The pace of life today moves along at speeds we all have trouble keeping up with. As we juggle work, home and family, trying our best to live each area of our life to the fullest, it comes as no surprise that we often feel frayed at the edges. One way we counteract this ever-constant pressure is to carve out a small personal space where we can indulge ourselves and try to recapture a sense of calm and wellbeing. Precious oils have long played an important role in this process and Clariant’s latest offering, Plantasens Abyssinian Oil, unfolds a treasure trove of beauty benefits.

Inspiration from Africa
Against the backdrop of a broad range of mountains that rise into cloudless blue skies, fields upon fields stretch out of white flowers on long elegant stalks that sway in the breeze and become nourished by the warmth of a generous sun. This idyllic scene is home to Crambe Abyssinica, a plant that grows in the rich soil of the African highlands, and the seeds of which form the source of Plantasens Abyssinian Oil.

This old world crop has grown in Africa since the beginning of time, and was recently rediscovered and explored by Clariant in response to the growing demand for effective natural ingredients in personal care. With the introduction of Plantasens Abyssinian Oil, Clariant is now sharing a new and wonderful potential for radiant hair and skin.

Healthy Hair
Lustrous hair sends a strong message of health and vitality. Plantasens Abyssinian Oil gives hair a sheen of bright sunlight without weighing it down or leaving a greasy after-feel. An additional benefit is the ease with which tangles can be smoothed out painlessly, making styling a positive pleasure and hair less prone to damage. Plantasens Abyssinian Oil is ideal for use in shampoos and conditioners as well as leave-on treatments.

Radiant Skin
The nourishing and moisturizing properties of Plantasens Abyssinian Oil when used in skin care products are second to none. Soft to the touch, it helps hydrate and protect the skin, going on very smoothly to give the skin a non-greasy matt finish. Perfect for use in face cream, cleansing milk and body lotion, it has also proven itself to be a great partner in sun-care products as it disperses UV filters very effectively (see Fig. 1). The hydrating and protective characters of Plantasens Abyssinian Oil also make it an ideal addition to lipstick and lip balm.

Convincing Results
The secret behind the skin benefits produced by Plantasens Abyssinian Oil lies in its unique composition and characteristics. This precious oil is rich in Omega 6 and 9 and antioxidants that contribute towards keeping the skin nourished and protected. When used in skin creams it also demonstrates superior sensorics to other vegetable oils as well as emollient esters.

This versatile oil also helps to improve the shine and manageability of hair. Plantasens Abyssinian Oil lends brilliance to hair without making it greasy or weighing it down. During dry-comb testing, significantly less force is required than with other oils such as argan, making hair more manageable and leaving it feeling soft and light (see Fig. 2).

A Sustainable Profile
A key concern today, the sustainable profile of ingredients is an important factor when selecting a product, and Plantasens Abyssinian Oil ticks all the right boxes. It is a pure and natural oil that is extracted by cold pressing from Crambe Abyssinica seeds without the use of any solvents. The composition of Plantasens Abyssinian Oil is 100% vegetable, GMO-free and it carries Clariant’s EcoTain sustainability label as well as being Ecocert approved.

Plantasens Abyssinian Oil also makes a contribution to the social and environmental sustainability in Africa. As a fast-growing crop, Crambe Abyssinica brings with it rotational advantages; i.e., rather than further depleting the land, planting Crambe Abyssinica in between the main commodity crops results in a richer soil at the end of its growing season.

This represents a win-win situation for farmers who earn a supplementary income during a time when the fields would otherwise be lying fallow. At the same time, Crambe Abyssinica is working to increase the soil’s fertility for the next planting.

We are all looking for ways to simplify life and find our way back to something more natural. Nourished by the warmth of the sun in the windswept African highlands, pure Plantasens Abyssinian Oil from Clariant offers formulators an inspiring new ingredient and end users the perfect gift of natural radiance for skin and hair.



About the Author
Josué C. Silén is global marketing manager, personal care, Clariant International Ltd., Muttenz, Switzerland. He can be reached at: Tel: +41 61 469 7190; Email: [email protected]