NOW Solutions 100% Pure Apricot Kernel Oil: Deep Moisture for Skin & Hair
If your skin feels dry, tight, or weathered, or your hair has lost its natural luster, standard lotions often provide only temporary relief because they rely on water and synthetic fillers. NOW Solutions 100% Pure Apricot Kernel Oil delivers concentrated, cold-pressed plant lipids that closely mirror your skin's natural oils, locking in deep hydration without leaving a greasy residue.
Quick Overview & Firsthand Retail Insight
As an independent, family-owned natural health retailer serving customers online since 1995[cite: 1], VitaNet®, LLC brings over 31 years of direct experience evaluating botanical skincare oils[cite: 1]. In our retail store in Hartville, Ohio[cite: 1], customers frequently ask whether to choose sweet almond oil or apricot kernel oil. While both come from the botanical Prunus genus, apricot kernel oil is distinctly lighter in viscosity. It absorbs faster into the dermal layer, making it ideal for daily facial care, softening fine lines, conditioning brittle hair strands, and serving as a silky carrier oil for essential oil blends[cite: 1].
✓100% Pure Botanical Lipid: Derived entirely from selected Prunus armeniaca kernels.
✓Gentle Extraction: Expeller-pressed and 100% hexane-free, preserving delicate plant sterols and vitamin E.
✓Clean Personal Care: Zero synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, artificial preservatives, or petroleum derivatives.
✓UV-Protective Packaging: Bottle contains UV-protective properties to shield fragile unsaturated fatty acids against oxidation.
Full ingredient transparency is essential for personal care. NOW Solutions maintains single-ingredient purity without dilution:
Ingredient:
100% Pure Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil.
Processing Method: Expeller-pressed. Hexane-free. Vegan. Cruelty-free (not tested on animals).
How the Natural Fatty Acid Profile Restores Your Skin
Apricot kernel oil works effectively because its lipid composition mirrors the natural sebum produced by healthy human skin. Rather than sitting heavily on the surface, it integrates smoothly into the epidermal lipid matrix:
Oleic Acid (Omega-9, approx. 60%–70%): A deeply nourishing monounsaturated fatty acid that conditions the lipid barrier, softens dry and rough patches, and enhances cellular permeability so moisture penetrates past the stratum corneum.
Linoleic Acid (Omega-6, approx. 20%–30%): An essential polyunsaturated fatty acid necessary for ceramide synthesis. Linoleic acid reinforces your skin's moisture barrier, preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) without creating congested pores.
Naturally Occurring Vitamin E (Tocopherols): A fat-soluble antioxidant that shields skin cells and hair shafts from environmental stress, pollution, and lipid peroxidation.
Plant Phytosterols: Bioactive plant compounds (including beta-sitosterol) that comfort reactive skin, calm redness, and enhance micro-elasticity.
Key Benefits: Skin Care, Hair Care & Carrier Oil Use
1. Softens the Appearance of Fine Lines & Dry Aging Skin
As skin matures or experiences environmental exposure, natural lipid production drops, causing fine lines and crepiness. Apricot kernel oil acts as an effective emollient that fills microscopic fissures between epidermal cells. Scientific reviews evaluating plant oils have demonstrated that botanical lipids rich in linoleic and oleic acids significantly aid epidermal barrier recovery and reduce moisture evaporation (Lin et al., Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2018; Vaughn et al., Am. J. Clin. Dermatol., 2018).
2. Revitalizes Dry, Dull, and Brittle Hair
Frequent washing, heat styling, and dry indoor heating strip the protective fatty layer from hair cuticles. Applying a few drops of apricot kernel oil helps smooth raised cuticle scales, tame frizzy flyaways, and seal in natural moisture. Massaging the oil directly into the scalp also relieves surface flakiness without suffocating the hair follicles.
3. The Ideal Lightweight Carrier Oil for Aromatherapy Blends
Because concentrated essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin, they require a stable, gentle base oil. Apricot kernel oil has virtually no aroma, a non-tacky texture, and a smooth glide, making it one of the most reliable carrier oils for massage therapies, customized body oils, and rollerball formulations.
Analytical Quality: NOW Brand In-House Lab Testing & Contaminant Controls
Personal care oils on digital marketplaces frequently suffer from hidden adulteration, such as dilution with inexpensive industrial vegetable oils or chemical solvent contamination. NOW Foods sets an industry benchmark for transparency, operating advanced, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical testing laboratories run by more than 150 dedicated quality-control specialists and scientists.
