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Guava seed oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the guava, Psidium guajava, a small tropical tree grown across Central and South America, Asia and Africa. The seeds are the gritty part you spit out when you eat the fruit, and in the fruit trade they are a waste stream. Pressing them gives a light, pale oil. This guide covers what guava seed oil is, and how it is used.
Where does guava seed oil come from?
From the seed, not the pulp. Guava juice and purée factories are left with tonnes of seed, and the oil is pressed from that. It is a genuine by-product: nothing is grown specially for it, which is unusual among cosmetic oils and a reasonable argument in its favour.
What is in it?
Guava seed oil leads strongly with linoleic acid, the omega-6 fatty acid, at well over seventy per cent in most analyses. It also carries a small amount of vitamin E. It is one of the more linoleic-heavy plant oils available, which sets it apart from oleic oils such as olive, argan or marula.
What does it feel like?
Thin and dry. It spreads far, sinks in quickly and leaves very little on the surface. If you have tried grapeseed or safflower oil, guava seed oil sits in that same category, only rarer and more expensive.
What do people use guava seed oil for?
- as a light facial oil for skin that finds richer oils too heavy
- as a base for a serum, with or without other oils
- on hair ends, where a light oil adds shine without weight
- for anyone deliberately looking for a high-linoleic oil
How do you use it on the face?
Two or three drops on cleansed, slightly damp skin, pressed in with the fingertips rather than rubbed. It layers well: the oil first, a cream on top, or a single drop stirred into your cream in the palm of your hand.
Can you mix it with other oils?
Yes, and that is how most people use it. A thin oil like guava seed pairs well with a heavier one when you want some of the richness but not all of it. Start at one part guava to one part of the heavier oil and adjust from there.
How should it be stored?
Cool, dark and tightly closed. Oils this high in linoleic acid oxidise faster than oleic ones. Keep it away from the window and out of a steamy bathroom, and replace it if the smell turns sharp.
Is guava seed oil comedogenic?
It is generally described as low on the comedogenic scale, which is what you would expect from a thin, fast-absorbing oil. Scales like that are rough guides rather than measurements, so if you are unsure, use it on a small area for a week before you commit to it.
Do you need to patch test it?
Yes, as with any new oil. Put a little on the inside of your forearm and leave it a day before using it on your face.
Where does Aza Natural's guava seed oil come from?
We sell guava seed oil cold-pressed and pure, with nothing added. Other single-ingredient oils are in the pure oils section.
