Pumpkin Seed Oil in Skin Care Products
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Time to read 6 min
Pumpkin seed oil is an ingredient bursting with nourishing vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Pumpkin seed oil has emerged as a natural powerhouse for moisturized skin and lustrous hair. This cold-pressed oil contains beneficial linoleic acid, vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc and other skin-healthy compounds to hydrate, calm and restore. Keep reading to find out if pumpkin seed oil is right for your daily skin care regimen.
Table of Contents
Best Products With Pumpkin Seed Oil
What is Pumpkin Seed Oil Made of?
The compounds found in pumpkin seed oil contribute to it being a good anti-inflammatory, barrier repairing ingredient in skin care. There are antioxidants and hydrating fatty acids present in this ingredient. Here's a detailed look at the most significant compounds in pumpkin seed oil: (3.4)
Linoleic Acid: A fatty acid vital for healthy skin barrier function and hair growth. Used in countless products as an anti-inflammatory ingredient.
Oleic Acid: A fatty acid that assists in the absorption of other ingredients.
Palmitic acid: A thick, saturated fat that locks moisture onto the skin. A comedogenic compound.
Stearic acid: A saturated fatty acid with occlusive properties, and is useful for barrier repair.
Vitamin E: repairs skin damage and protects from UV radiation. a potent antioxidant
Vitamin A (retinol): supports new cell turnover for youthful-looking skin. One of the most common ingredients for anti-aging and acne treatments.
Vitamin C: stimulates collagen and brightens complexion. Another potent antioxidant.
Zinc: regulates oil production, soothes acne and scalp conditions.
Magnesium: reduces inflammation that can lead to skin issues like eczema.
Benefits of Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil has many benefits in skin care thanks to its rich composition of fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other compounds that protect and hydrate skin. One of its major benefits is moisturizing dry, flaky skin to restore supple softness. The oleic and linoleic fatty acids act as emollients to reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier while vitamin E and zinc strengthen overall skin health.
Another benefit is minimizing signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots through pumpkin seed oil’s antioxidants including vitamin E, carotenoids and polyphenols. (1) These compounds neutralize free radicals to prevent their damage to skin cells and collagen. The oil also aids in exfoliation through vitamin A to give skin a vibrant, youthful tone.
Pumpkin seed oil also works wonders relieving inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and acne. Its anti-inflammatory activity calms flare-ups and redness while antibacterial properties protect acne-prone skin. The oil’s vitamins and minerals also speed healing for scars and blemishes, restoring smooth, clear skin.
With the ability to hydrate, protect, renew and soothe skin in so many ways, pumpkin seed oil is often used as an addition to face oils, serums, creams or masks. Take the skin type quiz to see if this ingredient is right for your skin type!
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Side-effects
When it comes to potential side effects of pumpkin seed oil in skin care, the main concern is its comedogenic rating and risk of clogged pores for those with acne-prone skin. While pumpkin seed oil provides many benefits thanks to its rich nutrient profile, it does come with cautions regarding comedogenicity.
Pumpkin seed oil earns a 2-3 on the 0-5 comedogenic scale, with 0 being non-comedogenic and 5 being highly pore-clogging. (2)
Those with oily, acne-prone skin are most likely to experience breakouts, blackheads or whiteheads when using pumpkin seed oil, especially on the face. The oil essentially provides excess sebum that blocks pores and creates the ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria. Some people may also react negatively to topical application of pumpkin seed oil due to an allergy.
That said, not everyone with acne-prone skin will clog from or react to pumpkin seed oil. Using smaller amounts thoroughly mixed into creams or cleansers can allow managing any side effects. But knowing pumpkin seed oil's comedogenic rating provides an important caution for those prone to congestion or sensitivity. As with any new skin care ingredient, patch testing for allergies is critical. Make sure pumpkin seed oil is safe for your skin type before including it in your daily regimen!
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Which Skin Types Should Use Pumpkin Seed Oil?
For dry or maturing skin, this nutrient-dense oil makes an excellent addition to daily regimens. (2) While most skin types can take advantage of pumpkin seed oil’s benefits with careful use, those with very oily or acne-prone skin need to exercise more caution due to comedogenicity concerns. This ingredient is best for skin types who are not prone to acne. The best way to know if this ingredient is right for your skin type is to take our quiz and look for your skin type octagon on our product pages.
Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair Care
Pumpkin seed oil is very popular in hair care routines because it contains many beneficial fatty acids for hair health. Some of the benefits provided to hair from pumpkin seed oil include: (6,7)
- Boosts Hair Growth: The nutrients in pumpkin seed oil, especially zinc and omega fatty acids, nourish hair follicles to stimulate growth. Using it in scalp treatments helps repair damage and revive thinning areas to promote thicker hair.
- Reduces Hair Loss: Along with spurring new growth, pumpkin seed oil has been shown to reduce hair shedding as well. The minerals and antioxidants strengthen hair strands to prevent breakage-related hair loss as part of natural shedding.
- Adds Shine: Linoleic acid smooths down the hair cuticle so light better reflects for increased shine and shimmer. Pumpkin seed oil’s emollient quality also gives hair a glossy look and supple feel.
- Tames Frizz: The oleic and linoleic fatty acids control wild hair strands that lead to frizz and static. This helps keep pesky baby hairs under control for smoother, sleeker hairstyles that better hold styling.
- Provides Heat Protection: Pumpkin seed oil coats hair to provide a thermal barrier before heat styling to minimize damage from hot tools. The oil’s nutrients also help repair existing damage from over-processing.
Keep in mind that if your face is prone to acne breakouts, so is your scalp. If you are prone to acne breakouts, using pumpkin seed oil on your hair can result in acne under your hair or on your forehead.
Conclusion
Pumpkin seed oil is a great ingredient for treating inflammation and dehydration, as well as offering some benefits in sun protection. The only drawback of this ingredient is it is slightly comedogenic, meaning it can clog the pores of acne-prone skin. If you are considering including pumpkin seed oil in your skin care routine, be sure it is right for your skin type to avoid acne breakouts!
Dr. Leslie Baumann MD, FAAD
Is pumpkin seed oil good for the skin?
If you are not prone to acne breakouts, pumpkin seed oil can be a great choice in moisturizers, sunscreens, or hair care products. This ingredient is good for dry, resistant skin types that do not frequently suffer from acne.
Does pumpkin seed oil clog pores?
Pumpkin seed oil contains palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid known to clog pores. If you are concerned about comedogenic ingredients, you may want to avoid pumpkin seed oil.
Does pumpkin seed oil prevent skin aging?
Pumpkin seed oil is loaded with antioxidants which are good at both preventing and treating wrinkles. Some studies show that pumpkin seed oil is related to healthy collagen levels in skin care.
Best References and Scientific Publications on Pumpkin Seed oil
- Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
- Baumann, L. Ch. Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
- Procida, G., Stancher, B., Cateni, F., & Zacchigna, M. (2013). Chemical composition and functional characterisation of commercial pumpkin seed oil. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 93(5), 1035-1041.
- Stevenson, D. G., Eller, F. J., Wang, L., Jane, J. L., Wang, T., & Inglett, G. E. (2007). Oil and tocopherol content and composition of pumpkin seed oil in 12 cultivars. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 55(10), 4005-4013.
- Amin, M. Z., Rity, T. I., Uddin, M. R., Rahman, M. M., & Uddin, M. J. (2020). A comparative assessment of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities of hybrid and indigenous varieties of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Linn.) seed oil. Biocatalysis and agricultural biotechnology, 28, 101767.
- Cho, Y. H., Lee, S. Y., Jeong, D. W., Choi, E. J., Kim, Y. J., Lee, J. G., ... & Cha, H. S. (2014). Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2014.
- Hajhashemi, V., Rajabi, P., & Mardani, M. (2019). Beneficial effects of pumpkin seed oil as a topical hair growth promoting agent in a mice model. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine, 9(6), 499.
- Bardaa, S., Ben Halima, N., Aloui, F., Ben Mansour, R., Jabeur, H., Bouaziz, M., & Sahnoun, Z. (2016). Oil from pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds: evaluation of its functional properties on wound healing in rats. Lipids in health and disease, 15, 1-12.
