Continuing on my quest to learn more about the benefits of organic products this #OrganicSeptember, I’m looking into the ingredients that make organic products just so amazing! This week, I've been taking a closer look at Safflower, a popular oil that has been used in beauty for hundreds of years!
Safflower is an annual, thistle-like plant that is easy to recognise due to its bright flower. Commonly used for vegetable oil, it’s one of the oldest crops known to man, with ancient Egyptians using safflower seeds for dyes and the flowers for garlands. The seeds are still used today for natural colouring, and flavouring foods too. The oil is totally flavourless and colourless – it’s very similar to vegetable oil.
Safflower is the number one go-to ingredient for many common lifestyle illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure. It’s a rich house of omega 6 fatty acids (75%, in comparison to sunflower oil which is 65%), and is an easy, useful way to manage blood sugar levels. In beauty, sunflower is an all-in-one ingredient! It’s great for protecting the hair and scalp as it’s rich in oleic acid; it also improves circulation, thereby stimulating hair growth, whilst also keeping hair shiny and strong. As we age, we lose protein which is a number one leading theory to the cause of hair loss; the use of safflower can drastically prevent this loss. Safflower oil also has a lot of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and a moisturiser, keeping the scalp hydrated and protected.
Safflower oil is also rich in linoleic acid, a substance known for improving the quality and texture of the skin by unclogging pores and regenerating skin cells, meaning it’s both great for anti-aging and reducing redness & rashes. It locks moisture into the skin, and help to soften even the roughest of skins. A lot of people with sensitive skin, including rosacea and acne sufferers, turn to safflower oil as a treatment as it contains so much linoleic acid, a known ingredient in combatting skin conditions.