Through the pressing of the seeds of the sunflower plant, scientific name Helianthus annuus, you get an oil that can be used both for cooking and in cosmetics for the beauty of the skin of face, body and hands. We dedicate this post precisely to the possible applications of sunflower seed oil as a cosmetic product. This oil is a source of essential fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid and, to a lesser extent, oleic acid [1]. It is the high percentage of linoleic acid of this plant-based oil that makes sunflower oil suitable for use on the skin. In particular, based on scientific studies, sunflower oil has been shown to be able to protect and repair the skin barrier and to improve skin hydration without causing any side effects, erythema or rashes [2]. But sunflower oil also contains important amounts of tocopherol, or vitamin E, which protects the skin from aging.
In addition to this, this oil is non-comedogenic so, given its characteristics, it can be used on all types of skin, from acne-prone to more mature, acting with emollient, soothing, healing and antioxidant properties [3]. You can use it as a massage oil, in this case you can add also a few drops of essential oil, but you can also include it in your DIY cosmetic preparations for face and body creams or, alternatively, you can apply a few drops of this oil directly on damp skin or you can add a very small amount to a little of your usual face cream. And for dry hands, which may have also wounds and cracks, you can massage a few drops of oil directly on the skin. In this case, for a stronger antiseptic and healing action, you can add also to sunflower oil a drop of essential oil of eucalyptus.
Moreover, sunflower oil can also be used to cleanse the face skin, even the oily skin, as it helps to clean the skin in a gentle and not aggressive way. For this purpose, just pour a few drops of oil on a damp cotton pad and pass it on the skin of the face, it will help to remove impurities and all traces of makeup, even the most resistant. Finally, sunflower oil is excellent not only for the beauty of the skin but also for the health of the hair. In case of dandruff and itching on the scalp try to massage a few drops of oil on damp skin in order to make the skin more elastic, to soothe irritations and balance the production of sebum. Leave it on for a quarter of an hour then wash your hair with the usual shampoo.