Pumpkin seed oil

Q: Is pumpkin seed oil safe?

No restriction applies to the ingredient in the EU. We retained no CIR or SCCS assessment for this oil: the tolerance of a formula is checked with tests on the finished product. During pregnancy, as with any skincare product, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.

Pumpkin seed oil is pressed from the seeds of Cucurbita pepo9. It contains mostly unsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid first, plus tocopherols and phytosterols1. CosIng classifies it as an emollient and a skin conditioning agent9. We found no cosmetic clinical trial of the oil applied to the skin.

Mohamed El HjoujiFounder and CEO · Updated November 3, 2026 · Reading time 8 min

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Pumpkin seed oil at a glance

Entry from our cosmetic ingredient glossary. Regulatory data from the European Commission's CosIng database9. Copy the identifiers in one click for your files.

INCI name: CUCURBITA PEPO SEED OILUS INCI name: Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil9
Other names: Pumpkin seed oilPumpkin seed oil; squash seed oil
CAS number: 8016-49-7CosIng also lists 89998-03-89
EC number: 289-741-0Number linked to CAS 89998-03-8 in CosIng9
Botanical origin: Squash (Cucurbitaceae)Oil obtained by pressing the seeds of the squash Cucurbita pepo L.9
Composition: Unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid firstWith tocopherols, phytosterols and phenolic acids; composition varies with the cultivar and the extraction method1
Minor compounds: Polyphenols, phytoestrogens, carotenoids, squaleneAccording to a 2022 review, which also notes that the production process changes their content2
CosIng functions: Emollient, skin conditioning"Skin conditioning - emollient" and "skin conditioning"9
EU status: No restriction specific to the ingredientNot listed in Annexes II to VI of Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, consolidated May 1, 2025; only the general mention on ozone-depleting substances appears in CosIng9 10
Allergen to declare: NoNot listed in Annex III or in the fragrance allergen list of Regulation (EU) 2023/154510
Safety (CIR, SCCS): No assessment retainedWe did not retain a CIR or SCCS assessment specific to this oil

What the research says

Each result shows the protocol and the level of evidence. The higher the level, the better the result carries over to a finished formula.

Clinical trialReview or consensusLaboratory

Composition and materialChemistry

Mostly unsaturated fatty acids

Review

2024 reviewExtraction, constituents

The oil contains a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid, with tocopherols, phytosterols and phenolic acids1. Yield and composition vary with the cultivar and the extraction method1.

One oil among fourteen analyzed by chromatography

Laboratory

Gas chromatography14 vegetable oils

Pumpkin seed oil is one of fourteen oils whose fatty acid methyl esters were measured. Palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids dominate across all the oils tested3.

A stable cream with 20% oil

Laboratory

Formulation study12 weeks at 25 and 40 °C

An oil-in-water emulsion containing 20% pumpkin seed oil, vitamin E oil and beeswax stayed physically and microbiologically stable. Adding vitamin E has a synergistic effect on the α-tocopherol content (combination index 0.98)4.

Skin and bodySkincare, bodycare

Mostly laboratory studies

Review

2022 reviewComposition, activities, safety

The review states that most studies are run in vitro and support an antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. It notes use of the oil in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries2. We found no controlled trial measuring hydration or the skin barrier with this oil alone.

Hair and scalpHaircare

An oral trial, outside the cosmetic field

Clinical trial

Randomized double-blind trial76 men400 mg a day by mouth, 24 weeks

This trial covers hormone-related hair loss and a swallowed supplement, not an applied oil. We do not repeat its results: they are medical and do not carry over to a cosmetic product5.

In mice, an oil applied at 10%

Laboratory

Male mice10% oil, 6 days a week, 3 weeks

In a model where testosterone slows regrowth, the 10% oil raised the share of follicles in the growth phase to 75 ± 5.3%, versus 44.4 ± 15% with testosterone alone6. This is an animal model: the result does not carry over directly to humans.

Evidence judged limited by the reviews

Review

2025 reviewsOils, onion juice, rosemary and others

The reviews point to small samples, short durations, studies on combined products, a lack of comparison with references and conflicts of interest. They call for better designed trials7 8.

This page summarizes published literature on a cosmetic ingredient. It does not describe the effect of a finished product, which depends on its formula, and it is not medical advice. Several of the studies cited were run or funded by industry; this is indicated in the sources.

Which products use pumpkin seed oil?

Our white label catalog includes 2 formulas with pumpkin seed oil, always as a supporting ingredient. Every category can be customized (formula, fragrance, packaging).

2Hair

Supporting oil in hair oils, scalp care and leave-in care.

Hair oils2

In our formulas, it is most often paired with

Wheat germ oil 2 Sweet almond oil 1 Avocado oil 1

Pumpkin seed, sesame, soybean or mustard oil?

Four seed oils often mixed up in ingredient lists. Their composition and regulatory status differ.

