In skincare - and in life - there are certain players that take center stage (looking at you, squalane and vitamin C) and others that fade into the background. That said, while they don’t get a lot of time in the spotlight, these background ingredients are just as important in the final product: if they’re toxic or comedogenic, the whole product can cause major skin problems.
If they’re healthy and skin-friendly, though, it could help actives be even more effective. One all-star “background” ingredient is sunflower seed oil (Helianthus Annuus). Here’s why sunflower oil for skin is so great.
Sunflower Seed Oil For Skin: The Basics
Sunflowers are native to the southwest in the U.S, and they have been used as food, medicine, and personal ornament for generations. Sunflower seed oil - extracted, as the name suggests, from the seeds of this happy flower.
With all the misinformation in skin care nowadays, it's worth asking: is sunflower oil good for your skin, or just some hype? Sunflower oil for skin care is the real deal, offering a fast absorption rate and light, non-greasy texture. It also pairs nicely with other common product ingredients and smells wonderful.
What is Sunflower Oil Used for in Cosmetics?
Helianthus Annuus seed oil is abundant in natural vitamin E. It’s also rich in linoleic and oleic acids. These provide key benefits to the skin.
The main use of sunflower oil for skin care applications is as emollient. Emollients are a class of substances that have soothing and hydrating effects on the skin. Sunflower oil does the job extremely well and is very easy to blend with other compounds.
Sunflower Oil as a Carrier Oil
Sunflower carrier oil delivers all of the regenerative and moisturizing properties of sunflower in a topical form. Applying it to areas such as the face and hands can defend against external damage while cleansing and removing dirt from the pores.
Sunflower Essential Oil
Sunflower essential oil is derived from raw sunflower seeds. Using sunflower seed oil for skin care treatment is popular, as it contains powerful antioxidants that are great for the tissues and drains them faster for a softer, more youthful glow.
Sunflower Oil Benefits for Skin
Antioxidant Benefits
Vitamin E in sunflower seeds is a powerful all-around antioxidant. It can:
- Neutralize free radicals caused by pollution and other environmental stressors. This strengthens, tightens, and firms skin over time - oh, and it adds moisture too!
- Decrease UV-induced photodamage, thereby decreasing the risk of skin cancers and stabilizing the skin barrier.
- Accelerate wound healing by both dropping the time it takes for wounds to heal and by increasing the breaking strength of wounds.
- Moisturize by keeping lipids fresh in the skin. This helps to protect your skin’s natural protective barrier. It can also prevent moisture from leaving and provide lasting hydration for the skin.
Want to see some sunflower seed benefits in real life? Try our Cloud Whip Face Cream. Made with sunflower oil - plus several other antioxidant-rich ingredients - it's the care your skin deserves.
Restores Essential Fatty Acids
Linoleic acid has often been used topically to treat essential fatty acid deficiency, and it can help reduce fatty acid-related barrier concerns, which include a compromised barrier and trans-epidermal water loss.
That means that products with sunflower seed extract can effectively help maintain and restore your skin’s natural barrier.
Our Daydreamer Natural Face Moisturizer formula maximizes sunflower seed oil skin benefits. It uses the natural nectar to hydrate skin, while other natural ingredients add to the party with extra moisture and softness.
Provide Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Many studies suggest sunflower oil on skin has anti-inflammatory properties. Specifically, linoleic acid converts to arachidonic acid on the body. This triggers an inflammatory modulator, decreasing the body’s immune response. It can decrease redness and inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory properties are just one reason many people use sunflower oil for eczema treatment.
When we talk about sunflower seeds benefits for skin, we don't just mean the face. Your whole body deserves to get in on the love! Try our Coco Cocoa Creme Body Butter to experience the benefits all over.
Builds Skin’s Natural Barrier and Reduces Irritation
In a surprising trial, participants were randomly given olive oil to one arm versus sunflower seed oil to the other for 4 weeks. Interestingly, the olive oil caused a worsening of the barrier function and even increased redness in participants.
Sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier function while actually improving hydration.
Although fairly limited, these findings have prompted me to caution patients away from using topical olive oil in favor of sunflower seed oil.
"Give me sunflower oil skin benefits, but in spray". Okay! Eight Saints' Island Time Spray Lotion is the perfect way to get the perks of sunflower without needing to apply oil by hand.
Sunflower oil benefits the skin not only by hydrating it, but when paired with the ingredients in our Soulmate Brightening Treatment, can lighten its appearance, too.
Reduces the Appearance of Wrinkles
Using sunflower oil for face areas can hydrate delicate tissue, revitalize cells, and when used regularly, can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
On sunflower oil for face care, why not try out All In Eye Cream? We specifically designed this advanced formula to rejuvenate the wrinkle-prone tissues around the eyes.
Eight Saints’ High Society Face Oil is a must-have if you want the benefits of sunflower oil for skin around your cheeks, forehead, and even neck.
If you're interested in really enriching your skin, try our sunflower-infused Up The Anti Anti Aging Cream. It's a natural and effective way of treating wrinkles over the long term.
Sunflower Oil for Acne
"Is sunflower seed oil comedogenic?" Like you would for anything you put on your skin, you're right to ask the question of whether sunflower oil clogs pores. Luckily, the answer is a good one - sunflower oil comedogenic rating levels can vary, but most oils are zero. This means that you won't have to worry about it doing more harm to your acne than good.
We've combined the perks of sunflower seed oil for face care with plenty of Vitamin E to create our Bright Side Cream Cleanser - a game-changer when it comes to improving cell barrier function.
Experience sunflower seed oil benefits for skin all over your body with Welcome to the Scrub Coconut Body Scrub. It has sunflower seed oil, plus tons of other great and natural ingredients that will make your whole body sing.
Protects Skin from the Sun Exposure
We've discussed using sunflower oil for skin care, but what about skin protection? This natural serum is high in Vitamin E, which can help guard skin cells against harmful UV rays.
If you're ready to reap the benefits of sunflower oil for skin protection, look no further than our Chase The Sun SPF 30 Face Moisturizer. Not only does it offer all the great perks of sunflower but also a powerful barrier against the sun.
Other Carrier Oils Aren’t As Healthy
Carrier oils like sunflower carrier oil are important in many skincare products because they can help stabilize actives or dilute ingredients like essential oils until they’re safe for topical use.
That said, there are some carrier oils that may provide certain benefits, but they tend to clog pores, particularly for sensitive or acne-prone skin. These include:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Wheat germ oil
- Linseed
- Shea butter
- Palm oil
Next time you’re shopping for a moisturizer or serum, then it’s important to pay attention to these often-overlooked ingredients.
Sunflower Oil vs Olive Oil for Skin
It's best to use sunflower oil for skin that's dry or sensitive. Sunflower oil is known to better protect the skin's barrier against harm. It is also much gentler; unlike olive oil, sunflower oil doesn't aggravate atopic dermatitis. Olive oil is still beneficial, although better suited for applications that require a thicker moisturizer.
Side Effects of Sunflower Oil
Before hopping on the train and using sunflower oil for skin treatment, it's important to be aware of the risks. While there are few, those who are allergic to sunflowers should not use products containing this oil. Doing so may lead to side effects such as itchy skin and dry mouth.
The Takeaway
The benefits of sunflower oil for skin are undebatable. Now all that's left to do is experience them for yourself - choose Eight Saints for products that include organic, cold-pressed sunflower oil, among other great and naturally effective ingredients.