Oleic acid, or omega 9, is a non-essential fatty acid that can be synthesized by our bodies. Although non-essential, oleic acid does not come without its benefits, especially when combined with other ingredients and fatty acids.
Oleic acid is a permeation enhancer, which means it helps other ingredients sink deeply into the skin.1 Oleic acid accomplishes this by disrupting the lipids in the stratum corneum, so it could have negative effects (like increased transepidermal water loss) if used alone.2 This is why a balanced fatty acid profile is so important for optimising impact on skin health.
[1] Naik, A., Pechtold, L., Potts, R., & Guy, R. (1995). Mechanism of oleic acid-induced skin penetration enhancement in vivo in humans. Journal Of Controlled Release, 37(3), 299-306. doi: 10.1016/0168-3659(95)00088-7
[2] Lin, T., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. (2017). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 19(1), 70. doi: 10.3390/ijms19010070
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