Sea buckthorn for the skin
2026-09-25 Cathy Molenaar
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is an orange berry that combines three groups of nutrients: carotenoids as natural provitamin A, vitamin C and essential fatty acids. In skincare, sea buckthorn oil therefore supports the skin barrier and helps protect the skin against oxidative stress from external influences.
What is sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)?
Sea buckthorn grows as a thorny shrub along coasts and in the mountains, from the Dutch dunes to the Himalayas. The bright orange colour of the berry immediately reveals its richness: it comes from carotenoids, the same family of plant compounds that gives carrots and pumpkins their colour. The berry is so sour that you would hardly eat it straight from the bush, but as an oil it has been used in skincare for centuries. In Dutch it is known as duindoorn.
What does sea buckthorn oil do for your skin?
What makes sea buckthorn special is its combination of effects. Where most hype ingredients claim one effect, this one berry brings three at once: protection through antioxidants, provitamin A and support for the skin barrier through fatty acids. That is exactly why it fits our philosophy of combination over isolation.
| Nutrient | What it does for the skin |
|---|---|
| Carotenoids (beta-carotene) | Natural provitamin A, acts as an antioxidant that helps protect the skin |
| Vitamin C | Contributes to the antioxidant system and plays a role in collagen formation |
| Essential fatty acids, including omega-7 | Support the skin barrier and help limit moisture loss |
The carotenoids also make sea buckthorn one of the building blocks of the natural alternative to retinol.
Sea buckthorn oil in Food for Skin products
Sea buckthorn is found in the Pumpkin Serum, the strengthening serum for mature skin, where it works together with pumpkin seed oil, Q10 and protective seed oils. Especially for skin that is losing firmness, this broad support is more valuable than a single isolated active ingredient. You can find more about all ingredients on the ingredients page.
Curious about the other hype ingredients and their natural counterparts? See all natural alternatives at a glance.
