A Glimmering Guide to Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil

Hippophae is the botanical name for Sea Buckthorn and derives from the Greek meaning ‘shiny horse’.

Sea Buckthorn’s beneficial properties were recognised by ancient civilisations, such as the Greeks, who fed their horses with the leaves, fruit and branches of the plant – This made their horses’ coats exceptionally shiny and healthy, with the leaves of the plants believed to be the favourite food of Pegasus, the mythical flying horse.

But back to humans… and much more recently, cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn has regained popularity in the modern cosmetic and personal care world due to the fruit-bearing plant being recognised for its health benefits. Boasting rich vitamins content, antioxidants and omega fatty acids, this glimmering wonder oil is fast becoming a favourite of cosmetic chemists and formulators.

How is Sea Buckthorn sourced?

This jam-packed, fruity cocktail of natural goodness comes from pressing the seed and pulp of the fruit. Sea Buckthorn shrubs are thorny and dense, known for their abundant bright orange or yellow berries that grow on the female plants only. They are indigenous to Europe and the East, popularly used in Russia, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Poland. Going by the name Star-Bu or Dhar-Bu, Sea Buckthorn is also used in Mongolia and Tibet for its medicinal and nutritional values.

The oil is a dark orange to red-berry colour, as a result of the high carotene content, and at O&3, after we lightly cold-press the fruit pulp, we filter the oil to create an oil that packs a punch! There can be a light glittery shimmer to the oil, adding a beautiful effect to the ingredient and our material sometimes retains more of these glittery-looking waxes within the oil than usual, which can be further removed (but who doesn’t love a bit of sparkle?!). We do like to keep them in, as in essence, these are the nutrients within the oil.

What natural properties does cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil carry?

Not only is Sea Buckthorn Oil one of only fruit oils to contain all 4 omega fats (3,6,7 and 9) essential for maintaining healthy skin, supporting cardiovascular health, and promoting overall well-being, but offers a vast range of additional properties, including:

Antioxidants

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil boasts a rich array of antioxidants which help to combat free radicals and promote overall health.  Carotenoids including beta-carotene, lycopene and zeaxanthin are natural pigments which act as antioxidants, promoting skin health and protecting against oxidative stress.

Vitamins and minerals

Abundant in vitamins and minerals, cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn includes vitamins C, A, E, K, and the B-complex vitamins.

What are the most popular cosmetic products to formulate with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil?

Some popular cosmetic products that can be formulated with Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil are:

Face Serums

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil is used in facial serums to provide deep hydration, reduce inflammation, and promote skin rejuvenation.

Moisturisers and Lotions

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil can be added to moisturisers and lotions to enhance their hydrating and soothing properties. It can help improve the skin’s elasticity, reduce redness, and protect the skin against environmental damage.

Anti-Aging Creams

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil’s high content of antioxidants and vitamins makes it a popular ingredient in anti-aging creams. It can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin tone and texture, and promote a youthful complexion.

Lip Balms

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil is known for its moisturising and healing properties, which make it an excellent ingredient for lip balms. It can help nourish dry and chapped lips, provide a protective barrier, and restore softness.

Hair Care Products

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil can be used in hair care products like shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks. It can help nourish the scalp, improve hair strength and elasticity, and promote healthy hair growth.

Body Oils

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil can be used in body oils to moisturise and revitalise the skin.

Facial Cleansers

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil is added to facial cleansers to provide gentle yet effective cleansing while maintaining the skin’s moisture balance. It can help remove impurities and makeup while nourishing and soothing the skin.

Nail Health

Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil’s moisturising properties can benefit brittle nails, cuticles, and dry skin around the nails.

What blends well with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil?

At O&3, we have Europe’s largest online technical database of natural oils, so it’s only right to picked out some of our favourites to formulate with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn:

Jojoba Oil is a lightweight and non-greasy oil that closely resembles the natural sebum produced by the skin and blends well with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil to help balance oil production, moisturise the skin, and improve absorption.

Rosehip Oil is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. Paired with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil, it can help improve skin elasticity, reduce hyperpigmentation, and promote a youthful complexion.

Argan Oil is a nourishing and moisturising oil, rich in vitamin E and fatty acids. Blended with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil, it can provide deep hydration, improve skin texture, and protect against environmental damage.

Lavender Essential Oil is known for its calming and soothing properties. Together with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil, it can provide a pleasant scent to skincare formulations.

Geranium Essential Oil has a floral and uplifting aroma, which harmonises well with cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil to add a refreshing and balancing element to skincare products. It can also help improve skin tone and balance oil production.

Chamomile Extract is known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties and can complement cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil’s calming effects to help soothe sensitive or irritated skin.

O&3’s Thoughts…

In recent years, there has been a growing consumer interest in embracing the power of natural solutions and beauty products derived from ancient botanical sources. Among these, ingredients such as our cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil is a wonderful, stand-out product that has emerged as a true gem due to its numerous health benefits and remarkable natural properties. Packed with potent properties and abundant nutrients, Sea Buckthorn Oil is a versatile ingredient that offers boundless possibilities for enhancing consumer well-being, both inside and out.

Carefully extracted using a gentle, minimal-impact cold-pressing method, it embraces nature’s wisdom, and its sustainable, eco-friendly credentials sets it apart. We can embrace the transformative power of Sea Buckthorn Oil while supporting a greener world by choosing conscious beauty that leaves a lighter footprint.

Why O&3?

At O&3, we are always looking for new ways to ensure that our natural oils are of the highest quality while minimising our impact on the environment. We’re leaders in the most natural oil extraction process, cold pressing, and we are always adding to our ever-growing list of cold-pressed oils. With a full list of sustainability accreditations; we are aware of how environmental concerns are impacting consumer demands – and we have the solution.

To unlock the secrets of pure, sustainable, Cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn Oil, or any of the other 950+ natural ingredients that we offer, into your formulations, contact us now! Our team of oil experts are always on hand to help. Simply email [email protected] or call us on 01765 522 120 and talk all things oil with us.