Ingredient Spotlight: Red Raspberry Seed Oil

It hasn’t slipped by me that most of our ingredient spotlights have highlighted fruit seed oils (passionfruit seed oil, watermelon seed oil): Fruit oils are powerhouses, packed with crucial vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that our skin (and our bodies) needs. Plus, they tend to moisturize and refine skin’s texture in a way that other ingredients can’t. So, with that said, let’s jump into the incredible benefits of our next ingredient—red raspberry seed oil.

Red raspberry seed oil is another favorite of mine, not just because I love the fruit, but also because there’s so many healing and preventive powers packed into the tiny fruit. What you need to know first about red raspberry seed oil is that it’s a natural sunscreen. It absorbs damaging UVA and UVB rays, preventing them from reaching your skin and causing inflammation and sun damage. Some studies have shown that, on its own, red raspberry seed oil has an SPF of between 28 and 50 for UVA rays and up to SPF 8 for UVB rays. That’s kind of miraculous for a seemingly simple oil, right?

It only gets better from there. Red raspberry seed oil has more anti-inflammatory properties than avocado, grapeseed or hazelnut oil, with its high dose of alpha linoleic acid. This makes it really useful for treating eczema, psoriasis, dandruff and other irritated skin and scalp conditions. It soothes, softens and hydrates, giving skin what it needs to repair itself and heal.

The oil is an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture. It also creates a lipid barrier on skin, sealing in water and nutrients, and protecting skin from environmental damage. It keeps skin conditioned and lubricated, which results in smoother, softer skin.

Red raspberry seed oil contains an exceptionally high proportion of essential fatty acids (EFAs) like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In general, most oils are comprised of between 50 and 60 percent EFAs, but red raspberry seed oil contains up to 83 percent EFAs. This not only boosts skin’s ability to regenerate, it also helps skin hold onto moisture, keeping it smooth and plump and helping to reduce signs of aging, like sagging skin and fine lines and wrinkles.

The vitamin E and vitamin A in red raspberry seed oil also target signs of aging. They prevent free radical damage to skin, which helps reduce or eliminate loss of elasticity, wrinkles and age spots or sun damage.

And its benefits don’t stop at healing and toning skin: Red raspberry seed oil actually contributes to the stability of your skincare products. It contains a high amount of phospholipids, making it a very dependable, stable ingredient, and giving it a long shelf life (unlike other oils, which can go rancid quickly). Adding it to a combination of other carrier oils can help skin and body care last longer.

So where can you find this incredible oil? In Organic Bath Co.’s Enhance Face Oil. Organic red raspberry seed oil combines with a slew of other good-for-your-skin oils to bring out the best in your skin. It enhances your natural glow to reveal skin you’ll be content with and proud of.

Have you tried red raspberry seed oil on its own or in any products?