Sunflower seeds are a great midday snack. They’re packed with protein and monounsaturated fats, meaning that they give us a quick energy boost that tides us over until dinnertime. Plus, with so many vitamins and antioxidants, sunflower seeds are great for maintaining healthy, vibrant skin.
But sunflower seeds aren’t just beneficial as a between-meal snack or an extra in your morning smoothie. Oil pressed from sunflower seeds also has amazing skin benefits, thanks to the same vitamins and nutrients that give you skin such a great boost from the inside.
Sunflower seed oil is a powerhouse of skin-benefiting vitamins, like vitamin E, A and C, which also give sunflower seed oil its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants, especially vitamin E, are crucial to fighting cell damage caused by free radicals and keeping wrinkles at bay. Vitamin C, too, has anti-aging properties, notably the ability to prevent UV damage from sun exposure. Sunflower seed oil also contains folic acid, which encourages cell turnover and, in turn, promotes radiant, fresh-looking skin. Overall, sunflower seed oil is a perfect natural ingredient for any skincare routine.
Recently, Skin Inc. reported on a few findings testifying the sunflower seed’s ability to preserve skin barrier function and improve skin hydration. In one study, sunflower oil was successfully used to treat premature newborns at risk for sepsis. By applying sunflower oil to the infants’ skin, doctors reduced sepsis by 41% and reduced mortality by 26%. In another study, exploring the different effects of olive oil and sunflower oil, a group of 19 adults applied sunflower seed oil and olive oil on either arm. The olive oil caused erythema, or patches of red, scaly skin—not pretty. On the other hand, sunflower oil had only positive effects. Skin barrier function was sustained for up to five hours after applying the sunflower seed oil. Sunflower oil has also been successful as a treatment for atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema.
We love sunflower seed oil for its skin benefits, which is why Green City stocks several skin care products in our Philadelphia salon that contain sunflower seed oil. Sunflower seed is especially good for sensitive or troubled skin, but anyone can benefit from its hydrating, anti-aging effects.
