Benefits & Uses of Organic Borage Oil

Overview of Organic Borage Oil

Borage oil is really promising in soothing skin. This is a great oil for skin and hair. Read on to find out more about this oil.

What Is Organic Borage Oil?

Borage carrier oil is obtained from the seeds of the borage plant, well known as Starflower and scientifically named Borago officinalis. Originally native to the Mediterranean region, this plant has been introduced in many other areas such as China.

The whole plant possesses medicinal uses, but the oil is derived specifically from the seeds. To create this nourishing carrier oil, the seeds undergo an extraction method known as cold-pressing whereby they are compressed until they become a pale to golden-yellow oil. This method catches the "essence" of the plant's beauty benefits for skin and hair. The oil is known as an antioxidant and hydrator and is often found in skincare products, particularly moisturizers.

Name	Organic Borage Oil
Botanical Name	Borago officinalis
Native to	Mediterranean region
Main ingredients	Gamma linoleic acid, linolenic acid, stearic acid, nervonic acid, palmitic acid, erucic acid
Aroma	Mild Nutty
Blends well with	Most carrier oils
Category	-
Substitute	Evening primrose oil

Organic Borage Oil Benefits

Promotes The Health Of The Skin Barrier

Borage oil decreases water loss from the skin by replenishing the lipid content of the epidermis due to its high linolenic acid content. It helps promote a healthy skin barrier for a flawless and youthful complexion.

It Reduces Skin Infections

By improving the health of the skin barrier, borage oil also reduces the chance of skin infections. Our skin is made of different layers, and the skin barrier is the outermost one. Its job is to keep bad things like irritants out and good things like hydration in.

It’s Ultra-Hydrating

Borage oil is incredibly hydrating to the skin and is an ingredient in many facial moisturizers, serums, and oil blends. Boosting the skin's hydration levels helps preserve a dewy and youthful.

Breathe Easy with Borage

The oil softens the mucus and eliminates it. This oil is also used to relieve sore throats.

Oil For Dry hair

Borage oil is a carrier oil that can be applied directly in the scalp and hair, especially on dry hair type. It soothes the scalp and prevents hair loss. However, mix it with carrier oil before applying borage oil topically.

The British Journal for Nutrition published a report on the effect of flaxseed and borage oil on the skin of women. Out of a few other benefits, transepidermal water loss prevention was one of the benefits of the oil.

Carrier Oil for relaxation

Many people massage their bodies for relaxation. Borage seed oil boosts mood and is often mixed with essential oils to feel energized.

Treat Hangover with Borage Oil

One of the rare benefits of using borage oil is its effect in overcoming hangover. Got a little too excited at the party last night?

Use borage oil to detoxifying the body. It is a natural way of getting relief from hangover.

Uses of Borage Oil

Soothing Body Lotion

Borage oil is mixed with beeswax, coconut oil and lanolin and applied on the body for a relaxing and soothing effect. This body lotion can be taken with you while you are on a vacation.

Borage oil also has skin-whitening effects. A randomized clinical trial on borage seed oil (Borago officinalis L.) enriched with linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and oleic acid resulted in skin brightness. The result published in 2020 proved that borage oil could be used as an ingredient in cosmetic products.

Relaxing Massage Oil

Mix borage oil with olive oil, sweet almond oil and jojoba oil as well as your favorite essential oil(s) and massage on the body for a relaxing feeling. Take a warm bath after a few hours to wipe off the oils. Do this on a Sunday afternoon, have a sumptuous meal and have a relaxing siesta.

Cure Hangover With Borage

Research has proven that supplements with prickly pear and borage oil can lower the symptoms and discomfort of hangover. To cure mild symptoms of hangover, ingesting or applying borage oil acts as a cure.

Apply For Skin Disorders

People with dry skin issues can treat the conditions with borage oil. Research has proven that borage oil regulates the acidic skin pH value and balances the deficiencies of skin lipids. The improper production of oil by the skin has repercussions including sudden inflammation or flare-ups.

How To Use Organic Borage Oil

Organic Borage Oil isn’t super sought-after yet so it’s time for you to get ahead of the times and become a beauty trendsetter. Here’s the low-down on how you can use this amazing oil.

Organic Borage Oil For Irritated or Dry Skin

Give dry and irritated skin a fighting chance with this nourishing natural oil. All you need to do is apply the oil to the affected area in a thin layer twice a day. Optionally, you can also coat or spot-dab with the oil and wear an undershirt close to your skin. This is helpful for targeting dry and sensitive areas on the back. It might take several weeks or months for the oil to take full effect, so be patient and apply the oil consistently for desired results. Always perform a patch test first, to be on the safe side.

Organic Borage Oil For Hair

Rich in GLA, borage oil is frequently used for dry hair that lacks vitality. Adding fats like borage oil to the hair regularly helps lubricate the hair shaft, thereby increasing flexibility and decreasing the chance of breakage.

Borage oil can be applied as a hair care product on the ends and lengths of the hair. Massaging it into the roots of the hair helps the nourishing properties of borage oil penetrate the scalp. Once a week, give yourself an at-home hair treatment with borage oil to deeply moisturize your lovely locks and curb hair loss for a glorious and voluminous mane.

