What is Apple Seed Oil?

• What is apple seed oil?
• How is apple seed oil made?
• What does apple seed oil smell like?
• What color is apple seed oil?
• What does apple seed oil feel like?
• What is composition of apple seed oil?
• Does apple seed oil clog pores?
• Summary 
• References

What is apple seed oil?

INCI: Pyrus malus (Apple) Seed Oil
Extraction Method: cold pressed, cold filtered
Appearance: light golden color
Texture: light, quick absorbing
Aroma: light, fresh, fruity aromatic oil

Apple seed oil is an oil obtained by crushing apple seeds and collecting the oil.

Apple seed oil is cold-pressed from seeds that would otherwise go to waste in the juice industry and is considered a ‘zero waste’ seed oil. 

Fruit seeds are a major by-products of the food industry, and creating new uses for them by converting them to value-added products helps to prevent their disposal as waste, and promotes sustainable production.

How is apple seed oil made?

Apple seed oil is typically made through a process called cold pressing or solvent extraction. Here's a general overview of these methods:

1. Cold Pressing: In this method, apple seeds are collected from ripe apples. The seeds are thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt or impurities. Then, they are mechanically crushed or pressed to release the oil. This can be done using hydraulic presses or expeller presses.

The seeds are placed between two pressing plates, and pressure is applied to extract the oil. The pressure causes the oil to separate from the seed solids. The oil is collected, filtered to remove any remaining particles, and then stored.

2. Solvent Extraction: Solvent extraction involves using a chemical solvent, such as hexane, to dissolve and extract the oil from the apple seeds. The seeds are first ground into a fine powder. Then, the powder is mixed with the solvent, and the mixture is stirred or agitated.

The solvent dissolves the oil, creating a solution. This solution is then separated from the solid particles, typically through filtration or centrifugation. The solvent is then evaporated or distilled to leave behind the apple seed oil.

After extraction, the apple seed oil may undergo additional processes like filtering, refining, and purification to enhance its quality and remove any impurities.

It's important to note that the exact production methods can vary depending on the manufacturer or the desired quality of the oil.

Additionally, the cold pressing method is generally preferred for obtaining high-quality, unrefined apple seed oil that retains more of its natural nutrients and properties.

What does apple seed oil smell like?

Apple seed oil has the most delightful aroma.

Top notes of real apple - sweet, complex and mouth-watering, with hints of marzipan. Fresh, warm and comforting. It smells divine.

Cold-pressed, unrefined apple seed oil has the strongest aroma, whereas processed oil has a faint aroma.

What does apple seed oil feel like?

Apple seed oil has a light and smooth texture and is easily absorbed.

It is often described as being lightweight and non-greasy, which makes it easy to spread and absorb into the skin.

Apple seed oil has a silky feel when applied and leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturized without leaving a heavy or oily residue. Its texture makes it suitable for various skincare applications, as it can be easily incorporated into creams, lotions, serums, or used directly on the skin or hair.

What color is apple seed oil?

Apple seed oil is typically pale yellow to light golden in color.

The exact shade of apple seed oil can vary depending on factors such as the variety of apple seeds used, the extraction method, and any additional processing or refining that the oil may have undergone. However, in general, apple seed oil tends to have a light, translucent appearance with a yellowish hue.

What is composition of apple seed oil?

Cold-pressed apple seed oil is packed with essential nutrients, including fatty acids, vitamin E, carotenoids, polyphenols, phytosterols and other antioxidants (Walia et al, 2014; Górnas, 2015).

Fatty acids

Apple seed oil is composed of fatty acids:

• 52 - 64% linoleic acid C18:2 (n-6)
• 28 - 34% oleic acid C18:1 (n-9)
• 4 - 8% palmitic acid C16:0
• 1 - 5% stearic acid C18:0
• 1 - 3.5% arachidic acid C20:0
• 1 - 3% alpha-linolenic acid C18:3 (n-3)

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble compounds known as tocopherols and tocotrienols.

Apple seed oil has high levels of various forms of vitamin E, including β-tocopherol and α-tocopherol and these vitamins have strong antioxidant activity (Górnas, 2015).

Cold-pressed apple seed oil has high amounts of total vitamin E at 1.43 mg/g (Pieszka et al 2015).

Apple seed oil is a rich source of tocopherols, with:

• 0.62 mg/g beta-tocopherol
• 0.41 mg/g alpha-tocopherol
• 0.21 mg/g delta-tocopherol 
• 0.13 mg/g gamma-tocopherol

Apple seed oil also contains tocotrienols, with:

• 0.03 mg/g gamma-tocotrienol
• 0.01 mg/g alpha-tocotrienol

Carotenoids

Carotenoids are natural pigments found in plants, algae, and some bacteria. They are responsible for the vibrant colors seen in various fruits, vegetables, flowers, and even some animals. Carotenoids are a type of phytonutrient, which are bioactive compounds found in plants that have potential health benefits for humans.

