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Borago Officinalis

What Borago Officinalis is & what it does

Borago Officinalis is the cosmetic name for borage, a flowering plant whose seed oil is especially rich in gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. In skincare formulas borage-derived ingredients are used as emollients and skin conditioning agents to help soften the skin and support the lipid barrier. The high gamma-linolenic acid content is the property most often highlighted for borage in formulations.

What does Borago Officinalis do in skincare?

Borago Officinalis, known as borage, provides ingredients used as emollients and skin conditioning agents. Borage seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, and helps soften the skin and support the lipid barrier. This fatty acid content is its most highlighted property.

Is Borago Officinalis natural or synthetic?

It is a naturally derived ingredient, coming from the borage plant. Borage ingredients such as the seed oil are obtained by processing the plant rather than by chemical synthesis. The material is then refined for cosmetic use.

Is Borago Officinalis comedogenic?

Borage seed oil is a plant oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid and is often regarded as relatively light among facial oils. Comedogenicity varies from person to person and depends on the full formula and your skin. If you are prone to clogged pores, patch testing a new product is a sensible step.

Sunscreens with Borago Officinalis

We rate 28 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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