Palm kernel oil, refined 100 g

Palm kernel oil in cosmetics and soaps

Palm kernel oil is a solid mass of white to pale yellow color with a faint sweet smell. It is obtained from the kernels (seeds) of the fruit of the oil palm. This product should not be confused with palm oil, its composition is rather similar to that of coconut oil.

Main characteristics:

color at 15-20 °C: from white to white with a yellowish tinge
consistency at 20 °C:  Solid, immobile, homogeneous
Taste and odor: taste of neutral oil, odorless

Composition of palm kernel oil

In the composition of this type of oil there are fatty acids (lauric, myristic, palmitic, oleic, caprylic), vitamins E and A, as well as beta-carotene. It has a strong antioxidant effect and is well absorbed. This oil is an emollient, which means that it softens and moisturizes the skin well due to the formation of a thin film that prevents dehydration. Just take into account the fact that the oil has all these properties when introduced into cosmetics, not when smeared on the skin in its pure form.

Palm kernel oil in soap making

The main area in which palm kernel oil is used is primarily for making natural soap from scratch. This oil saponifies well, increases the lather and hardness of soap, and gives it a white color (in the absence of other coloring oils). Soap with palm kernel oil in its composition becomes more plastic, less prone to cracking. And the foam turns out thick and persistent.

In the recipe for soap from scratch palm kernel oil can go up to 100%, but then the soap can lose important characteristics. The optimal percentage of palm kernel oil in “zero-oil” is 15-20%.

Palm kernel oil in cosmetics

• nourishes and moisturizes the skin
• emollient
• reduces moisture loss by skin cells
• protects against the damaging effects of free radicals
• protects against UV radiation
• smooths sagging skin
• softens rough skin on elbows, heels
• has healing properties
• strong antioxidant.