Should you add sunflower oil to your beauty routine?
Apart from coconut oil, one of the OGs in the Philippine skincare scene is sunflower seed oil. Human Nature’s Sunflower Beauty Oil catapulted the ingredient to fame, and it’s become a cult favorite, and for good reason: it has a lot of beauty benefits! Let’s take a closer look at what this miracle oil can actually do.
Lightening and anti-inflammatory properties
Studies show that sunflower seed oil reduces underarm skin irritation. Furthermore, there is also strong evidence to support its direct effect on the production of melanin (the pigment that gives color to the skin) and indirect effect on inflammation. Sunflower oil restrains the production of melanin and also fights against post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), which is why it’s become such a popular skincare solution for those with dark spots left behind by acne.
Protective property
Studies also demonstrate how sunflower seed oil improve atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin barrier, meaning it can improve skin that is already damaged and can help it recover. Other oils do not have this same effect, and some oils can even be detrimental to the skin barrier recovery and cause other problems.
Apart from helping skin to heal, what’s even more amazing about sunflower oil is that it actually has sun protection factor (SPF)! While you can’t use it as a replacement for sunscreen, it offers some protection from UVA rays, which contribute to premature skin aging.
Moisturizing property
Not only does sunflower oil protect the skin barrier integrity, it also hydrates the skin through its fatty acid content. Sunflower seed oil contains linoleic acid, an important fatty acid that is used by skin cells to produce ceramides, a moisturizing agent.
Because of its many benefits, sunflower seed oil works great as a beauty oil. In fact, Human Nature boasts that it can work 25 miracles, or be used in 25 different ways:
Overall body moisturizer
Helps lighten dark spots & pimple marks
Helps lighten and soften underarms
Helps make eyebrows thicker
Helps prevent & lighten the appearance of stretch marks
Helps improve appearance of underarm chicken skin
Helps lighten lesions and scars
Helps soothe skin after waxing
Helps lighten dark undereye circles
Helps hydrate dry patches on face
Undereye moisturizer
Softens feet soles, knees & elbows
Removes stubborn makeup
Helps diminish fine lines around the eyes
Helps soften cuticles & dry skin
Makes skin glow and helps keep it youthful-looking
Helps improve skin condition after sunburn
Helps relax tired, puffy eyes
Adds shine to dull hair
Helps relieve itch & redness caused by insect bites
Nourishes & conditions eyelashes
Helps ease dry & itchy scalp
Smoothens dry, rough skin from shaving
Helps calm skin & ease rashes
Helps relieve symptoms of skin infections
I liked the Sunflower Beauty Oil enough to finish up my bottle but I do have one little complaint: the smell is not so pleasant. So when Human Nature released the new Sunflower Beauty Oil Bloom (P199.75 for 50ml and P329.75 for 100ml), I was pretty excited to try it! It’s pretty much the same as the original formula (P174.75 for 50ml and P299.75 for 100ml) but now has natural fragrances added to make the experience more pleasant. The ingredients list now includes parfum (fragrance all-natural), farnesol (plant-derived), and linalool (plant-derived).
I appreciated the light, floral scent, which makes applying this feel more like a treat. The oil has helped with lightening hyperpigmentation on my underarms, elbows, and knees. It also calms my irritable skin when I experience prickly heat! As suggested by Human Nature, there are many different ways to incorporate the oil into my beauty routine, and I love that I can get so many uses from just one product!
Have you tried sunflower oil? Share your experience with us!
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