Red Raspberry Seed Base Oil (Rubus idaeus): ‘Deeply Nourishing’
I was introduced to this exciting, relatively new and unusual base oil by one of my tutors, who likes to use it for skin moisturisation & additional protection from the sun.
The Essential Oil
This highly nutritious oil is cold-pressed from seeds of Raspberries and ranges from bright gold to burnt umber to a deep, rich red.
Properties
- Sunscreen: the oil provides natural UV protection – between SPF 28-50 dependent on quality (see Oomah et al, Food Chemistry, Vol 69, Issue 2, 2000). It also offers the skin broad spectrum protection & is unusual in protecting from UV-A ,UV-B & UV-C rays
- Essential Fatty Acids: it has high levels of EFA (84%)
- Omega 3 (Alpha Linoleic Acid, ALA) 30%
- Omega 6 (Linolenic Acid, LA) 54%
This makes the base oil an excellent anti-inflammatory & very calming for the skin. It therefore works well with rashes, eczema, psoriasis, & other skin conditions
Yum! not just for eating, the oil from these tiny seeds is rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, natural sunscreen protection & vitamins
- Vitamins: Red Raspberry seed oil is rich in Vitamin A & Vitamin E: both important in skin repair, protection & conditioning
- Other Properties: it is also rich in antioxidants: polyphenols, tocopherols, tocotrienols & phytosterols. The latter can help reduce trans-epidermal water loss & thereby helps to keep skin moisturised
- Emollient: softening for the skin
- Sensitivity: the oil is very well-tolerated & is thus ideal for sensitive skin
Good both inside and out
Prime Uses
- Sun Protection
- Calming for skin inflammation
- Softening (emollient)
- Deeply nourishing for the skin, lubricating & conditioning: creates a lipid barrier providing protection & provides moisture retention for the skin
Red Raspberry Seed Oil is a natural sunscreen
Safety – Natural Sunscreen Balm
Skincare and Sun protection from the UVA, UVB and UVC rays is essential for good skin health & I would always recommend a well-tested lotion or cream with the highest SPF for your skin type – anyone can be at risk from skin damage from the sun. There has been a lot in the press about using home-made sunscreen & I would not recommend using it for sun-bathing, as a full-body sunscreen or a full day in the sun.
However, Red Raspberry Seed oil can be used as part of a natural skincare routine in order to protect your skin as far as possible.
Why not try something a bit different on your skin this summer? Red Raspberry Seed oil is available for as little as £3.95 for 30mls
Recommended Suppliers
Kobashi Pure Essential Oils, £3.95 for 30mls, £9.95 for 100mls
http://www.kobashi.co.uk/essentialoils/Raspberry-seed-oil.html
Penny Price Aromatherapy, £14.08 for 50mls, £23.47 for 100mls
