What it is
Hippophae rhamnoides oil is pressed from the fruit pulp and/or seeds of the sea buckthorn shrub. It is notably rich in unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocopherols, giving it a deep orange color and antioxidant character. In sunscreens and creams it functions as a nourishing emollient that conditions and softens the skin and can lend a slight tint to the formula.
Safety & warnings
Generally well tolerated as a plant oil. Its strong orange pigment can transfer color at higher levels. As an unsaturated plant oil it is best stored well-sealed to limit oxidation; sensitive or acne-prone users may prefer to monitor how their skin responds to richer facial oils.
Origin & sourcing
Natural; expressed from the berries and seeds of Hippophae rhamnoides, a hardy shrub native to Europe and Asia.
History
Sea buckthorn has a long history of food and folk-remedy use across Eurasia, and its vivid, carotenoid-rich oil later became a valued cosmetic emollient.
Questions everyone asks
Why is sea buckthorn oil orange?
Its color comes from a high content of carotenoids, the same family of orange-yellow plant pigments found in many fruits.
What role does it play in sunscreen?
It works as a nourishing, antioxidant-rich emollient that conditions and softens skin, not as a UV filter.