Soybean oil is a versatile natural ingredient that is very common in skin care products. Soybean can be found in products from moisturizers to lip balms and sunscreens and has very few side-effects or risks of use unless you are prone to acne. The anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, and anti-aging properties of soybean oil make it a great choice for dry, resistant skin types' regimens. If you are looking for a well studied and proven ingredient for inflammation, aging, or dry skin concerns, take our quiz to see if soybean oil is right for you!

Soybean oil is great for moisturizers, anti-aging products, and anti-inflammatory products because of its chemical composition.

Ceramides, Linoleic acid, A-linolenic acid, and Beta-sitosterol are wonderful for the purposes of inflammation and barrier treatments. (2)

Soybean oil contains all three essential parts of the skin barrier's lipid matrix, free fatty acids, ceramides, and a cholesterol equivalent.

Repairing the skin barrier while supplying moisturizing fatty acids makes soybean great for inflammation and dry skin care.

The anti-cancerous phenolic compounds like lecithins, lectins, and isoflavones are great antioxidant ingredients. Antioxidants bind and eliminate free radicals on the skin that could otherwise lead to genetic damage or even cancer.

Antioxidants are important for the prevention and treatment of wrinkles on the skin. (1)

Additionally for anti-aging skin care, peptides are great for temporarily alleviating deep wrinkles or fine lines on the skin.

It is important to note that isoflavones bind to the estrogen receptors in the body, stimulating them to produce more estrogen. Over long periods of repeated exposure to soybean oil, it is possible that use of soybean oil in skin care can lead to a higher than desired level of estrogen in men. (9)

The skin types that would benefit the most from soybean oil are dry, resistant, wrinkle prone skin types who are also women. If you are a man and are thinking about using soybean oil in skin care, you may want to keep an eye on your estrogen levels.

Soybean oil contains compounds that make it great for barrier repair moisturizer, a potent anti-aging ingredient, and a solid anti-inflammatory as well. 

Linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, ceramides, and beta-sitosterol are all great for repairing the skin barrier which helps prevent transepidermal water loss (evaporation of water from the face.)

The peptides found in soybean oil smooth wrinkles temporarily by basically bonding to existing proteins in the skin and creating a smooth surface. (16) This effect is not permanent.

The most exciting potential benefit of soybean oil is that it has demonstrated interesting anti-cancer benefits in studies. (10,11)

Most research on soybean oil is built around its use in diet, so more research on its effects in skin care is required, especially for cancer prevention.

The main side-effects attributed to the use of soybean oil in skin care are allergies and an increase of estrogen in the body.

If you are allergic to soybean oil in your diet, you are likely also allergic to it in skin care. Take note of the ingredients on your skin care labels to be sure you are avoiding your allergens.

Otherwise, it is important to be clear that soybean oil is comedogenic and will clog the pores of acne prone skin types. Be sure to avoid products with soybean oil if you often have acne.

As with many moisturizing ingredients, overuse and hyperhydration of the skin can eventually result in a change to the microbiome, creating an environment where acne causing and other bacteria might flourish. It is important to not moisturize your face if it is already oily.

Estrogen is the hormone responsible for many biologically female characteristics in the body, and some studies have found that overexposure of estrogen for men can result in various concerns like changes in sperm/fertility. (12)

All that said, organizations like the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel have found that soybean oil and its components are safe for regulated use in skin care products. 

Soybean oil is very comedogenic, meaning it Causes clogged pores. 

If you have oily skin and often have pimples, this is simply not the right ingredient for you. I do not recommend using soybean oil for acne treatments, instead, consider some of these products for acne.

The main benefit of soybean oil in skin care is as a potent anti-inflammatory and moisturizing ingredient. Products containing soybean oil can be used to treat a variety of inflammation based concerns such as a damaged skin barrier, eczema, or even psoriasis in some cases. If you have inflamed, dry skin, soybean oil could be a great ingredient for your skin care.

Inflammation is a complicated skin concern with many causes and various treatments based on the kind of inflammation. Be sure to check out our blog all about the science of inflammation to gain the tools you need to combat inflammation!

Studies have found that linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid are effective in lightening skin following sun damage (13). 

High concentrations of linoleic acid have been shown to inhibit tyrosinase production in the skin, which results in fewer dark keratinocytes at the surface of the skin. It is not a myth that soybean oil lightens skin, it is supported by research. (14)

The best skin lightening products contain a combination of multiple skin lightening ingredients, and often use tyrosinase inhibitors, PAR-2 blockers, and an exfoliator in some combination. For a comprehensive list of our favorite skin lightening ingredients, check out this article!

