Sunflower Seed Oil
AKA “Helianthus Annuus Oil, Sunflower Oil”
Oil
Ingredient Facts
Sunflower seed oil
AKA: Helianthus Annuus Oil, Sunflower Oil
Oil · Emollient · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Sunflower Seed Oil Cetyl Esters is the product obtained by the transesterification of Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Cetyl Alcohol
Family
Asteraceae (Daisy family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
8001-21-6
Form
Oil
See origin →
Functions
Binding
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Extracted from sunflowers native to the Americas and cultivated for thousands of years. Traditionally used in folk medicine for skin nourishment; became popular in modern cosmetics in the 20th century as a lightweight emollient.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil PEG-32 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-10 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-5 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin ...
Simon G Danby, Tareq AlEnezi, Amani Sultan, Tina Lavender, John Chittock, Kirsty Brown + 1 more
Pediatric dermatology, 2013
Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin ...
Simon G Danby, Tareq AlEnezi, Amani Sultan, Tina Lavender, John Chittock, Kirsty Brown + 1 more
Pediatric dermatology, 2013
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Sunflower Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Influence of sunflower seed oil or baby lotion on the skin barrier function of newborns: A pilot study.
Kanti V, Günther M, Stroux A, Sawatzky S, Henrich W et al.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2017
Nothing New Under the Sun?: Sunflower Oil Shows No Cross-Reactivity With Nickel or Compositae Allergens.
Karels S, Hylwa S, Ophaug S, Lee K, Neeley A
Contact dermatitis, 2025
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR