How Sunflower and Borage Seed Oils Repair Sensitive Skin

Sunflower and Borage Seed Oils: A Look at Two Skin-Loving Plant Oils

A calm, comfortable complexion has a lot to do with how well your skin’s outer barrier is functioning. When that barrier is under pressure, from cold weather, environmental factors, or harsh cleansers, skin can lose moisture more easily, sometimes leading to dryness, redness, or irritation. Many mainstream lotions lean on synthetic texturisers and water to create a feeling of hydration, whereas pure plant oils offer a simpler, more direct approach.

Two plant oils that come up often in sensitive skincare are organic sunflower seed oil and borage seed oil. Both are rich in essential fatty acids, and are commonly chosen for lightweight, non-comedogenic formulas aimed at everyday skin comfort.

Sunflower Seed Oil and the Skin Barrier

Extracted from the seeds of the Helianthus annuus plant, sunflower seed oil is a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil. Unlike heavier mineral oils that sit on the skin’s surface, sunflower oil is often noted for feeling more compatible with skin’s own natural oils.

A few things worth knowing about sunflower seed oil for the skin barrier:

• High Linoleic Acid Content (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil): Sunflower oil is naturally rich in Omega-6 linoleic acid, a fatty acid the skin uses as one of the building blocks for its own natural ceramides, which play a role in helping skin retain moisture.
• Antioxidant Content: Sunflower oil naturally contains Vitamin E (Tocopherol), an antioxidant commonly included in skincare to help protect against everyday environmental exposure.
• Non-Comedogenic: With a comedogenic rating of zero, it’s generally considered unlikely to clog pores, which is part of why it’s often chosen for sensitive or blemish-prone skin.

Borage Seed Oil: A Nutrient-Dense Plant Oil

Derived from the seeds of Borago officinalis, also known as starflower, borage seed oil is one of the more concentrated plant oils used in skincare, and is often included in formulas aimed at very dry or easily irritated skin.

A few things behind borage seed oil’s reputation in skincare:

• High Gamma-Linolenic Acid Content (Borago Officinalis Seed Oil): Borage oil has one of the highest natural concentrations of Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), an Omega-6 fatty acid the body can’t produce on its own. GLA is a well-studied compound in skin research, and is commonly included in formulas for its association with skin comfort.
• Traditionally Associated with Calming Redness: Borage oil is often included in products aimed at visibly reducing the look of redness and easing the feel of sensitive or reactive skin, though results and experience vary from person to person.
• Supportive of Skin Texture: Its fatty acid profile is generally considered nourishing for rough or flaky skin texture, and it’s a common ingredient in formulas aimed at improving the skin’s overall feel and softness over time.

Combining Sunflower and Borage Oils

Both oils are used individually in skincare, but they’re also often combined, since they bring slightly different fatty acid profiles to a formula. Sensitive and reactive skin types can sometimes benefit from a diet or topical routine that’s a bit more balanced in linoleic fatty acids, which are naturally present in both these oils.

This is part of why we’ve chosen these two ingredients for our formulas. Our waterless Kawakawa Barrier Balm and Kawakawa Barrier Support Oil both include organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, alongside native New Zealand botanicals, without relying on animal fats, synthetic fillers, or added water.

By keeping the formula simple and plant-based, we aim to give skin a nourishing, comfortable option, without synthetic additives getting in the way.