Which is Better for the Skin: Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil or Berry Oil?

Many people are confused about whether sea buckthorn seed oil or berry oil should be used for skin, hair and nail health. Both oils are extracted from the sea buckthorn berry, so they will share many similarities when it comes to health benefits, but they do contain numerous different nutrients.

Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil for SkinIs sea buckthorn seed oil good for the skin?  The short answer is YES.  Seed oil contains high levels of vitamin E, omega 3 and 6, which are all good nutrients for skin health.  However, one crucial nutrient that makes sea buckthorn such an excellent tissue healer is lacking in the seed oil.  We are talking about the rare omega-7.  Sea buckthorn seed oil contains very little of it.  Read more on the rare Omega-7.

Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil for SkinSea buckthorn berry oil contains the most omega-7 fatty acid.   Almost all the omega-7 sea buckthorn contains is found in the berry oil.  Research has shown that omega-7 is a powerful tissue healer when used topically or internally.  When used internally, it also aids the gastrointestinal track to soothe acid reflux and stomach ulcers, as well as support urinary track health.  High quality sea buckthorn berry oil can contain up to 30% – 35% of omega-7.   Find out more about sea buckthorn berry oil and its benefits.

So what is sea buckthorn seed oil good for?  Seed oil is an excellent immunity booster to support white blood cell count.  It is also good for cardiovascular, liver and brain health.  Find out more about sea buckthorn seed oil and its benefits.

In summary, sea buckthorn seed oil is good for the skin, but not as good as the berry oil.  Some people are concerned about the orange color of the berry oil, afraid that it will stain their skin.  As a topical treatment, this should not be a big issue.  Sea buckthorn berry oil gets its orange color from very high levels of beta-carotene (think carrots), which is an antioxidant and also good for the skin.  When used topically, berry oil does not permanently change the skin color; the color usually goes away after 10 to 20 minutes and can also be washed away.  As a bonus, sea buckthorn berry oil costs much less than the seed oil.

Learn more about sea buckthorn and skin health.

33 thoughts on “Which is Better for the Skin: Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil or Berry Oil?”

  1. I had few enquires
    1) A client of us took seed and fruit capsules and after 2 months the joints pain all gone! Before, he need to be caution on his diet especially on seafood, if overdose, sharp pain on leg joints is truly unbearable. Is this symptom of gout?

    2) If a pregnant woman insists on sea buckthorn and her gynaecologist did not response to her on taking SBT capsule safe for pregnancy, what could she take? SBT seed or fuit capsules? In Singapore, Omega 3, folic acid and iron are commonly the nutrient for them. Please advise.
    3) What are berry flavone capsules? What advantages taking them and any precautions to take note?

    Reply
    • Jorge,

      1) This could be a symptom of gout. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood according to WebMD. It’s most common in men. The most common sign is swelling, tenderness, redness, and sharp pain in your big toe but can also irritate your feet, ankle, or knees.

      Sea Buckthorn oil provides all the omega fatty acids the body needs and thus supports arthritis and joint pain relief from a nutritional standpoint. Please review our article here about sea buckthorn and joint relief. Your client may just have arthritis or another joint ailment. To check for gout blood work could be done.

      2) Sea buckthorn is just a fruit oil. There should not be any issues. It does contain Omega 3, iron, and folic acid naturally so that would meet the common nutrient recommendation you’re seeing in Signapore.

      Please review our article here on the difference between sea buckthorn seed oil and berry oil. Generally we’d recommend taking a mixture of both to get everything the berry has to offer nutritionally. Check with your physician of course first but we have no reason to believe sea buckthorn supplementation, like any fruit, would be harmful during pregnancy.

      3) Flavones are a class of flavonoids found in sea buckthorn naturally, among its many other flavonoids. From the capsule name “Berry Flavone” it can be assumed they’re derived from the sea buckthorn berry oil and contain flavones? It is not exactly clear. Sea buckthorn does have flavones and other sea buckthorn capsules we’ve seen marketed as flavone capsules tend to be a mix of the berry and seed oil. Review our article on sea buckthorn’s flavonoids here.

      We’re not aware of any precautions regarding flavones and have only seen health benefits from flavonoids and flavones. Health benefits noted and may include lowering the risk of cancer, protecting the brain, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, acting as an anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, reducing muscle spasms, treating diabetes, and others.

