CORN OIL

📋 Quick facts

Description: CORN OIL — EMOLLIENT.

All Functions: EMOLLIENT

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Also Known As: ZEA MAYS OIL
• Comedogenic Rating: 3/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Corn oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly linoleic acid, which is essential for skin and cell membrane health
• Contains vitamin E (tocopherols), which protects the oil from oxidative damage
• Topical application of corn oil does not effectively treat essential fatty acid deficiency in the body
• Corn oil should never be injected under the skin—this can cause serious, life-threatening complications including fat embolism
• Corn oil contains bioactive compounds like carotenoids and phytosterols with antioxidant potential

📊 Comedogenicity

3/5

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Corn oil’s relevance to skincare starts with its fatty acid composition. Refined corn oil is 99% triacylglycerols (a type of fat), with roughly 59% polyunsaturated fatty acids, 24% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 13% saturated fatty acids (J Am Coll Nutr, 1990). The dominant polyunsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid, and research shows #1: linoleic acid is necessary for skin integrity and cell membrane function (J Am Coll Nutr, 1990). Corn oil also contains protective compounds. It has high amounts of alpha- and gamma-tocopherols—forms of vitamin E—plus ubiquinone, which prevent the oil itself from becoming oxidized or rancid (J Am Coll Nutr, 1990).

Beyond these major components, #2: corn oil contains bioactive minor compounds including carotenoids, phytosterols, and polyphenols with antioxidant and antiradical capacity (Foods, 2022). However, there are important limitations to understand about topical corn oil use. One study found #3: topical application of corn oil (massaged into skin daily at 4800 mg of linoleate) did not prevent or treat essential fatty acid deficiency in critically ill patients receiving intravenous nutrition (Crit Care Med, 1983). This suggests the skin barrier may limit how effectively applied corn oil addresses systemic fatty acid needs. Critically, corn oil should never be injected subcutaneously. Medical case reports document that #4: subcutaneous injection of large volumes of corn oil caused fatal systemic fat embolism and life-threatening neurologic complications, with multiple clients suffering serious adverse effects (Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2009).

This is not a skincare application but a severe safety warning.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Dupont J et al. (1990). Food uses and health effects of corn oil. J Am Coll Nutr.
• Cairone F et al. (2022). Valorization of By-Products from Biofuel Biorefineries: Extraction and Purification of Bioactive Molecules from Post-Fermentation Corn Oil. Foods.
• McCarthy MC et al. (1983). Topical corn oil in the management of essential fatty acid deficiency. Crit Care Med.
• Hain JR (2009). Subcutaneous corn oil injections, fat embolization syndrome, and death. Am J Forensic Med Pathol.
• Johnston RK et al. (1980). Effects of 1,3-butanediol-1,3-dioctanoate and corn oil on lipids of chick plasma, liver, and skin. Poult Sci.

🧴 Products Containing CORN OIL

• CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser
• cerave
• CeraVe CeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin
• BCL momo puri cleansing wash
• Trader Joe’s Fruit & Vegetable Wash
• Leonor grey Régénerescence naturelle
• notriana bust maxx shape xxl cream
• NaturVital Champú anticaída Refrescante