Sesame oil

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is one of the oldest oilseed crops in the world, grown for thousands of years across India, Africa and Asia. Its tiny seeds are about half oil, and pressing them gives either a pale, mild oil from raw seeds or the dark, aromatic oil from toasted seeds that is familiar in Asian cooking.

Sesame oil is roughly equal parts oleic and linoleic acid, with smaller amounts of palmitic and stearic acid. What makes it unusual is its lignans, natural antioxidants called sesamin, sesamolin and sesamol, together with vitamin E. These help explain why sesame oil keeps well without going rancid quickly. It has a long place in Indian and Chinese traditional practice, where it is a classic massage oil, and on ingredient lists you will see Sesamum indicum seed oil.

In hair and skin care sesame oil is valued as a nourishing carrier oil. It spreads easily, is an excellent emollient for massage, and blends well with essential oils and other plant oils. Reviews of topical plant oils have suggested oils such as sesame as good options for supporting the skin's natural barrier, although most research has been done in the laboratory.