Meadowfoam Oil - Ingredient Highlight

Have you heard of Meadowfoam Oil before??? I hadn’t until I was asked to do this blog. What is it and what are some of its benefits? Let's dive in and find out!

Meadowfoam oil is extracted from the seeds of the Limnanthes alba. The Limnanthes alba is a white flowering species commonly referred to as the White Meadowfoam. It is native to Oregon and California and likes to grow in slightly wet woodland areas as well as wet grassy habitats. The Meadowfoam seeds are comprised of 20%-30% oil! Unlike other oils that may feel greasy, Meadowfoam oil has more of a waxy feel to it. It is also one of the most stable oils since it is made up of over 98% long chain fatty acids. Meadowfoam is also a sustainable resource. Small farmers such as Tydan Farms in Harrisburg Oregon rely on Meadowfoam as a non-grass rotational crop. It helps to regenerate their soil in an environmentally friendly way and allows them to implement no-till practices which in turn causes their farm to be more efficient. This farm is just one of many that have chosen Meadowfoam to be part of their crop rotation since it grows well in difficult ground that has poor drainage.

Meadowfoam oil easily penetrates deep in the skin and is packed full of antioxidants making it a great choice to combat aging since the antioxidants help reduce the damage caused by free radicals. Meadowfoam oil is absorbed easily by the skin and is a good option to use as a carrier oil for essential oils. Because of its stability it can also help other less stable oils from going rancid. It also helps lock in your skins moisture and create a protective barrier on your skin due to its slightly waxy feel. The texture of it mimics the texture of our skin’s natural sebum. Meadowfoam has even been thought to help thicken and grow eyelashes (hummm… I think this might be a good experiment we should try) Meadowfoam oil is also renowned for its skin softening abilities. For these reasons and more we choose to use Meadowfoam oil in a product for skin that faces some of the most harshest conditions…. the diaper area! Meadowfoam oil can be found in our All Natural Baby Butt Zinc Balm stick.