Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil
Neem seed oil; cold-pressed or refined oil from seeds of Azadirachta indica (neem tree)
Rich in oleic acid (~50%) and palmitic acid; contains tetranortriterpenes (azadirachtin, nimbin, nimbidin) at trace levels in refined oil; strong sulfurous odour in crude form - deodorised/refined grades preferred in cosmetics; antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory; traditional Indian cosmetic ingredient (5000-year history); comedogenicity moderate (2-3/5); distinguish from neem leaf extract (different INCI, different regulatory profile)
Function & Common Use
Emollient / Skin conditioning / Antimicrobial / Insect repellent
Plant Oil / Emollient
Anti-dandruff hair care, scalp treatments, acne-targeting products, body oils, Ayurvedic cosmetics
Plant derived
Concentration Limits
No limit
No limit for cosmetic use; note EU Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) 528/2012 regulates neem-based insect repellents separately
No limit for cosmetic use; note EPA pesticide registration is separate
No limit
Baby restriction: Use refined oil; strong odour of crude oil may limit use; no formal restriction identified
Pregnancy: Oral neem preparations have historical emmenagogue use - not applicable to refined topical cosmetic seed oil; no restriction identified for cosmetic use
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil safe to use in skincare?
Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil has a Low concern rating from The Clean Sheet. Rich in oleic acid (~50%) and palmitic acid; contains tetranortriterpenes (azadirachtin, nimbin, nimbidin) at trace levels in refined oil; strong sulfurous odour in crude form - deodorised/refined grades preferred in cosmetics; antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory; traditional Indian cosmetic ingredient (5000-year history); comedogenicity moderate (2-3/5); distinguish from neem leaf extract (different INCI, different regulatory profile)
Is Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil allowed in India?
Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil is currently classified as "Permitted cosmetic ingredient under Cosmetics Rules 2020; traditional Ayurvedic ingredient with long established use in India" under Indian cosmetics regulations. No concentration limit is specified for India.
What is Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil used for in cosmetics?
Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil functions as: Emollient / Skin conditioning / Antimicrobial / Insect repellent. It is commonly found in: Anti-dandruff hair care, scalp treatments, acne-targeting products, body oils, Ayurvedic cosmetics.
Can Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil cause an allergic reaction?
Yes. Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil has an allergen flag (None identified for refined seed oil; unrefined/crude neem oil has strong odour; contact dermatitis reported rarely with crude oil). If you have sensitive skin or known fragrance/contact allergies, patch-test products containing this ingredient before full use.
Is Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil safe for babies?
Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil has baby/child restrictions: Use refined oil; strong odour of crude oil may limit use; no formal restriction identified. Avoid using products containing this ingredient on infants unless specifically formulated and labelled for baby use.
Regulatory Status
EU Annex: None
Identifiers
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