Organic Borage Oil As A Face Serum

Pamper yourself with this all-natural DIY Face Serum for a fresh and youthful complexion! But as mentioned, always perform a patch test to make sure you don't have any allergic reactions.

What you'll need

2 tbsp of organic borage carrier oil
4 tbsp of argan oil
8 drops of neroli essential oil
6 drops of organic carrot seed oil
6 drops of patchouli essential oil
4 drops of sandalwood essential oil
1 small amber glass bottle

Instructions

Thoroughly mix the borage and argan oil in a glass bottle. Then, add in all the essential oils. Shake the bottle for 1-2 minutes.
Apply on the skin after cleansing and before bed.
Store the bottle in a cool, dry place that’s safe from direct sunlight.

Organic Borage Oil As A Carrier Oil With Essential Oils

While many people love using essential oils topically, they can be quite sensitizing on the skin because they are so heavily concentrated. This is why carrier oils such as organic borage oil are often used to dilute essential oils.

We’d recommend pairing borage oil with essential oils that share similar benefits, such as cedarwood oil for hair growth, turmeric oil for scalp cleansing, or myrrh oil for flawless skin. As a good rule of thumb, one drop of essential oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil is enough dilution for skin-safe topical application.

Safety When Using Organic Borage Oil

Potential side effects of borage oil include bloating, constipation and indigestion.
There are different forms of borage oil and some of it may harm the liver. Check the package to see whether the product is hepatotoxic PA-free certified.
It is recommended to consult a doctor before using borage oil.
Those taking medications aspirin or warfarin regularly must avoid the oil

Recommended Skincare Oils

Our gentle carrier oils are ethically sourced and contain only 100% pure and organic ingredients. Check out our full range of ECOCERT Certified carrier oils for your skincare needs here.

WE RECOMMEND

Organic Borage Carrier Oil

Organic Jojoba Carrier Oil

Organic Carrot Seed Carrier Oil

Frequently Asked Questions

Is borage good for weight management?

Contact a doctor or dietitian to learn more about borage oil for weight loss.

Is borage oil good for wrinkles?

Borage oil is used for skincare in traditional medicine. Its ingredients including linoleic acid are useful in skincare, and it is hence used in cosmetic products.

How to make borage oil at home?

Collect borage flowers · Dry the flowers in sunlight. · Put the dried flowers in a jar. · Fill the jar with olive oil. · Let it sit for six weeks. Occasionally shake the jar. · Filter the oil and store in a cool dry place.

Does borage oil affect hormones

Contact a doctor to learn about the effect of borage oil on hormones.

can i take borage oil when pregnant

Pregnant women and nursing mothers must avoid the use of borage oil as it may be unsafe.

How Does Borage Oil Help Hangover?

One of the main reasons for hangovers is prostaglandin, which are inflammatory in nature. Borage oil blocks the production of prostaglandin, thus mitigating hangovers.

What concentration of borage oil should i use for essential oil blends?

One fourth ounce of borage oil is sufficient while blending a few drops of essential oil. This quantity can further be reduced if other carrier oils are used.

Is evening primrose oil the same as borage oil?

Evening primrose is from the Oenothera biennis flowering plant whereas the borage oil is from the Borage plant. They belong to different family of plants. Both the oils have high content of gamma-linolenic acid (borage oil has more). Borage oil is more preferred because of its hormone regulating properties.

9 Sources

Inmaculada Tasset-Cuevas.(2013). Protective Effect of Borage Seed Oil and Gamma Linolenic Acid on DNA: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0056986.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2000). Evening primrose oil and borage oil in rheumatologic conditions. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/71/1/352s/4729570?login=false
T Brosche. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. (2000). Effect of borage oil consumption on fatty acid metabolism, transepidermal water loss and skin parameters in elderly people. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15374040/
Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. (2000). Dietary gamma-linolenic acid in the form of borage oil causes less body fat accumulation accompanying an increase in uncoupling protein 1 mRNA level in brown adipose tissue. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11079375/
Cambridge University Press. (2008). Intervention with flaxseed and borage oil supplements modulates skin condition in women. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/intervention-with-flaxseed-and-borage-oil-supplements-modulates-skin-condition-in-women/BBCCBB4F29A6E5DCA6C7B9513C7AFA37
Inmaculada Tasset-Cuevas. PLoS One. (2013). Protective effect of borage seed oil and gamma linolenic acid on DNA: in vivo and in vitro studies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23460824/
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. (1998). Dietary borage oil alters plasma, hepatic and vascular tissue fatty acid composition in spontaneously hypertensive rats. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9758202/
Rachel H.FosterB.Pharm. Nutrition. 2010 Borage oil in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900709004468
Nutr Res. (2018). Borage oil restores acidic skin pH by up-regulating the activity or expression of filaggrin and enzymes involved in epidermal lactate, free fatty acid, and acidic free amino acid metabolism in essential fatty acid-deficient Guinea pigs https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30340812/

Organic Borage Oil Uses for Skin and Hair