In recent years pomegranates have been getting a fair amount of attention as a superfood, and rightly so! But the lesser known side of their superfood powers pertain to what the oil from the seeds can do for your skin. This highly viscous oil helps to moisturize, balance hormones, protect the skin, impede the aging process, and promote collagen production.
Pomegranate oil contains a number of antioxidants, which eat up free radicals, keeping our bodies not only healthy and strong, but youthful and vital. The antioxidant headliner is Omega 5, aka, Punicic Acid (actually named after the pomegranate in which it was discovered! Pom's Latin name is Punica Granatum). While the pomegranate fruit contains numerous antioxidants, including a good amount of Vitamin C, the oil is a rich source of Omega 5, which reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, and encourages healthy cellular regeneration, for both hair and skin cells.
The oil also stimulates your keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are a type of skin cell that produces (you guessed it) keratin. These cells form a barrier on the top of your skin and are responsible for protecting it from heat and UV damage, fungi, bacteria, and viruses, while locking in moisture and hydration. Pomegranate seed oil feeds and "pumps up" your keratinocytes, helping them to be better at their jobs.
Another unique element in pomegranate seed oil is the pro-estrogen. Ladies, we all know about that special "glow" our skin gets when we ovulate, when our estrogen levels are at their highest. Well, the pro-estrogen works with the estrogen in your body, helping to balance and regulate its production and uptake in your cells, allowing you to rock that glow all month long.
Perhaps the most enticing feature of pomegranate seed oil is the fact that it promotes and encourages your body's natural collagen production. The nutrients and antioxidants naturally feed and support collagen production, but the oil has a direct impact on existing collagen proteins in your skin. Higher quantities of pomegranate seed oil directly impact, support, and increase collagen production, while lower levels of the oil impact, support, and increase elastin and telomorase, two lesser known proteins that are equally important in maintaining wrinkle-free skin.
So, ready to start using pomegranate seed oil in your daily beauty routine? The oil is incredibly thick, and while not exactly greasy, is somewhat sticky. Its high viscosity means most skin types won't absorb it very quickly or easily. It's best combined with a low-lipid oil, like sesame, or olive oil. You'll want to find the ratio that works best for you, but start small- 10% pomegranate, and work your way up from there. The oil can be used as a general body serum, applied anywhere you have skin- even your scalp. (If you're a dandruff sufferer, you'll want to apply it to your scalp 😉 ) Use daily, with confidence.
Pomegranate seed oil is one of the primary active ingredients in Vedic Botanicals' Le Sein Breast Serum, and Energize Face Serum.
About the Author: Rachel Warnock holds a Master's Degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Maharishi International University and is the Lead Herbalist at Vedic Botanicals. She has 10 years of experience mixing herbs and working with individuals to meet their health and wellness goals, specializing in neurological and dermatological wellness.