	Pumpkin seed oil	Sesame oil	Soybean oil	Mustard oil
Composition	Mostly unsaturated, linoleic acid first1	Lignans (sesamin, sesamol), tocopherols, phytosterols11	Triglycerides of oleic, linoleic and saturated acids12	Yellow mustard oil: 42.8% erucic acid13
EU regulation	No specific restriction	No specific restriction	No specific restriction	Allyl isothiocyanate banned (Annex II)10
Carmel catalog formulas	2 formulas	3 formulas	2 formulas	1 formula

Frequently asked questions about pumpkin seed oil

What is pumpkin seed oil?

It is the oil pressed from the seeds of the squash Cucurbita pepo9. It contains mostly unsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid first1. Its INCI name is CUCURBITA PEPO SEED OIL.

What are the benefits of pumpkin seed oil in cosmetics?

CosIng classifies it as an emollient and a skin conditioning agent9. The available reviews mostly describe laboratory studies (antioxidant, antimicrobial activity)2. We found no controlled trial measuring its cosmetic effect alone on the skin.

Is pumpkin seed oil good for hair?

No peer-reviewed study found for this page measures the effect of a pumpkin seed hair product applied on humans. The existing controlled trial covers an oral supplement and a medical endpoint5. The reviews judge the evidence limited7 8. In formulation, it is used as a supporting oil in a hair oil.

Does pumpkin seed oil stop hair loss?

We do not claim it. The available data come from an oral trial5 and a mouse model6, and the reviews call for stronger studies7 8. A cosmetic product cannot claim this effect.

What is the composition of pumpkin seed oil?

Mostly unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid first), tocopherols, phytosterols and phenolic acids1. Contents vary with the cultivar and the extraction1.

Is pumpkin seed oil safe?

No restriction applies to the ingredient in the EU9 10. We retained no CIR or SCCS assessment for this oil: the tolerance of a formula is checked with tests on the finished product. During pregnancy, as with any skincare product, a healthcare professional's advice remains the rule.

Can you manufacture a pumpkin seed oil product for my brand?

Yes. Our ISO 22716 certified lab offers 2 formulas that contain it, as a supporting oil in hair oils, which you can customize, or a custom formula. Samples are free.

Sources

Peer-reviewed studies and official regulatory sources, checked on November 3, 2026.

Hu Z, Hu C, Li Y, et al. Pumpkin seed oil: a comprehensive review of extraction methods, nutritional constituents, and health benefits. J Sci Food Agric. 2024;104(2):572-582. doi:10.1002/jsfa.12952
Šamec D, Loizzo MR, Gortzi O, et al. The potential of pumpkin seed oil as a functional food: a comprehensive review of chemical composition, health benefits, and safety. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2022;21(5):4422-4446. doi:10.1111/1541-4337.13013
Orsavova J, Misurcova L, Ambrozova JV, et al. Fatty acids composition of vegetable oils and its contribution to dietary energy intake and dependence of cardiovascular mortality on dietary intake of fatty acids. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16(6):12871-12890. doi:10.3390/ijms160612871
Ong TS, Chu CC, Tan CP, Nyam KL. Preparation and evaluation pumpkin seed oil-based vitamin E cream formulations for topical application. J Oleo Sci. 2020;69(4):297-306. doi:10.5650/jos.ess19250
Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:549721. doi:10.1155/2014/549721
Hajhashemi V, Rajabi P, Mardani M. Beneficial effects of pumpkin seed oil as a topical hair growth promoting agent in a mice model. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2019;9(6):499-504. doi:10.22038/AJP.2019.13463
Ahmed A, Alali AM, Abdullah E, et al. Herbal remedies for hair loss: a review of efficacy and safety. Skin Appendage Disord. 2025;11(4):360-371. doi:10.1159/000542876
Bikash C. Topical alternatives for hair loss: beyond the conventional. Int J Trichology. 2025;17(1):13-19. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_8_23
European Commission. CosIng, entry CUCURBITA PEPO SEED OIL (CAS 8016-49-7 / 89998-03-8, EC 289-741-0). CosIng 75438
European Parliament and Council. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, consolidated version of May 1, 2025 (Annexes II to VI, Article 17). EUR-Lex. EUR-Lex 1223/2009
Oboulbiga EB, Douamba Z, Compaoré-Sérémé D, et al. Physicochemical, potential nutritional, antioxidant and health properties of sesame seed oil: a review. Front Nutr. 2023;10:1127926. doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1127926
European Commission. CosIng, entry GLYCINE SOJA OIL (CAS 8001-22-7, EC 232-274-4). CosIng 34121
Li C, Cai B, Li W, et al. Processing characteristics, typical components, and biological activities of yellow mustard seed oil. J Food Sci. 2026;91(7):e71237. doi:10.1111/1750-3841.71237

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Pumpkin seed oil at a glance

What the research says

Composition and materialChemistry

Mostly unsaturated fatty acids

One oil among fourteen analyzed by chromatography

A stable cream with 20% oil

Skin and bodySkincare, bodycare

Mostly laboratory studies

Hair and scalpHaircare

An oral trial, outside the cosmetic field

In mice, an oil applied at 10%

Evidence judged limited by the reviews

Which products use pumpkin seed oil?

2Hair

Pumpkin seed, sesame, soybean or mustard oil?

Frequently asked questions about pumpkin seed oil

Further reading

Sources

Tell us about your project