Regular readers may have picked up on my love obsession with essential oils. The love affair began with a course in aromatherapy I did as a student, and soon I was making my own blends, obsessively curating a home collection and studiously researching and experimenting with them.
Evening Primrose Seed Oil (or Oenothera Biennis oil for you latin lovers) was an early favourite, and has been a dear companion ever since. Apart from having a really rather wonderfully evocative name (and being cold pressed from the seeds of the evening primrose flower, a very dainty yellow flower in spring and summer, especially in the UK), it’s a humble oil that has become a staple of cosmetics because of it’s myriad beneficial properties on health and wellbeing.
The properties of Evening Primrose Oil and their beneficial effects on general wellbeing are well documented. It’s been shown in multiple studies to help with PMS symptoms, like headaches and cramps, and relieve symptoms of the menopause when ingested. The omega-6 fatty acid in the oil can help combat bloating, acne and irritability.
It’s also been shown to help increase fertility, reduce or relieve symptoms of diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis.
Health benefits aside, and without wishing to be superficial about it, Evening Primrose is an absolute marvel for skin. It’s an extremely rich natural source of Omega fatty acids and Gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which aid the body and skin in producing prostaglandins – the things that slow wrinkling, protect from sun damage and reduce dryness. It has profound moisture retaining effects, stopping valuable moisture from escaping from the skin leaving it dry and unprotected.
It was automatically included in our natural Balancing Face Oil, as it has been shown to have a great effect on skin conditions when used topically (applied to skin), including eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis.
Studies published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science have even shown that evening primrose oil helps with ageing effects on skin, even functional and structural changes in skin tissues, including redness, firmness, roughness, and fatigue resistance.
A very light, thin oil to the touch, it is quickly and easily absorbed into skin. It lends a viscosity to a mixed combination oil, and the fatty acids reduce irritation and actively help skin cells to repair themselves.
Combining Evening Primrose with Grapeseed, Rice Bran, Argan and Jojoba oils, along with natural vitamin E, Rose Oil, Patchouli and Geranium (among many more), produces an all natural blend oil which leaves skin much healthier, and instantly brightened and gorgeous.
Our ingredients are sourced and blended for maximum impact, and save you the trouble of seeking out oils for their individual properties, instead serving up a super smart blend that is an all-in-one wonder. If you haven’t already dumped your bog standard skincare in favour of exploring the power of natural botanicals, what are you waiting for?
Know any other interesting facts about Evening Primrose Oil? Let me know in the comments!
