Meadowfoam seed oil works just as well as synthetic alternatives at dispersing pigments in lipstick, creating smooth formulations with low friction and good color payoff. It performed comparably to castor oil and octyldodecanol across particle size, wetting ability, and lipstick stability over 4 weeks—making it a viable natural swap for conventional dispersing agents.

Researchers made lipstick pigment dispersions using three different oils at varying concentrations, then tested how well each dispersed color particles and performed in actual lipstick formulas. They measured texture, spreadability, hardness, color intensity, and how long the formulas stayed stable.

Funding not disclosed in abstract