Sea Buckthorn Emerges as MVP for Organic and Antiaging Products

Posted: February 27, 2008

Sea buckthorn (INCI: Hippophae rhamnoides) saw a good year in 2006 but an even better year in 2007, emerging in both the antiaging and organic markets as a key ingredient.

Sea buckthorn is a superfruit that is enriching food and beauty products alike.  In fact, its use in functional beverages and supplements has increased steadily over the last three years and in 2007, it saw rapid growth in the beauty sector, according to the Mintel Global New Product Database. The plant grows in Northern Europe and Asia and has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Sea buckthorn fruit contains carotenoids, vitamin E, amino acids, minerals, plant sterols and polyphenolic acids.  The oil, extracted from the seeds and berries, is a natural remedy for treating certain types of ulcers and skin conditions since it has healing and emollient properties.  In skin care, it is used in antiaging formulas and for treating scars and stretch marks.

The beauty from within trend has seen the launch of several nutritional supplements with sea buckthorn. Finland's Lumene Premium Beauty Arctic Sea Buckthorn Oil Capsules are described as a "regenerative product that supplements the antiaging effects" of the brand's Premium Beauty skin creams.

In the United States, EMK launched Renascence Beauty Supplement. It is formulated with pure sea buckthorn fruit oil and other nutrients essential to skin health and regeneration. The product claims to rehydrate the skin and, with continuous daily use, protect it from sun damage.

Sea buckthorn is featured in a variety of face and body care products as well. One of the newest is Valmont L'Elixir des Glaciers Swiss Poly-Active Cream. This premium skin care product offers a combination of noble raw ingredients drawn mostly from Switzerland's preserved natural resources. These include glacial spring water, HP DNA, RNA and plant-based actives such as shea butter, rose seed oil and sea buckthorn fruit extract. This global antiaging product is said to firm, tone, smooth and improve radiance.