Heavy Metal Screening via ICP-MS
Every incoming raw lot is analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to screen for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury at parts-per-billion (ppb) sensitivity, adhering to limits stricter than required by FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).
Gas Chromatography (GC-FID & GC-MS) & Solvent Verification
Gas chromatography verifies the precise fatty acid profile of Prunus armeniaca, confirming botanical authenticity while screening to verify the product is 100% free from hexane, benzene, and residual chemical extraction solvents.
Identity Authentication via FTIR Spectroscopy
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) compares each lot's unique molecular fingerprint against pure reference standards, ensuring the oil has not been cut with lower-cost seed oils or synthetic triglycerides.
Peroxide & Acid Value Titration for Freshness
Automated titration checks both acid value and peroxide levels to detect any early oxidative rancidity. This guarantees that the oil reaching your doorstep is stable, fresh, and biologically active.
For Facial Moisturizing: Dispense 2 to 4 drops into slightly damp palms and press gently onto clean skin right after cleansing. Applying oil over slightly moist skin allows it to trap hydration effectively.
For Dry, Frizzy Hair: Rub 2 to 3 drops between your palms and work evenly through the mid-lengths and ends of damp or towel-dried hair.
As an Essential Oil Carrier: Blend 3 to 6 drops of your preferred pure essential oil (such as lavender, tea tree, or frankincense) per one tablespoon (15 mL) of apricot kernel oil for a safe 1% to 2% topical dilution.
Comedogenic Rating & Skin Type Suitability
Apricot kernel oil holds a comedogenic rating of 2 (on a scale from 0 to 5). This means it has a moderately low pore-clogging potential:
Best For: Dry, mature, sensitive, normal, and combination skin types.
Caution for Active Acne: Those experiencing severe cystic breakouts or extremely oily facial skin may prefer a 0-rated oil (such as squalane or mineral oil) or should restrict apricot oil to wash-off cleansing methods and body hydration.
What If Your Oil Looks Cloudy in Cold Weather?
Unrefined and expeller-pressed botanical oils contain natural plant waxes and saturated stearic/palmitic lipids. When ambient temperatures drop below 65°F (18°C) during transit or storage, these components can solidify into tiny, harmless cloud-like particles. This does not indicate rancidity or defect. Simply allow the bottle to rest at room temperature, and it will return to clear golden fluidity.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Apricot Kernel Oil vs. Alternative Carrier Oils
Comparing apricot kernel oil against other popular carrier oils highlights how its fatty acid balance and absorbency align with specific skincare needs:
Carrier Oil
Primary Fatty Acids
Absorption Speed
Comedogenic Score
Primary Application
Apricot Kernel Oil
Oleic (~65%), Linoleic (~28%)
Fast / Velvety glide
2 (Low)
Dry skin, fine lines, scalp care, and aromatherapy base
Can I use NOW Solutions Apricot Kernel Oil directly on my face?
Yes. It is an excellent facial moisturizer for normal, dry, sensitive, or aging skin. Apply 2 to 3 drops to clean, slightly damp skin after washing or over a hydrating serum. Because it has a lightweight comedogenic rating of 2, it absorbs easily without feeling heavy.
Does apricot kernel oil contain amygdalin or cyanide compounds?
No. While raw seeds from wild or bitter apricot varieties contain amygdalin, NOW Solutions uses sweet apricot kernels. The expeller-pressing process, followed by thorough analytical verification, ensures that the resulting cosmetic oil is free from hazardous glycosides or cyanide residues.
Can this oil be used as a carrier for essential oils?
Yes. Apricot kernel oil is widely considered one of the best carrier oils available. It has a near-neutral scent that won't compete with botanical aromas, offers great slip for massage, and facilitates the absorption of fat-soluble aromatic compounds into the skin.
How should I use apricot oil for my hair?
For split ends and frizz, work 2 to 4 drops through the mid-lengths and tips of damp hair. For a dry scalp treatment, massage 1 to 2 teaspoons into the scalp 20 minutes before shampooing, then wash thoroughly.
Can I ingest this oil or cook with it?
Although expeller-pressed apricot kernel oil is naturally food grade, NOW Solutions specifically bottles and packages this item for external personal care and cosmetic use. For dietary purposes, choose oils packaged and labeled with a Nutritional Facts panel.
Why order your supplements and personal care products from VitaNet?
VitaNet®, LLC is an independent, family-owned retailer based in Hartville, Ohio that has served customers online since 1995[cite: 1]. We source directly from trusted manufacturers to guarantee authentic, properly handled inventory[cite: 1]. Every purchase is backed by our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—which even covers return shipping if you are not fully satisfied[cite: 1].
