OLIVE OLEIN

Olive olein: what it is, composition and bulk supply

Olive olein is a fractioned olive oil derivative widely used as a base raw material in cosmetic and personal care formulations. Composed mainly of monounsaturated fatty acids, it offers a lightweight, easily absorbed texture that has made it a recurring choice for skin and hair care products developed in Europe. This guide is written for laboratories, indie brands and contract manufacturers and explains what olive olein actually is, how it relates to olive oil, what its main professional uses are and how Royal Bio supplies it in bulk under B2B conditions.

What is olive olein?

Olive olein is a compound derived from olive oil. It is obtained by fractioning olive oil to concentrate the liquid fraction that remains at room temperature, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids. The resulting raw material is mainly composed of these monounsaturated fatty acids, with a light, fluid texture that distinguishes it from other olive-derived ingredients used in cosmetics.

Although it shares its origin with regular olive oil, olive olein is positioned in cosmetic catalogues as a separate base oil with its own identity. Formulators choose it for its sensorial profile and its consistent fluidity, which simplifies handling in oil phases that need to remain liquid across a wide range of working temperatures.

Composition and texture

The composition of olive olein is dominated by monounsaturated fatty acids, which give the oil its characteristically light texture. Compared with whole olive oil, the olein fraction is more fluid and less prone to solidifying in cool environments, a practical advantage in formulation work.

Its texture is light and the oil is easily absorbed by the skin, which is part of the reason why it appears so often in skin and hair care products. The lightweight feel makes it a practical alternative when formulators want an olive-derived oil that is less heavy than the standard pressed oil.

Cosmetic uses of olive olein

Skin care. Olive olein is widely used in the cosmetic industry for the production of skin care products. It is incorporated into facial creams, body milks, lotions, lightweight serums and dry oils as part of the oil phase, where its quick-absorbing texture is a clear sensorial benefit.

Hair care. The raw material also appears in hair care formulations, from leave-in conditioners and styling oils to mask formulas, where the light feel helps avoid the heavy after-feel that some traditional vegetable oils leave on fine hair.

Anhydrous formats. Beyond emulsions, olive olein is a useful base for anhydrous products such as massage oils, body oils, pre-shampoo treatments and similar leave-on formats. Its fluidity simplifies blending with essential oils and active ingredients during compounding.

Soap making. As an olive-derived liquid fraction, olive olein is also of interest to soap makers looking for a fluid olive base for liquid soap, syndet bars and cold-process formulas where a consistent, liquid raw material simplifies production planning.

Olive olein vs. standard olive oil

Olive olein and regular olive oil share the same botanical origin, but the cosmetic value proposition is not identical. Olive oil as such is the whole pressed oil, with its full natural composition and a sensorial profile that includes the heavier note typical of olive oil emollients.

Olive olein, being the fractionated liquid fraction, leans towards a lighter, more fluid texture that is closer to what formulators expect from a "dry feel" cosmetic oil. The choice between one and the other is mainly driven by the desired sensoriality of the finished product and by handling considerations during manufacturing.

CAS: 67701-08-0. EINECS: 266-932-7. INCI: Olein (Fatty Acids, C16-18 and C18 unsaturated).