Borage oil is extracted from the seeds of the borage plant, and its essential ingredient has been found to be gamma linolenic acid, commonly known as GLA, which is an essential fatty acids.
One frequent answer is, borage oil is an extract made from the seeds of the Borago officinalis plant. Borage oil is prized for its high gamma linoleic acid (GLA) content.
Yet another query we ran across in our research was “Where can I buy borage seed oil?”.
One way to think about this is borage seed oil is made from the seeds of the borage plants. Borage is an annual herb native to the Mediterranean region but grown in other countries, including the UK. You can buy it over the counter from pharmacies and health food shops in the form of capsules or bottled oil.
One source stated borage seed oil is an amazing skin regenerator due to its gamma linolenic acid content. Taking it internally helps maintain the reproductive system, balance hormones, reduce stress, and regulate the metabolism, but applying it topically is a great way to smooth out the complexion and moisturize the skin.
This of course begs the question “What is GLA in borage oil?”
This is what we found. borage oil (BO) is a natural substance that provides high levels GLA, which is a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). It’s derived from the seeds of the borage plant, which has the species name Borago officinalis and is indigenous to North Africa and Europe. Gamma-linolenic acid is not found in high amounts in the human diet.
Scientific Name: Borago officinalis; Comedogenic rating: 2; Shelf Life: 6 months; Scent: Mild, Characteristic Aroma; Color / Consistency: Pale yellow to golden yellow liquid / Medium Viscosity; Absorption: Leaves an oily feeling on the skin. Best for Skin Types: dry, sensitive, irritated, prematurely aged.
A query we ran across in our research was “Is borage seed oil anti-inflammatory?”.
This is what my research found. Borage seed oil is becoming increasingly popular as a natural anti-inflammatory supplement because it has one of the highest amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) of all seed oils. GLA is one type of omega-6 fatty acid that the body cannot make on its own, so we must get it from outside sources.
What is the acid content of borage seeds?
The seeds contain 26-38% of borage seed oil, of which 17-28% is gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), the richest known source. The oil also contains the fatty acids palmitic acid (10-11%), stearic acid (3.5-4.5%), oleic acid (16-20%), linoleic acid (35-38%), eicosenoic acid (3.5-5.5%), erucic acid (1.5-3.5%), and nervonic acid (1.5%).
Do non-comedogenic oils clog pores?
Here’s how the numbers rank on the scale: Non-comedogenic oils are oils that do not clog pores and have a comedogenic rating of 2 or less. And just about any oil with a rating of 5 pretty much guarantees that a person who is prone to acne breakouts will have one.
What does a comedogenic rating mean?
A comedogenic rating tells us how likely it is that an ingredient or oil will clog pores. People who are prone to breakouts should avoid comedogenic oils as they will exacerbate pimple formation.