Sea Buckthorn Oil
What is sea buckthorn?
Sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, is a hardy, thorny shrub that grows in cold, dry places from the Himalayas to northern Europe. In autumn it is covered in small, bright orange berries. The oil from those berries and their seeds is one of the most vividly coloured oils in nature, a deep amber-orange that comes from its natural carotenoids.
What is in it
| Compound | What it is |
|---|---|
| Palmitoleic acid (omega-7) | A fatty acid that is rare in plant oils and naturally present in skin, which makes sea buckthorn unusual |
| Carotenoids | The plant pigments behind its orange colour, with antioxidant activity |
| Tocopherols and omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids | Natural vitamin E and a broad mix of fatty acids that nourish and soften skin |
Why we chose it
Bio Retinol Elixir is built for skin that looks dull, tired or uneven. Sea buckthorn brings the radiance: its carotenoids and rare omega-7 fatty acid help skin look nourished, healthy and lit from within. It is also why the elixir has its warm golden colour.
What does the research show?
A 2017 review in Lipids in Health and Disease describes sea buckthorn oil's unusual mix of fatty acids, including palmitoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid, and summarises its long use in products for dry, flaky and ageing skin. Most of this evidence is about the oil's composition and traditional use rather than controlled skin trials, so we treat it as a nourishing, radiance-giving botanical rather than a treatment.
How we use it
Sea buckthorn oil is part of Bio Retinol Elixir, our day face oil, alongside bakuchi, rosehip and licorice root. It contains no retinol, no water and no synthetic fragrance.
Use 6 drops each morning on clean skin, pressed in gently, then follow with SPF.
Frequently asked questions
Will sea buckthorn oil stain my skin orange?
Pure sea buckthorn oil can leave a brief orange tint. In Bio Retinol Elixir it is blended with lighter oils, so it gives a warm glow rather than a stain once pressed in.
What is omega-7?
Omega-7, or palmitoleic acid, is a fatty acid found naturally in skin. It is rare in plant oils, and sea buckthorn is one of its richest sources.
Should I patch test first?
Yes. Any plant oil can cause a reaction. Apply a drop along your jawline and wait 24 hours before your first full use.
Which Sapphire Botanics product contains sea buckthorn oil?
Bio Retinol Elixir, our day face oil. It is also included in the Discovery Set and Power Couple.
Sources
- Zielińska A, Nowak I. Abundance of active ingredients in sea-buckthorn oil. Lipids in Health and Disease. 2017;16(1):95.