Soybean oil can change the amount of estrogen in your body because it contains compounds called isoflavones which bind to and stimulate the estrogen receptors in your body. This is why it is often found in skin care to treat menopausal skin.

It is unclear how much soybean oil is needed to make a notable impact on estrogen levels because it varies from person to person, however many studies have shown an increase in estrogen following the use of soy. (15)

More research needs to be conducted that focuses specifically on the effect topical application of soybean oil has on estrogen production.

If you are concerned with an increase in estrogen in your body, you might want to avoid using soybean oil in your skin care.

Soybean oil helps with the prevention and treatment of aging skin through multiple mechanisms due to its versatile components such as peptides and antioxidants.

Peptides are an increasingly common addition to anti-aging products because they smooth the skin and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. (1) The peptides in soybean oil have also been shown to aid in the synthesis of collagen, a crucial building block of the skin that gives it strength. (17)

Antioxidants bind free radicals on the skin that can otherwise lead to genetic damage and further wrinkles. 

There are many kinds of anti-aging ingredients that treat and prevent wrinkles through various means; for a complete list of our favorite anti-aging ingredients categorized and explained, check out this blog.

Wondering which soy products are best for your skin?  Let me help.  Take the skincare routine quiz and we will help you build a custom skin care routine.

1. Baumann L. Antiaging Ingredients in Ch. 37 of Baumann's Cosmetic Dermatology Ed 3. (McGraw Hill 2022)
2. Baumann, L. Ch.  Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
3. Sugano, M., Ed., Soy in Health and Disease Prevention, CRC Press, FL, USA,  2006.  
4.  Messina, M.J., Soybean foods: their role in disease prevention and treatment.  In Soybean: Chemistry, Technology, and Utilization. Chapman and Hall:  New York, USA, 1997, pp. 442-447.
5. Perez-Ruiz, A. G., Ganem, A., Olivares-Corichi, I. M., & García-Sánchez, J. R. (2018). Lecithin–chitosan–TPGS nanoparticles as nanocarriers of (−)-epicatechin enhanced its anticancer activity in breast cancer cells. RSC advances, 8(61), 34773-34782.
6. Zhao, X., Zhang, X., & Liu, D. (2021). Collagen peptides and the related synthetic peptides: A review on improving skin health. Journal of Functional Foods, 86, 104680.
7. Yoshiki, Y., Kudou, S., Okubo, K. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 1998, 62,  2291-2299.  
8. Messina, M. J., & Wood, C. E. (2008). Soy isoflavones, estrogen therapy, and breast cancer risk: analysis and commentary. Nutrition journal, 7, 1-11.
9. Messina, M.J. Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 1999, 70, 439-450.  
10. Lichtenstein, A.H. J. Nutr., 1998, 128, 1589-1592.  
11. O’donnell, L., Robertson, K. M., Jones, M. E., & Simpson, E. R. (2001). Estrogen and spermatogenesis. Endocrine reviews, 22(3), 289-318.
12. Ma, Q., Davidson, P. M., & Zhong, Q. (2016). Antimicrobial properties of microemulsions formulated with essential oils, soybean oil, and Tween 80. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 226, 20-25.
13. Ando, H., Ryu, A., Hashimoto, A., Oka, M., & Ichihashi, M. (1998). Linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid lightens ultraviolet-induced hyperpigmentation of the skin. Archives of dermatological research, 290, 375-381.
14. Rendon, M. I., & Gaviria, J. I. (2005). Review of skin‐lightening agents. Dermatologic surgery, 31, 886-890.
15. Doerge, D. R., & Sheehan, D. M. (2002). Goitrogenic and estrogenic activity of soy isoflavones. Environmental health perspectives, 110(suppl 3), 349-353.
16. Izumi, T., Saito, M., Obata, A., Arii, M., Yamaguchi, H., & Matsuyama, A. (2007). Oral intake of soy isoflavone aglycone improves the aged skin of adult women. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 53(1), 57-62.
17. Tokudome, Y., Nakamura, K., Kage, M., Todo, H., Sugibayashi, K., & Hashimoto, F. (2012). Effects of soybean peptide and collagen peptide on collagen synthesis in normal human dermal fibroblasts. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 63(6), 689-695.