When most people think about skincare oils, berry seed oils usually don’t come to mind. Berry seed oils have gained more popularity in the last few years, but do not get the same attention as trendy oils such argan, marula and camelia. Don’t get me wrong those are wonderful oils, but let’s not discount the benefits of berry seed oils and their amazing benefits to the skin. Berries are considered a superfood and I think it is fair to say they are “super for your skin” too. I know, that was corny, but I couldn’t help myself. Berry seed oils don’t get all the limelight; nonetheless they are extremely beneficial to skin, especially mature skin.
I have found many people do not even know that we can get oils from berries! It’s true. Really! I will admit it was not something I ever thought about; I usually thought of nut oils like macadamia, almond or hazelnut or plant oils such sunflower, olive, and avocado.
I started using berry oils several years ago as an alternative to some of the heavier oils that seemed to sit on my skin. They were fine for my body, but too heavy for my face. I did not like the feel of it, and it seemed that it just sat on my face looking oily and clogging my pores. Not exactly what I was looking for. Through research I journeyed into the world of berry seed oils, and I have not looked back! Blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, and blackberry were just a few of the first berry seed oils I used. Visions of jams, jellies and summer breezes danced in my head when I opened up a bottle and inhaled the lovely scent of each oil. I eventually expanded my line and now include berry seed oils in all of my formulations. Given they are not as well-known I thought it would be a good idea to introduce you to the world of berry seed oils with a brief overview. Let’s begin!
The first thing you will probably notice when using a good quality berry seed oil for the first time is the wonderful aroma. Unless you don’t like berries. If that is the case, it probably won’t smell good to you. However, let’s assume you enjoy the taste and smell of juicy fresh berries. The berry scent in the oil is identifiable, but certainly not overwhelming.
I mentioned the benefits of berry oils so let’s go over that. Berries are high in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and are highly emollient making them particularly well suited for mature, inflamed, dry or damaged skin. Another great quality is that they are typically lightweight and fast absorbing on the skin.
Antioxidants: plant compounds that help protect cells against damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. There are many factors that cause damage to skin cells. Including age and genetics. Every day environmental factors such as smoking (including secondhand smoke), pollution, and UV rays are examples of free radicals that can damage your skin. Berry seeds’ high level of antioxidants can actually help protect your skin from free radical damage and even aid in cellular repair. You can read more about antioxidants and free radicals here.
Essential Fatty Acids: also known as EFAs are required by humans (and other animals). They are critical to the body for proper function and health. Not to be confused with fat our body uses for fuel, EFAs are considered essential because our body can’t produce them, and we need to get them from our diet. There are only two fatty acids known to be essential for humans: linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3). Remember, our skin is our biggest organ, and it absorbs nutrients. This is another reason why it is important to know what is in your products. Synthetics and even toxic ingredients can be absorbed as well.
Ellagic Acid: Technically a polyphenol, ellagic acid is loaded with antioxidants and is an excellent stimulant for the natural recycling process of our cells. Our body converts ellagitannins, found in berries, into ellagic acid. Like all antioxidants, it helps neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from harmful damage. However, what sets ellagic acid apart is its potency. Ellagic acid can also help brighten the skin and improve pigmentation. There has also been research (though still inconclusive) that suggests it might interfere with enzymes that damage collagen. Ellagic acid is mostly found in fruits (though some vegetables and nuts may contain it). Berries are chock full of it!
Emollients: There are some synthetic emollients; however, they are oils and lipids in natural skincare and typically from plant oils and butters. When the top layer of your skin doesn’t contain enough water, it dries out. This causes skin to crack and leave gaps between the cells in your skin. Emollients fill in the gaps between cells with little droplets of oil and repair the cracks in the skin barrier, preventing water loss. Emollients make your skin feel soft and smooth and can soothe irritated skin.
Rebecca’s Essentials Protect + Defend Face Oil harnesses the superpower of berries via a synergetic blend of 9 berries: Black raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cloudberry, cranberry, Elderberry, Lingonberry, red raspberry, and strawberry. This berry fusion blend along with other beneficial active botanicals protect your skin from free radical damage, reduces the appearance of redness and broken capillaries and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth.
Learn more about the benefits of each berry seed oil here.