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What cold-pressed really means
A morning at the press, and why heat is the enemy of a good oil.
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5 min read
“Cold-pressed” appears on a lot of labels. It is worth knowing what it means, because it changes what ends up in the bottle.
Heat is the enemy
Most commercial oils are extracted with heat and solvents, which is fast and cheap. It also breaks down the fatty acids and antioxidants that make plant oils useful for skin in the first place.
A cold press works slowly. Seeds and fruit are crushed at low temperature, and the oil is simply squeezed out. The yield is lower, the colour is deeper and the scent is closer to the plant.
What it means for you
A cold-pressed oil keeps more of its vitamins and is gentler on reactive skin. It also has a shorter shelf life, which is why we press in small batches every Monday and print the pressing date on every bottle.
Words by Marta Oliveira, founder of Oleia
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