If I had to pick a favorite fruit, raspberries would be in my top three. In addition to their yum factor, this highly nutritious and antioxidant rich snack has something else incredible to offer—oil! Produced from the tiny seeds, raspberry seed oil is one of the most exciting botanical oils in natural skincare products for a variety of reasons.
Red raspberry seed oil has the ability to provide broad-spectrum UV protection that is comparable to titanium dioxide and can fall within a range between 28-50 SPF according to this study. For my own personal use, this is probably the most exciting characteristic of red raspberry seed oil and the main reason I love finding it in face and body oils. While it’s still important to protect your skin with a sunscreen, red raspberry seed oil is a valuable ingredient for adding extra protection from environmental and sun damage.
In addition, red raspberry seed oil is a fantastic source of two very important vitamins for skin health—vitamins E and A. Not only does the oil’s high vitamin E content help reduce skin damage and soothe the skin, it gives the oil great resistance to oxidization, which is important when you’re applying an oil topically. Rancid oils can do more harm than good, and it’s not always easy to recognize when an oil has expired. Red raspberry seed oil is also packed with carotenoids (vitamin A) that work to inhibit UV damage and stimulate cellular repair. Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins for keeping skin youthful and healthy.
Finally, red raspberry seed oil offers essential fatty acids like linoleic acid, which is anti-inflammatory, conditioning and calming. Another compound called ellagic acid is present in red raspberry seed oil. This phenol antioxidant reduces oxidative stress that breaks down collagen, protects against UV damage, and can help inhibit certain carcinogens from doing damage.
If you’re interested in adding red raspberry seed oil to your skincare routine, this is a great time of year to do so since we’re getting more sun exposure. Look for this special ingredient in the following products…
