A little bit of love for Seabuckthorn
Okay, it's more than just a little bit..
In this post I want to introduce you to the Seabuckthorn plant (if you don't know about it already..)
I don't do reviews like this often, but this is something I had a lot of success with and I thought it was worth sharing. :)
WHAT IS SEABUCKTHORN?
The Seabuckthorn Berry is a tart reddish-orange berry that was originally found in Europe and Northern Asia and although we are only now really beginning to embrace this wonderful plant here in North America now, the Seabuckthorn berry--the tart fruit from the Seabuckthorn plant-- has been used as a medicine since ancient Chinese times. In fact, today it is used clinically in hospitals in China and Russia.
When I was first introduced to the Seabuckthorn plant it was through the company SBT Seabuckthorn and I was intrigued by the nutrient content of the plant. I wondered if it was something that could help my hormonal skin chill out. As I started doing more research on it, it was obvious that this was definitely one of those "lots of birds with one stone" sort of foods. When you consume something so highly nutritious like this berry is, the complex and synergistic behaviour of all of those nutrients can benefit the body in countless numbers of ways.
Here are three of the main reasons I was intrigued to give this pretty berry a try:
1. THE SERIOUS NUTRITION
You can see by looking at it that the berry is very red/orangey/yellow, this signifies its rich beta-carotene content. This berry is also one of the highest food sources of vitamin C available, higher than oranges and is also an amazing source of vitamin E. Beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E... right there it's easy to see that this berry is very skin loving, but this is really only the beginning.
Seabuckthorn berries are rich in flavonoids. Flavonoids are a family of super nutrients that are found in plants and are most commonly thought of in the way they provide the pretty colours we see in different foods- like the red in a strawberry or the blue in a blueberry. Flavonoids help make potent anti-oxidants like Vitamin C even more potent. They help the body combat oxidative stress and inflammation, and for that reason, the sorts of benefits they promote are quite vast but include benefits for the cardiovascular and nervous system, for anti-aging support, for brain health, joint health and skin health. One particular flavonoid in the Seabuckthorn berry is Quercetin, which works as a natural anti-histamine for those who suffer from allergies.
2. THE UNIQUE BLEND OF HEALTHY FATS
Seabuckthorn is rich in anti-inflammatory, healthy fats. When you see the fruit oil, you notice the deep red colour- pure anti-oxidants baby.
You may have heard of your omega 3's, 6's and 9 (which are all in seabuckthorn berries) but this unique plant is also a great source of omega 7, which has a unique and impressive ability to help assist with blood sugar management- key for regaining hormonal balance.
3. THE ANTI-BACTERIAL/ANTI-FUNGAL PROPERTIES
Seabuckthorn is a natural anti-microbial, it helps combat yeast, parasite and fungal conditions (like candida) in the body and on the skin. (Remember what I said about hitting lots of birds with one stone?)
On top of all these things, the nutrient density within the Seabuckthorn berry provides many healing and conditioning benefits to the skin, the nails, the eyes, the hair and basically your entire body. It's something to try if you suffer from skin issues like hormonal acne, eczema, rosacea, dermatitis or even psoriasis, but it's one of those things that will have benefits on much more than a surface level, because that's what good nutrition can do.
Side note: At the health store I work at, many people rave about the results Seabuckthorn has provided for their rosacea! Really cool!
MY EXPERIENCE
I've been using SBT Seabuckthorn oil both internally and externally for several months now.
I started with a bottle of the SBT Single Source Skin Oil and even though I looked a little bit like an Oompa Loompa before bed because of the colour of the nutrient rich oil, it felt good to know that the oil I was using on my skin was actually still really packed with nutrients. (Don't worry, the orange glow always fades once your skin has absorbed the oil..) It took a few weeks but I started to notice that my skin was becoming less and less inflamed. My skin tone began to even out as old scars began to fade a little, this was something that really surprised me... I wasn't expecting it, but from that realization on, I was completely hooked and in love with this product.
On top of the above benefits, I woke up with skin that felt soft and hydrated- even throughout that crazy winter had last year. While I was using the oil, I made other stress-reducing lifestyle changes to help support my adrenals and hormone health, but after having tried so many other topical treatments for my skin, this was one purchase that finally made a difference on the outside. I was really excited!
One of the first benefits I noticed from the Single Source Oil Capsules I had been taking internally, revealed itself more subtly, but pretty quickly. My nails began chipping less, they felt really strong and healthy. I also noticed, my skin overall felt softer and more hydrated- no lotion needed- even in the winter! I know that taking the oil internally also supported my mission to balance my hormones. I will say, my experience testing out this product was one that felt really good and really right for my body.
How I like to use the SBT Single Source Oil:
Before bed, after cleansing your face, spritz some rosewater (or toner of your choice) into the palm of your hand and add a few drops of SBT Single Source Oil into the toner. Mix the two together with your finger and then apply to your slightly damp skin, (optional: sing oompa loompa song while the oil absorbs) and then go get your beauty rest and let those delicious anti-oxidants work their healing magic. If you feel so inclined, add a few drops of the oil to your morning moisturizer. (Fun FYI: SBT oil is a bit of a natural sunscreen!)
Some nights I mix the Seabuckthorn oil with a few drops of castor oil for extra anti-inflammatory action. I really love this combination!
Other nights, I just use a good couple drops of the pure oil and rub it all over. Doesn't get much easier or more potent than that!
Have you tried Seabuckthorn before? If so, how do you like to use it? I'd love to hear more about your experience!
Leave a comment below and let me know.
More facts, information and study information about Seabuckthorn is available here.
Read more about Seabuckthorn and Acne here.