Linum Usitatissimum ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as a skin-conditioning emollient, helping soften the feel of skin and support a smoother product texture. In oil-based formulas, it can also contribute cushion and slip.
What does Linum Usitatissimum do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as a skin-conditioning emollient, helping soften the feel of skin and support a smoother product texture. In oil-based formulas, it can also contribute cushion and slip.
Is Linum Usitatissimum clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well accepted, with low typical irritation potential and no common restricted-list concerns. The main formulation caveat is freshness, since its high unsaturated-fat profile can oxidize if poorly protected.
Is Linum Usitatissimum sustainable?
This ingredient is plant-derived, renewable, and readily biodegradable. Its footprint depends on agricultural practices, extraction method, and whether the crop is conventionally or organically grown.
Is Linum Usitatissimum COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and can contribute to COSMOS-organic content when sourced from certified organic agricultural material and processed by allowed methods. It fits Green Chemistry principles well when mechanically pressed or extracted with approved, benign processing aids.
How does Linum Usitatissimum work chemically?
This material is primarily a triglyceride-rich botanical lipid with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid, alongside linoleic and oleic acids. Typical use ranges from about 0.5% to 10% in creams and balms, higher in anhydrous oils, and it benefits from antioxidants, low-heat processing, and protection from light and oxygen.
Last updated 2026-08-20