Evening Primrose Oil

Categories:
Plant Extracts

Evening primrose oil is derived from the seeds of Oenothera biennis, a native plant to North America. Now cultivated widely across temperate countries, evening primrose oil is used in cosmetics to enhance lipid content in skin and increase hydration. The majority of evening primrose oil consists of glycerides such as linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid.¹These fatty acids work to effectively penetrate the skin surface and modulate its top surface layers make-up. By doing so, evening primrose oil was found to have a stabilizing effect on the top layers of the epidermis, causing an increase in water retention and an improvement in overall moisture levels. As a result of improved skin barrier function, evening primrose oil can also help to induce a soothing effect for dry, uncomfortable skin. Studies show that in order to best encourage benefits of evening primrose oil for skin, cosmetic formulations should incorporate the ingredient in a water-in oil emulsions. ²

1. Muggli, R. Systemic evening primrose oil improves the biophysical skin parameters of healthy adults. International journal of cosmetic science 27.4, 243-249 (2005)
2. Cronin, H. and Draelos, Z. Original Contribution: Top 10 botanical ingredients in 2010 anti‐aging creams. Journal of cosmetic dermatology 9.3, 218-225 (2010)