What it is: A vegetable seed oil.
Where it comes from: The oil comes from a seed of a mustard plant native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe.
Properties: A nearly odorless, clear yellow liquid oil. It has a high percentage of unsaturated C22 fatty acids and is highly resistant to oxidation.
What it’s good for: Abyssinian oil is easily absorbed into the epidermal tissue, which works to smoothe and improve wrinkled and dry skin. Although moisturizing, it doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue. It is an excellent dispersion medium for pigments used in cosmetics, helping to create a fine, even color distribution. In hair, Abyssinian oil forms a light lipid layer that improves luster and eliminates greasiness, and studies have shown the addition of Abyssinian oil will soften hair.
Where you’ll find it: You’ll find it in massage oils, creams and lotions, lipsticks, foundations, other makeup products, and hair products.
Other uses: In mascara, it’s marketed as being able to build eyelash volume and length.
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