Ingredient Comparison: Sunflower Oil x Safflower Oil
In this post, we are going to be diving into the difference between sunflower and safflower oil. I have seen these be compared before so I wanted to do some tests myself since I have both. If you have ingredients that you would like me to compare, let me know in the comments below. These two are great inexpensive oils that you can use in all kinds of formulations. To name a few, body oil, cuticle oil, simple body lotions, etc.
| Safflower Oil | Sunflower Oil | |
|---|---|---|
| INCI | Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) seed oil | Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil |
| Skin Feel | Medium Long Spreading | Medium to Heavy Long Spreading |
| Composition | Palmitic acid C16:0 6-7% Stearic acid C18:0 2-3% Oleic acid C18:1 11-14% Linoleic acid C18:2 76-79% | C16:0 Palmitic Acid 4.0-9.0% C18:0 Stearic Acid 1-7% C18:1 Oleic Acid 14-40% C18:2 Linoleic Acid 48-74% Unsapnonifiables: 1.5% |
| Odor | Little to no scent | Characteristic oil scent |
| Great For | Great for dry skin types | Acne prone skin, eczema, psoriasis |
| Key Characteristics | High in linolic acid Potent antioxidant/anti-inflammatory complex | High Levels of Linolic acid Low in saturated fat Rich source of vitamin E |
| Usage Rate | Up to 100% | Up to 100% |
| Substitutions | Grape seed oil Sunflower seed oil Canola oil Apricot kernel oil Other smooth, low-scent, fast absorbing oils | Grape seed oil Safflower seed oil Canola oil Apricot kernel oil Other smooth, low-scent, fast absorbing oils |