Tomato seed oil contains antioxidants such as tocopherols; the minerals coper, iron, and manganese; and essential fatty acids.
Notes for formulation
The oil Natural Sourcing has added to its range of specialty ingredients promises a light viscosity, mild aroma, quick absorption and a translucent orange shade. “Tomato Seed Oil is a stable, highly penetrating oil,” explained the company in a statement to the media. The oil shelf life is one-and-a-half years.
Natural Sourcing is marketing the ingredient for use in personal care products that address the concerns of aging or dry skin, lip care, and brittle as well as healthy hair.
Origin and processing
The company’s tomato seed oil comes from China. And, it’s derived via cold-press processing. Generally, cold pressing requires less energy than conventional extraction methods.
Other personal care ingredient suppliers offering tomato- derived products include LycoRed and Botanic Innovations.
Oils from China
In August, Natural Sourcing made camellia seed oil available as a personal care ingredient too. Like the new tomato product, this oil is cold-pressed and has a year-and-a-half shelf life.
The camellia comes from China also, and Natural Sourcing describes it on their website as “a nutritive oil that is said to be the ancient secret of geishas.”
Naturals market
Kline’s market report for 2013 showed that in the US beauty market, the naturals sector was up 7%. That’s in contrast to the overall beauty market in the states, which was up only 2% last year. “Natural beauty has solidified its position as a mainstay in the industry,” said the report.
Naturals have become even more popular as consumers fully expect beauty brands to behave ethically in regard to the environment, from product sourcing to formulation through finished goods distribution and beyond.
They are looking for real product benefits at the same time: “Plant-based ingredients were once enough to entice consumers; today a product’s function and efficacy are now regarded as at least as important as the ingredient source by many consumers.”