What Is Arachis Hypogaea Flour?
Arachis Hypogaea Flour is the fine powder that comes from grinding peanuts, the seeds of the Arachis hypogaea plant. Peanuts are rich in proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, and traces of these nutrients remain in the flour. Centuries ago ground peanuts were valued in folk skincare for their gentle scrubbing feel. Modern formulators picked up on this traditional use and began adding the flour to creams and scrubs in the late 20th century, helped by improved milling methods that produce a uniform, soft powder.
The process starts with high quality, de-shelled peanuts that are cleaned, lightly heat treated to remove moisture, then milled and sifted to reach a consistent particle size. Some manufacturers remove part of the oil first, creating a lower-fat flour that is easier to stabilize in water-based products.
You will most often spot Arachis Hypogaea Flour in face and body scrubs, clay or cream masks, gentle exfoliating cleansers, hair masks, volumizing shampoos, thick lotions, and certain natural-style foundations where it helps with texture.
Arachis Hypogaea Flour’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This versatile plant powder brings several useful properties to beauty formulas.
- Abrasive: The tiny peanut particles provide mild physical exfoliation, helping lift away dead surface cells to reveal smoother looking skin
- Hair Conditioning: Natural proteins and lipids coat hair strands, adding a touch of softness and making detangling easier
- Skin Conditioning: Residual oils and proteins form a light film that can leave skin feeling moisturized and supple after rinsing
- Viscosity Controlling: The flour swells slightly in water, thickening the product so it feels rich and stays in place during use
Who Can Use Arachis Hypogaea Flour
Arachis Hypogaea Flour is generally gentle enough for normal, dry, combination and even mildly oily skin, thanks to its light exfoliating action and softening lipids. Very sensitive or compromised skin may find any physical scrub too stimulating so a patch of redness or micro-tears could occur if the product is massaged too vigorously.
Individuals with a peanut allergy should avoid it altogether because even topical contact can trigger an allergic response in susceptible people.
The flour is 100% plant derived so it is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. No animal by-products or processing aids are involved in its production.
There are no specific warnings for pregnant or breastfeeding women when Arachis Hypogaea Flour is used in rinse-off or leave-on cosmetics. That said this is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should run any skincare product they plan to use past a qualified health professional.
The ingredient does not increase photosensitivity so your usual sun protection routine is sufficient. It can be used morning or night without raising the risk of UV-related irritation.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to topical Arachis Hypogaea Flour differ from person to person. The points below outline potential side effects yet most users will not experience them provided the product is well formulated and used as directed.
- Allergic reaction in people with peanut sensitivity, ranging from redness and hives to more serious swelling
- Mechanical irritation or micro-scratches if scrubbed too hard on delicate skin
- Clogged pores if the flour is combined with heavy oils and not rinsed thoroughly, especially on very oily skin
- Rare contact dermatitis from other trace compounds naturally present in peanuts
If you notice any discomfort, itching or swelling while using a product that contains Arachis Hypogaea Flour stop using it immediately and consult a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 2 out of 5. Arachis Hypogaea Flour contains a small amount of residual peanut oil, which on its own is considered mildly comedogenic. Because most of the oil is removed during processing and the flour is usually rinsed off after use, the pore-clogging risk is low to moderate rather than high. People who are very prone to acne can generally tolerate it in wash-off products, but leave-on formulas might feel too rich for extremely oily skin.
In short, the ingredient is usually acceptable for breakout-prone users yet may not be ideal if you know your skin reacts easily to any oils or heavy textures.
The risk of clogged pores also depends on the overall formula. When the flour is paired with lighter emulsifiers and is meant to be rinsed away quickly, it behaves as a gentle exfoliant rather than a heavy occlusive.
Summary
Arachis Hypogaea Flour works as a mild abrasive that buffs away dull surface cells, a skin and hair conditioner thanks to its plant proteins and leftover lipids, and a natural thickener that gives creams and masks a satisfying body. It is still something of a niche ingredient compared with sugar or salt scrubs, though its clean-label appeal is helping it pop up in more eco-minded formulas.
Overall safety is high for anyone without a peanut allergy. Side effects are rare and generally linked to over-scrubbing or pre-existing nut sensitivity. As with any new cosmetic it is wise to patch test first so you can be sure your skin is happy before applying it more widely.