds softness, hydration and nutrition. It is therefore ideal for brittle, dry or damaged hair. In the same way, Broccoli oil will be useful to limit hair loss by strengthening it.

  • Application advice : apply as a mask before shampooing Broccoli oil on the tips and lengths. Leave on for several hours or even a whole night and then proceed with a shampoo. It is also possible to use a few drops of vegetable oil in care after shampooing.
  • Complementary essential oil(s): Ylang Ylang Complete essential oil is often used in hair care at a rate of 1%. In addition to providing a very pleasant smell, it helps regulate sebum secretion while cleaning the hair. It is particularly used to fight against hair loss and brittle hair.
  • Other Suitable Plant Oils: Broccoli can be paired with other hair-nourishing plant oils like Shea or Jojoba.

In case of brittle nails

Effectiveness: ++.

Erucic acid as well as its buddies the other omega 9 but also 6 and 3 allow to nourish the nails in depth: they are thicker and shiny, less brittle and soft, and the cuticles are more flexible and easy to push back. Broccoli oil has a somewhat viscous texture that is very useful in this case. Its emollient action should be appreciated several times a week.

  • Application advice: apply 1 to 2 drops of Broccoli oil on each nail, then massage until penetration. Repeat 2 to 3 times a week for best effectiveness.
  • Other suitable plant oils: Cassis, Camellia or Ricin oils are also known to strengthen nails.

Erucic acid in vegetable oils

The erucic acid is a long-chain carbon fatty acid, monounsaturated (C22:1). It is found in the seeds of plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family such as Rapeseed, Mustard but also in Broccoli, used to obtain a vegetable oil. In these oils, erucic acid represents around 40 to 50% of total fatty acids. Erucic acid has many interests, it is used for its emollient properties in cosmetic products but also in the detergent industry for its anti-foaming effect. However, in the European Union, the erucic acid content of oils intended for human consumption is limited to 5% of the total fatty acid content in the fatty phase, according to the regulations in force since July 1, 1979 (Council Directive 76/621/EEC, July 20, 1976). Indeed, it would seem that it can represent a risk in the long term, particularly for young children who consume too much of it. Studies carried out in the 60s on rats have noted heart problems following a long-term absorption of this fatty acid. The tolerable daily intake was then set at 7 mg/kg of body weight.

But we regularly consume products from mustard seeds or rapeseed will you tell us? For these products there intended for food use, concentrations of erucic acid must strictly be less than 0.5%, these crops are therefore controlled and varietal selections have taken place to obtain oils without or with very little erucic acid. This is the case for the "00" rapeseed grown in Europe. The other types of crops rich in erucic acid are intended for the industrial field.

Broccoli Organic Virgin Vegetable Oil

65 notes

See the product