Sea buckthorn skin care

The same berry oil in a cream, serum or cleanser. Many people use both routes.

The same oil, applied

Everything in this group is built on sea buckthorn berry oil — the deep orange pulp oil carrying omega 7, vitamin E and carotenoids. Applied rather than swallowed, it is used for dryness, barrier support and the appearance of ageing skin, which is the oldest continuous use the plant has.

What to expect, and when

Skin turnover takes several weeks, so judge any of these over a month or two rather than a fortnight. The oil is deeply coloured and can leave a faint tint on very pale skin if used heavily — that is the carotenoids, and it washes off.

Picking one

The serum and night cream are the concentrated end; the cleanser, toner and face wash are everyday steps that happen to carry the oil. If you only want one thing, a serum or cream keeps the oil on the skin rather than rinsing it off.