PUTRAJAYA, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The high content of vitamin E in palm oil,which is a powerful antioxidant has enabled the golden crop to leave itsmagic touch in the cosmetic industry as well, a congress was toldWednesday.

"Palm oil is allotted emollient, moisturising, and softening properties.It is a component of the oily phase and a good skin conditioner....ithelps delay skin aging," said Martha Tilaar, from the Martha Tilaar Group,Indonesia.

Given these properties, it can be used in any cosmetic product as anactive principle or as a carrier in a good skin conditioner, she said.

Among products that can use palm oil are skin and body care products, babycare and sun care, shampoo, masks and hair styling.

The usage of palm oil is also extended to aromatherapy, she said whenpresenting a paper entitled: "The Magic Power of Palm Oil in Cosmetics andPersonnel Care Product," at the MPOB International Palm Oil Conference2003 here.

She said the non-genetically modified or no-GMO tag on palm oil alsocarried more weight or selling point for palm oil based cosmetics in theindustry.

Palm oil also produces environment friendly products as they are readilybiodegradable, she added.

With all this positive elements and the increasing demand for "natural andmultifunctional" products, three representatives from the Malaysian PalmOil Board (MPOB) believe that there is big market for palm oil-basedcosmetics.

Rubaah Masri, Zahariah Ismail and Salmiah Ahmad said this in their jointpresentation paper entitled, "Palm-Based Cosmetics and Personal CareProduct with Local Ingredients" at the last day of the palm oil congress.

"Nature has long shown her presence in some personal care products, but aspeople strive to live longer and healthier lives, natural ingredients arebecoming standard throughout all product categories," they said.

However, for local cosmetic products to effectively compete with the moreestablished imported brands, proper research and development (R&D) shouldbe carried out, they said.

The know-how on the formulation aspects, the microbiology, safety andefficacy data should be established to support the products, they added.

-- BERNAMA