Apple seed oil has been shown to contain carotenoid concentrations from 0.001 to 0.016 mg/g. Various carotenoids, including all-trans-violaxanthin, 9-cis-violaxanthin, all-trans-lutein, all-trans-zeaxanthin, all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin, all-trans-β-carotene, and 9-cis-β-carotene were identified in apple seed oils (Fromm et al, 2012).

Polyphenols

Apple seed oil is rich in polyphenols that have strong antioxidant activity.

The total amounts of polyphenols in apple seed oil has been shown to range from 3.9 to 26.3 mg/g (Fromm et al, 2012).

Phloridzin is the most abundant polyphenol of apple seed oil, accounting for 79 to 92% of the polyphenols (Fromm et al, 2012).

The other minor polyphenols in apple seed oil include phloretin-2'-xyloglucoside, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), p-coumaroylquinic acid and (−)epicatechin (Fromm et al, 2012). 

Phytosterols

Cold-pressed apple seed oil has been shown to contain phytosterols at 3.460 mg/g, including:

• 2.629 mg/g sitosterol
• 0.347 mg/g avenasterol
• 0.249 mg/g sitostanol
• 0.219 mg/g campesterol
• 0.013 mg/g stigmasterol 

(Pieszka et al 2015)

Learn more: Benefits of Apple Seed Oil for Dry Skin

Does apple seed oil clog pores?

Apple seed oil is generally considered to have a low comedogenic rating, which means it is less likely to clog pores compared to oils with higher comedogenic ratings. However, it's important to note that individual reactions to oils can vary, and what works well for one person may not necessarily work for another.

Apple seed oil is rich in oleic acid, which may be comedogenic in high amounts (Motoyoshi et al, 1983). 

If you have acne and at risk of clogged pores, you may want to pass on apple seed oil. 

Apple seed oil is best for dry skin.

Summary

Apple seed oil is a nutrient-rich oil obtained by crushing apple seeds and collecting the oil.

Cold-pressed apple seed oil is a golden yellow color and has the aroma of fresh apples.

Apple seed oil has a light texture and is easily absorbed into the skin.

Apple seed oil is rich in beneficial fatty acids, including n-6 linoleic acid, n-9 oleic acid and palmitic acid. These fatty acids act as emollients and can soften your skin and smooth your skin. 

Apple seed oil is also rich in vitamin E and polyphenols and have strong antioxidant activity.

Cold-pressed, unrefined apple seed oil smells like real apple - sweet, complex and mouth-watering. Fresh, warm and comforting. 

Dry Skin Love Apple Elixir 5% Vitamin E Face Oil is made with cold-pressed apple seed oil. 

References

Acid, L. (1987). Final report on the safety assessment of oleic acid, laurie acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, and stearic acid. J. Am. Coll. Toxicol, 6, 321-401.

Bakrim S, Benkhaira N, Bourais I, Benali T, Lee LH, El Omari N, Sheikh RA, Goh KW, Ming LC, Bouyahya A. Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Stigmasterol. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Sep 27;11(10):1912.

Fromm M, Bayha S, Carle R, Kammerer DR. Characterization and quantitation of low and high molecular weight phenolic compounds in apple seeds. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 8;60(5):1232-42. 

Fromm M., Bayha S., Kammerer D.R., Carle R. Identification and quantitation of carotenoids and tocopherols in seed oils recovered from different rosaceae species. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2012;60:10733–10742.

Górnas P (2015) Unique variability of tocopherol composition in various seed oils recovered from by-products of apple industry: rapid and simple determination of all four homologues (α, β, γ and δ) by RP-HPLC/FLD. Food Chem 172:129–134.

Motoyoshi K. Enhanced comedo formation in rabbit ear skin by squalene and oleic acid peroxides. Br J Dermatol. 1983 Aug;109(2):191-8.

Pieszka, M., Migdał, W., Gąsior, R., Rudzińska, M., Bederska-Łojewska, D., Pieszka, M., & Szczurek, P. (2015). Native oils from apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry seeds as a source of polyenoic fatty acids, tocochromanols, and phytosterols: A health implication. Journal of Chemistry, 2015.

Thiele JJ, Ekanayake-Mudiyanselage S. Vitamin E in human skin: organ-specific physiology and considerations for its use in dermatology. Mol Aspects Med. 2007 Oct-Dec;28(5-6):646-67.

Walia M, Rawat K, Bhushan S, Padwad YS, Singh B. Fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of apple seed oil obtained from apple pomace. J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Mar 30;94(5):929-34.

Author Information

Dr. Natasha Ryz is a scientist, skin care expert and an entrepreneur. She is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare, and she creates skincare products for beauty, dry skin and pain relief.

Dr. Ryz has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she is a Vanier scholar. She also holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

Natasha is the former Chief Science Officer of Zenabis Global, and she oversaw extraction, analytics, and product development. Her team brought 20 products to market including oils, sprays, vapes and softgels.

Why I Started A Skincare Company