      Reply
  2. my mum has been suffering from ulcers in her mouth and she also has had problems with her gums as, due to her age, the gums have become weak and do not support her dentures so chewing causes pain. Can you tell me which product would be best for the health of her gums?

    Thanks

    Trevor

    Reply
    • Hello Trevor,

      Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil would probably offer the most benefits for your mom’s mouth ulcers and gum deterioration. It has most of the omega-7 content from the fruit which really helps nourish the mucous membranes. She can just apply the Berry Oil on a q-tip, as Dr. Curatola, the dentist featured on the Dr. Oz showed, recommended. Another great way to apply the oil orally is to take a swig or dropper full and swish it around the mouth, making sure to coat the mouth lining, gums, and all with the oil. Any remaining can and will be swallowed which is excellent for internal support as well.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply
  3. Thanks for this website and thanks for clarifying the difference between berry oil and seed oil. I have a ready supply of sea buckthorn each fall. I pick and process the berries and have been making blender shakes with berries and a banana-takes away all tartness. I occasionally chew the seeds because of the nutritional benefit, and was wondering where the Omega-7 lie. Now I know; it’s the berry. I still feel like I’d like to save the seeds, dry them and maybe keep for when I don’t have fresh or frozen sea buckthorn to eat. Then I could just chew the seeds when I want them. Any comments on recommended maximum intake? Can you drink too much juice? We love to process 50-70 berries and make drinks for 2 of us.

    Reply
    • Hi Kare,

      Glad this article helped you. Most consumers are unaware of the differences between berry and seed oil. And most don’t know that the berry oil contains the vast majority of sea buckthorn’s omega-7 fatty acid stores. We can’t make any recommendations on maximum intakes but let it be known we’re working with a fruit here. It’s just a fruit. You’re not going to overdose on fruits, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, etc. like you could with pharmaceuticals. Too much juice could potentially upset your stomach since sea buckthorn is acidic (unless taken in extracted oil form) but the fatty acids help nourish your digestive tract as well so you may not experience any discomfort. There’s nothing wrong with chewing the seeds and they contain a nice vegan source of omega 3 essential fatty acids so go for it!

      Reply
  4. This is really helpful information. I am a huge fan of seabuckthorn berry oil and what it does for the skin! Sometimes I look a little like an oompa loompa, but at night who cares 🙂

    Reply
  5. Can using pure sea buckthorn oil on face turn it yellow? My son has been using this for his rosacea and around his eyes and mouth have turned yellow. He also takes the flavone capsules and the omega 7, drinks the tea also, thanks

    Reply
    • Dale,

      Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil is loaded with beta carotenoids giving it a rich orange color. It can taint the skin temporarily depending on how much you apply. This is very nourishing to the skin. If you want to avoid the skin tint, consider dropping the oils into a facial cream or using a smaller amount when you’re out and about so it’s not noticeable.

      Reply
  6. How many Seeds should I eat day. I usually put teaspoon in my morning cereal. Will this do any good if they are not crushed or am I wasting my money.

    Appreciate the info. Thank You. Steve

    Reply
    • Steve,

      Adding a teaspoon of sea buckthorn seeds to your cereal every day sounds like a great way to add a health boost to your regular diet! However .. we highly recommend you crush them first since seeds tend to pass without being completely broken down. Many of the nutrients, including seed oil, are within the seed. You can always take a teaspoon of Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil and/or Berry Oil as well if you’re inclined to do so. Hope this helps and glad you found us a valuable resource!

      Reply
  7. Thanks very much for your informative article! I’ve been using seabuckthorn seed oil for months and have really noticed a difference in my skin texture and acne! I’m interested in what you have to say about the missing omega 7.

    When I went to the store recently to buy more seed oil, there was a new oil product called “single source” oil, that apparently has both fruit oil and seed oil. I was hesitant to try it bc seed oil has worked well for me. However, after reading this article, maybe the combined product is even better for my skin?

    Please let me know your thoughts or recommendations!

    Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Hi Miranda,

      We feel that sea buckthorn oil as a whole, the berry and the fruit oil, is the most beneficial since it offers the most nutrients to nurture the skin and body. That being said, many people have enjoyed the benefits of seed oil or berry oil alone for centuries. Do what works for you! Experiment, explore, and try what feels right. Omega 7 has very noteworthy benefits for the hair, skin, nails, tissues, and mucous membranes. The seed oil is missing most of sea buckthorn’s omega 7 BUT it is still widely regarded for skin care so feel free to continue with it if its working fine for you.

