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What is Sunflower Seedcake?
This is a question that has been at the back of my mind for a while.
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake is an ingredient that is commonly used in Estee Lauder brands (Clinique, Estee Lauder, MAC, La Mer, etc).
Seems like it is the “residue from the expression of oil from the seedcake of the sunflower”, similar ingredients using “seedcakes” like Shea Seedcake and Hemp Seedcake are multi functional with antioxidant/chelating/emollient properties.
Why is it so commonly used in this brand(it’s in almost every Clinique moisturizer)? Is it a proprietary ingredient that has special processing and efficacy data?
My personal hypothesis is that Sunflower Seedcake is a relatively cheap source of antioxidants and vitamin E because Sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E and phytic acid. It’s also interesting that Clinique, Estee Lauder and La Mer almost never use tocopherol as an ingredient but sunflower seedcake is almost always used. Do you think it’s a way to make the ingredients list seem more interesting while adding vitamin E to the formula?
What are your thoughts on this ingredient?
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