Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

Quick answer: Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a skin support ingredient. Exceptionally rich in omega-7, nourishes mucous membranes, skin and hair from within. Take 1 tsp of oil daily, or apply directly to dry patches of skin.

Role

Skin support

Origin

Wild-harvested on Himalayan slopes and in northern Finland.

Form

Cold-pressed berry oil · standardised palmitoleic acid

Evidence

Emerging, A handful of small placebo-controlled trials on dry eye and skin barrier, with a well-documented omega-7 profile behind them. Promising and specific, not yet a large body of work.

Citations

1 peer-reviewed reference

Worth knowing

A whole-berry oil, generally well tolerated. It is a fat-rich oil, so a meal helps, and it is worth mentioning to a doctor if you take blood thinners.

Origin

Wild-harvested on Himalayan slopes and in northern Finland.

Sourcing

Berries hand-harvested from wild and semi-wild stands. Cold-pressed within 24 hours of picking to retain the full spectrum of omega-7 (palmitoleic acid) and carotenoids.

How it works

Palmitoleic acid is one of the few dietary sources of omega-7, a fatty acid that supports the integrity of mucous membranes throughout the body.

How to take it

Take 1 tsp of oil daily, or apply directly to dry patches of skin.

Form & standardisation

Cold-pressed berry oil · standardised palmitoleic acid

Research

• Yang et al. 2009 · J. Nutritional Biochemistry, Sea buckthorn oil supplementation improved symptoms of dry eye in a placebo-controlled trial.

Frequently asked questions