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Since this ingredient has both “plant” and “seed” in the name, you likely already know this is a plant-based ingredient. You’ll see this ingredient referred to as Echium seed oil and also by the plant’s nickname, Purple viper’s bugloss or Blueweed.
This flowering plant is lovely to look at but it also offers notable benefits to the skin. Echium oil is also a popular alternative to fish oil supplements since it contains omegas-3-6-9s.
But is good or bad in skincare? Learn the answer to this along with the top benefits and uses of echium seed oil.
What is Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil?
Echium oil is made from the seeds of the Echium plantagineum plant. It is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa and is also called purple viper’s bugloss or Paterson’s curse. In early medicine, this seed oil was popular as a remedy for snake bites and scorpion stings.
Most don’t have to worry too much about scorpion stings these days. Now it’s in top anti-aging creams and serums for wrinkle and fine-line reducing benefits. While not as serious as a snake bite, it’s safe to say echium oil offers some serious skin benefits.
The extracted oil from the seed of the plant makes for an attractive skincare ingredient because it’s rich in saturated fatty acids and phospholipids. Some of the notable acids include:
- 14% linoleic acid
- 10% gamma-linolenic acid
- 33% alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
- 14% stearidonic acid
- 12% oleic acid
This balance of antioxidants and essential fatty acids makes this another worthy oil for natural skincare products. You may also find crambe abyssinica oil interesting.
Echium Seed Oil Benefits
Echium seed oil nourishes and moisturizes the skin, making it a popular ingredient in anti-aging and moisturizer products. Also, echium oil is in anti-aging serums, creams, and nourishing masks.
This rich oil can help repair the skin’s protective barrier for a beautiful, natural, youthful glow. It’s rich in fatty acids that act as building blocks for the skin. As the skin ages, it can lose fatty-acids naturally present in the skin which can lead to dull skin, uneven tone, age spots, and wrinkles. Echium oil helps replenish these essential fatty acids in the skin.
Fight Free Radicals
Echium plantagineum seed oil can also help protect the skin against environmental stressors. It may even help boost the production of collagen. Who doesn’t want that?
Lightweight hydration
This natural oil helps replenish skin moisture without a thick or greasy residue. Echium seed oil can help soften and smooth rough, dry skin.
Helps repairs the skin’s protective barrier
Echium plantagineum seed oil can help the skin retain moisture and improve the overall appearance and texture of the skin. It’s a great option for dry, damaged, or dehydrated skin. Also, by helping support a healthy skin barrier it helps fight acne, heal scars, even skin tone, and help with dark circles under the eyes.
May help increase collagen production
Echium oil can help boost collagen production in the skin. This helps minimize wrinkles, fine lines, and supports a healthy youthful glow.
Soothes Skin
This seed oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and moisturizing properties that may help with conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema. It can also help soothe dry, flakey skin. These soothing properties make echium oil a good option for sensitive skin types.
Is It Safe?
Echium plantagineum seed oil is considered safe to use in skincare products. It is one of our favorite ingredients with a very good rating. It’s a plant-based ingredient loaded with benefits to nourish the skin without any unwanted side-effects. It checks all the boxes from our point of view.
We’re not the only ones loving this ingredient either. You’ll find echium seed oil in well-known skincare brands such as L’Occitane, Murad, Paula’s Choice, First Aid Beauty, and more.
Echium oil has a relatively short shelf life (by itself). Keep this in mind if you’re buying the oil in its true form or looking to make your own DIY moisturizer. 100% pure echium oil is available to b buy at Amazon and other specialty skincare stores.
