In the world of natural cosmetics, vegetable oils (virgin or refined) and oily macerates hold a very important place as raw material or used directly on the skin. They offer interesting properties (moisturizing, nourishing, etc.) for personal care for every skin type: sensitive, mature, oily, or dry. In this article, we will shed some light on the uses of vegetable oils and oily macerates, and the differences between the two.

Vegetable oils and oily macerates are packed with wonderful properties for the skin; they can completely replace a make-up remover, a serum, a hair mask, a day or night mask, a body oil, a nail treatment or even for the eye contour.

Both are very popular because they penetrate well into the skin. In addition, they have nourishing, softening, regenerating, invigorating and protective virtues. They make it possible to reconstitute the lipid film of the skin. They are also highly valued for their essential fatty acid content.

A vegetable oil is the natural oil directly expressed from a vegetable. It is a fatty substance that is extracted from seeds, pits, kernels, and sometimes from the fruit itself. Its full name is: “vegetable oil from first cold pressing without additives”. An oil bearing this name is therefore 100% composed of plants.

Here are some examples of vegetable oils: Argan oil, Prickly pear seed oil, Virgin sesame oil, Sweet almond oil …

As its name suggests, an oily macerate is the result of the maceration of an aromatic plant part (leaves, flowers, roots, etc.) in a virgin vegetable oil called the “carrier oil”. The preparation is then filtered, and the properties of the plant are thus transmitted to the virgin vegetable oil, which becomes the carrier of the active ingredients contained in the plant. We make oily macerates because sometimes a plant has interesting properties but is not constituted of oil – like lavender for example. 

It is important to note that an oily macerate can be used on its own, but an essential oil is more potent and has more instructions for use.

Here are some examples of oily macerates: Carrot Oil, Fenugreek Oil (Macerate), Garlic Oil (Macerate), Aloe Vera Oil (Macerate).

The vegetable oil or the carrier oil for the macerate should be virgin vegetable oils obtained through cold pressing. This helps it keep all the nutrients that it contains: vitamins, essential fatty acids; antioxidants…

Prodigia invites you to register the extraction method on the label of your natural cosmetic products (vegetable oils, oily macerates, or products made from these two natural ingredients). We also recommend that you help your customers identify the guarantee of the high quality of your products by inscribing the logos of your labels and certifications of natural cosmetics on the label.

Whether you are looking for vegetable oils or oily macerates, allow the Prodigia team to offer you a large catalog of raw materials, and natural cosmetics for sale in bulk. Also allow us to accompany you on your journey of creating a brand of natural cosmetics through our full white label service, with legal support, and international shipment.