Why We Don't Use Seed Oils — In Our Kitchen or On Your Skin

Written by Dr. Lauren Schwartz, DAc. Founder of CaCow Beauty.

You've probably heard a lot of buzz lately about seed oils. And if you haven't, you will — because the conversation is gaining serious momentum in both the nutrition world and the clean beauty space.

At CaCow Beauty, we've been paying close attention. As a brand built on preservative-free, all-natural formulations, we think it's worth having an honest conversation about what seed oils actually are, why they've become so controversial, and why we choose not to use them.

What Are Seed Oils, Anyway?

Seed oils are oils extracted from the seeds of plants — things like canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, and grapeseed oil. They became mainstream in the 20th century as cheap, shelf-stable alternatives to traditional fats like butter, lard, and tallow.

Today, they're everywhere. They're in your salad dressing, your chips, your frozen meals — and quietly lurking in a surprising number of skincare products, often listed under names like "linoleic acid," "tocopherol-rich sunflower oil," or simply buried in the ingredients list.

TheProblem with How They're Made

Before we even get to what seed oils do in your body or on your skin, it's worth understanding how most of them are made — because the process alone raises red flags.

Most commercial seed oils go through a process called solvent extraction, using a chemical called hexane to pull oil from seeds at high heat. The oil is then bleached and deodorized to remove the harsh smell and color this process creates. What's left is a highly refined, highly processed product that looks nothing like anything found in nature.

Cold-pressed oils are a different story — they're extracted mechanically without heat or chemicals, and retain far more of their natural nutrients. But the seed oils saturating grocery stores and cosmetic supply chains? Almost universally refined.

TheOmega-6 Problem: Why Balance Matters

Here's where the science gets interesting. Seed oils are extremely high in a type of fat called omega-6 fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid. Omega-6 fats aren't inherently bad — they're actually essential. The problem is proportion.

Ourbodies are designed to function with a roughly equal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Research published in the BMJ Open Heart journal found that excessive linoleic acid intake can throw off this balance, creating conditions favorable to chronic inflammation. A separate National Institutes of Health study linked high omega-6 consumption to increased risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Over the past century, as seed oil consumption has skyrocketed, the average American's omega-6 to omega-3 ratio has shifted from roughly 4:1 to as high as 20:1. That's not a small imbalance — and emerging research is increasingly asking whether that shift is connected to the rise in inflammatory conditions we're seeing across the population.

What Happens When Seed Oils Are Heated

One of the most well-documented concerns about seed oils is what happens to them at high temperatures. Polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) — the dominant fat type in seed oils — are chemically unstable. When exposed to heat, light, or oxygen, they oxidize.

Oxidation produces harmful byproducts called aldehydes and free radicals, which research has associated with cellular damage and inflammation. This is why many nutrition researchers and functional medicine practitioners have moved away from recommending seed oils for cooking at high heat, favoring more stable fats like olive oil, coconut oil, and grass-fed tallow instead.

NowLet's Talk About Your Skin

This is where it gets especially relevant for us at CaCowBeauty.

Seed oils high in polyunsaturated fats face the same oxidation problem when applied to skin. Your skin is constantly exposed to air, light, and temperature changes — the exact conditions that cause PUFAs to oxidize. Research suggests that when these oils oxidize on (or in) your skin, they can generate free radicals that accelerate the aging process and contribute to inflammation.

A study referenced in the British Journal of Dermatology found that topical application of PUFAs was associated with increased skin sensitivity and barrier disruption. Separate research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that diets high in PUFAs were associated with a higher risk of developing atopic dermatitis — and researchers have suggested similar effects may occur with topical use.

There's also the question of phototoxicity: polyunsaturated fats appear to be more susceptible to UV light, meaning PUFA-heavy skincare products may actually increase your skin's vulnerability to sun damage.

TheConventional Beauty Industry's Blind Spot

Here's something that might surprise you: many conventional skincare products — even ones marketed as "natural" or "clean" — contain highly refined seed oils as filler ingredients. They're cheap, they add a smooth texture, and they look fine on a label.

Butcheap and smooth isn't the same as nourishing. At CaCowBeauty, we believe your skin deserves oils that are stable, nutrient-dense, and actually compatible with skin biology — regeneratively sourced grass fed & finished tallow and our pure unrefined cacao butter are both what we call Biomimetic - meaning they structurally and chemically mirror the natural lipids and functions of human skin. Naturally aligning with human sebum, allowing the skin to easily recognize and absorb them - offering deep nourishment, elemental protection & perfectly dependable preservation for that healthy youthful vibrance, resilience & vitality. 

What We Choose Instead

Ourformulations are built around ancient, ancestral, and traditionally used ingredients that have stood the test of time — ingredients with documented benefits, not industrial processing. We stay away from refined seed oils because we believe your skin absorbs what you put on it, and what you put on it should be something your body recognizes and can use.

This philosophy is rooted in the same principles that guide Chinese medicine: work with the body's natural intelligence, not against it. Nourish. Protect. Support the skin's own ability to regenerate.

TheBottom Line

Is the seed oil debate 100% settled? Not yet — science rarely is. But the emerging research is consistent enough, and the precautionary principle clear enough, that we don't need to wait for a perfect consensus to make smarter choices. When something is highly processed, chemically unstable, and increasingly linked to inflammation — in food and on skin — we think it's worth paying attention.

Your skin is your largest organ. What goes on it, goes in it. We think you deserve to know what that is. 

HYDRATE, ILLUMINATE & PRESERVE WITH CACOW BEAUTY.

CaCow Beauty products are formulated without seed oils, synthetic preservatives, or artificial additives. To learn more about our ingredients and philosophy, visit CaCowBeauty.com.