Seabuckthorn grows wild near our workshop in Cornwall. Some folk call the berries produced by these shrubs Seaberries, as they predominantly grow in Coastal areas and if you are lucky enough to live in Cornwall you might see them producing their brightly coloured orange/red berries around now.
The berries produce one of our favourite oils for formulating. The oil is a deep rich colour, with magical properties and we add a little of this good stuff to many of our products, from our lotions to our face oils to our balms, to our ingredient rich face moisturisers.
The benefits of Seabuckthorn are numerous and have been cherished for centuries across various cultures. Rich in vitamins C and E, as well as essential fatty acids like Omega-7, Seabuckthorn oil promotes skin health by aiding in the repair and rejuvenation of skin cells, plus its high antioxidant content helps in combating free radicals, thus preventing premature aging. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent remedy for reducing redness and swelling, making it a popular choice for treating acne, eczema, and rosacea.
Additionally, seabuckthorn oil is known to support cardiovascular health by improving blood circulation - which makes it an excellent ingredient addition to any body scrubs (watch this space for our new body scrub launch later this Autumn!)
It's not the cheapest ingredient - but should anything you apply to your skin ever be cheap? And although we don't sell it neat, you can buy it from a reputable source like the Soap Kitchen who are a go-to for all ingredients if you are a home crafter or formulator.
If you'd like to have a go using this ingredient, my suggestion would be less is more - you really don't need to apply this oil neat to the skin as it is so vitamin rich and potent that a small volume is required. Check out my recipe ideas below:
Sea Buckthorn Massage Oil for Dry Patches, Eczema and Psoriasis
15ml Seabuckthorn Oil
50ml cold pressed organic Olive Oil
15ml cold pressed organic Avocado Oil
20ml organic Sweet Almond Oil (swap out for another light base oil if you have a nut sensitivity)
Blend the base oils together and either apply neat to the skin and gently massage in, or add in some healing essential oils. I would recommend:
5 drops Frankincense, 5 drops Geranium, 2 drops Helichrysum, 3 drops Roman Chamomile, 5 drops Lavender.
Seabuckthorn Face Oil for Aging Skin and Fine Lines
5ml Seabuckthorn Oil
5ml Jojoba Oil
5ml Argan Oil
5ml Camellia Seed Oil
5ml cold pressed organic Olive Oil
5ml Rosehip Oil
All the above base oils are vitamin rich, antioxidant rich and contain compounds that help fight against free radical damage. Additionally Olive Oil contains a natural compound called Squalene which strengthens the production of collagen in the skin.
If you wish to boost the oil blend with some potent antiaging essential oils then I would suggest adding
2 drops Neroli
2 drops Frankincense
1 drop Rose Geranium
1 drop Helichrysum