      Reply
    • Hi Joyce!

      Yes sea buckthorn oil works wonders on blemishes! Check out this article about what Dr.Oz has to say about this subject:

      https://www.seabuckthorninsider.com/health-benefits/dr-oz-acne/

      Use the berry oil on your blemish for best results. The berry oil should be a very dark orange but don’t worry, it won’t stain your skin. Put it on your blemish or other effected area and let the oil soak in for about 15 minutes. Then simply rinse off with soap and water.

      It is also advisable to take the oil internally as well as externally for best results.

      Thanks for your question!

      Reply
  8. Which is better to use topically for rosacea? I’ve read conflicting opinions on the topic. Also would the same one be good for acne too? Berry or seed oil? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jeannie,

      Both the seed oil and the berry oil are good for the skin, because both are high in Omegas. Both oils are high in different kinds of Omegas which have many beneficial properties for the skin. The berry oil, however, is really the best because of it’s high content of Omega 7. Omega 7 is especially good for the skin because it is known to hydrate cells and support cellular healing.

      If you think about it in terms of the actual berry that the oil is derived from, it is a little easier to understand why the berry oil has better skin supporting properties. The berries of the sea buckthorn stay on the plant during extreme temperatures, hot and cold. Not only do these berries survive, they stay soft and edible even into winter months. The Omega 7 in the skin of the berries is what keeps them soft, pliable and alive.

      The reality is that both the seed oil and the berry have great anti-inflammatory properties, which is especially important to help fight inflammatory conditions like acne and rosacea. The berry oil contains more of a specialized kind of Omega if that makes sense.

      The berry oil also is great because it softens skin from taking it internally and also can help cells rebuild on the outside when using it topically. The smoothing action of the berry oil is really great for smoothing acne scars and smoothing out rough rosacea patches.

      Hope that helps clear things up a bit and thanks for your great question!

      Reply
  9. Some articles state to mix buckseed oil in a juice. Can you just take a dose without adding it to a juice beverage? If so, what dosage amount?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Hello,

      Yes- you can take the oil directly. We suggest following the directions on the packaging. If the oil is food grade, there will be a nutrition facts label. Typically though the daily dosage is around 30 drops of oil which can be taken up to two times a day.

      Thanks

      Reply
    • Hi there,

      Both kinds of SBT oil are safe to apply the oil directly to skin. If you use sea buckthorn fruit oil- it’s bright orange. If you want to use it on your face without seeing the color you would need to dilute it with other oils. Most people just use it as a facial treatment, kind of like a mud mask, that is meant to be wiped or washed off. Sea buckthorn seed oil is also great for skin and should be a bright yellow color which tends to blend into most skin tones quite well.

      Hope that helps.

      Reply
    • Hello,

      Yes, it’s safe to use the oils topically during pregnancy. We suggest the seed oil to help with the dark spots that can be caused by melasma.

      Thanks

      Reply
  10. Hello,

    Your site is very informative, thank you for that.

    I’ve got deep, severe, and very old hyperpigmentation on my face.

    Which would you recommend: the fruit oil, or seed oil, and why?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Hi There,

      Definitely the seed oil would be best. Though both oils have antioxidants, the seed oil has higher levels of vitamin E which is best for brightening dark spots. You can do topical treatments of that oil by just adding a drop or two directly to the dark spots after you have dried and washed your face. The oil absorbs quickly and if you use a facial lotion you can apply it after the oil to seal in the moisture.

      You may also want to try doing weekly treatments with the berry oil. It’s really orange so you have to treat it like you would a mud mask or something like that. You can put the fruit oil all over your face and let it soak in for about 30 mins. Your skin probably won’t absorb all of it but you can wash off the left over oil on your face or wipe off the excess oil. The fruit oil is good because it’s hydrating, has some antioxidant content and Omega 7, 6 + 9 which are important for the health of your skin.

      For dark spots the seed oil is best but the oils really work best in combination with each other. It’s also good to do internal supplementation when working on external issues. Sea buckthorn can help the skin recover from the inside out.

      Thank you,

      Reply
  11. Thanks for the great information! I bought a bottle of the oil to make myself a hand cream for my eczema. I mixed 1 tbsp into 3/4 cup Shea butter but it’s still so Orange. I thought I diluted it enough. I apply it many times throughout the day so I don’t love the orange tint. Is there any way to get rid of the orange when heating or anything?

    Reply

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