Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil

Oenothera biennis oil is a fatty oil expressed from the seeds of Evening primrose.

It is used in skincare as a precious oil with emollient and occlusive moisturizing properties. It is light and pleasant on the skin due to its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and is suitable for problematic, eczematous, and inflammation-prone skin.

Evening primrose is a lovely, yellow-flowered plant which often opens its flowers in the evening (hence the name). The oil from the tiny seeds is famous for its content of gamma-linolenic acid (a rare, omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid) – the content in the acid is around 10%, making the seeds the second highest source in nature (after borage oil). These fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin.

The majority (74%) of the evening primrose oil is made up of linoleic acid (another polyunsaturated fatty acid). The oil is also rich in phytosterols, which have emollient properties.

The one downside of this fantastic composition is that the unsaturated fatty acids in the evening primrose oil are prone to going rancid. The oil must this be very well protected from oxidation.