We wouldn’t be shocked if you haven’t heard of camellia oil before, but we would be surprised if you’ve never used a product with the ingredient unwittingly. This unsung hero is especially popular in Asian skin care but has found its way into many products beyond J- and K-beauty. The powerful antioxidant is ultra nourishing while also being super lightweight, which is a hard balance to strike. Learn more about the hero ingredient from the experts and grab a couple of the products we recommend to experience the benefits firsthand.
Featured experts
- Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu are cosmetic chemists
- Ginger King is a cosmetic chemist
- John Scarchilli is the Director of Scientific and Brand Communications at P&G Beauty Care
- Emer Gillen is a skin-care expert and Elemis brand ambassador
What is camellia oil?
Camellia oil is an oil that typically comes from the seeds of the camellia oleifera evergreen, cosmetic chemists Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu tell us. The camellia flower itself is known as winter’s rose and is commonly found in Asia, cosmetic chemist Ginger King adds.
“Camellia oil is pressed from the seeds of the camellia plant, which is native to far East Asia and acclimated to grow in cooler climates,” says Director of Scientific and Brand Communications at P&G Beauty Care John Scarchilli. “Interestingly, it’s the cooler growth climate that’s responsible for a high level of lightweight components which help guard seeds from freezing in the winter and nourish them for growth. These same compositions also make it the perfect ingredient to nourish hair without weighing it down.”
Camellia oil in beauty
Scarchilli says the oil has a history of use in high-end beauty products, primarily due to its lightweight properties. The luxurious, moisturizing oil is known to help condition skin, nails and hair, leaving them soft, supple and smooth, says skin-care expert and Elemis brand ambassador Emer Gillen.
The benefits of camellia oil for skin
“Camellia oil mainly functions as an emollient that imparts nourishment and shine to skin and hair,” Fu and Lu say. King notes it also has moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties that make it beneficial as a topical.
“This oil has a long history of being used to promote healthy, glowing, youthful-looking skin,” says Gillen. “Highly nourishing with a rich profile of vitamins, essential fatty acids and natural antioxidants, such as tocopherols (vitamin E) and polyphenols, which helps reinforce the natural lipid barrier function to provide protection from environmental aggressors, it can improve skin healing and prevent thickening of scar tissue.” She adds that while it’s adored by those with dry skin, it’s appropriate for all skin types.
The benefits of camellia oil for hair
King says the oil helps condition hair, add shine and tame frizz without being overly greasy. Herbal Essences found that 76 percent of women are concerned about hair feeling weighed down, which led them to the lightweight oil, says Scarchilli. “Camellia Oil is similar in structure to natural hair oils essential for softness and flexibility,” explains Scarchilli. “Hair needs regular replenishment of oils that it loses, and it’s makeup gives it the ability to absorb in quickly and also avoid buildup and weigh down.”
Products with camellia oil we love
Fu and Lu note that camellia has a really nice texture. “It absorbs quickly while still leaving skin nourished. It tends to be used in blends with other oils in face oils and balms.” Here are some of our favorite skin and hair products with camellia oil.
