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Bo

Borage Oil

Borago Officinalis Seed OilBarrier

One of the richest plant sources of an omega-6 fat that may modestly support the barrier. It goes rancid fast.

What it does

It’s one of the richest natural sources of gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fat the body turns into anti-inflammatory compounds. On skin, some studies show a modest boost to barrier function. It’s often paired with evening primrose oil and spoils quickly.

The EU’s ingredient database lists it as an emollient (gives skin a soft, smooth look).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗

The evidence, graded

emergingCeramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids are three lipids the skin barrier needs. In studies on damaged skin, mostly in mice, putting on one or two of them slowed repair, while equal amounts of all three let it recover normally. Raising any one of the three, up to three times the others, sped repair further. Early tests on damaged human skin looked similar.Man 1996 · Journal of Investigative Dermatology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

starflower oil

Pairs worth knowing

Evening Primrose Oil · works together ↗Vitamin E (Tocopherol) · works together ↗Ceramides · works together ↗

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