There are many benefits of strawberry seed oil for your skin.
Strawberry seed oil is rich in essential nutrients, including essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants.
Strawberry seed oil can nourish your skin, soften your skin, strengthen your skin barrier, calm your skin and prevent free-radical damage.
- What is strawberry seed oil?
- What are benefits of strawberry seed oil for skin?
- 1. Strawberry seed oil can nourish your skin
- 2. Strawberry seed oil can soften your skin
- 3. Strawberry seed oil can strengthen your skin barrier
- 4. Strawberry seed oil can calm your skin
- 5. Strawberry seed oil can protect your skin against damage
- Summary
- References
What is strawberry seed oil?
INCI: Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Oil
Extraction Method: cold pressed
Appearance: light green to dark green oil
Texture: lightweight, easily absorbed into skin
Aroma: light, fresh, fruity aromatic oil
Strawberry seed oil is obtained by crushing strawberry seeds and collecting the oil.
Strawberry seed oil is cold-pressed from seeds that would otherwise go to waste in the juice industry and is considered a ‘zero waste’ seed oil.
Strawberry seed oil has a unique aroma that can be described as sweet, fruity, and reminiscent of freshly picked strawberries.
Learn more: What is Strawberry Seed Oil?
1. Strawberry seed oil can nourish your skin
Cold-pressed strawberry seed oil is packed with essential nutrients, including fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants (Pieszka et al, 2015).
Strawberry seed oil is composed of fatty acids:
- 44 - 55% linoleic acid C18:2 (n-6)
- 28 - 38% alpha-linolenic acid C18:3 (n-3)
- 8 - 16% oleic acid C18:1 (n-9)
- 2 - 6% palmitic acid C16:0
Strawberry seed oil contains ~50% linoleic acid, the major essential n-6 fatty acid found naturally in our skin.
Learn more: What is Linoleic Acid? Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acid for Dry Skin
Strawberry seed oil contains 28 - 38% alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega 3 fatty acid that calms redness and irritation (McCusker et al, 2010).
These essential fatty acids cannot be made by the body, and must be supplied through the diet, supplements and skincare.
Strawberry seed oil also contains 16% oleic acid and 0.5% palmitic acid, fatty acids which are found naturally in the protective outer layer of the skin, and help the skin retain moisture.
Strawberry seed oil is a rich source of antioxidants such as tocols, bioflavonoids and phytosterols (Pieszka et al, 2013).
These nutrients are essential for skin health and can improve the appearance of your dry skin.
2. Strawberry seed oil can soften your skin
Strawberry seed oil is a lightweight oil and is easily absorbed into your skin.
Strawberry seed oil is an emollient and can soften your skin.
Strawberry seed oil is rich in beneficial fatty acids, including n-6 linoleic acid, n-9 oleic acid and palmitic acid. These fatty acids act as emollients and can soften your skin and smooth your skin.
What are the benefits of emollients?
The function of emollients in skincare is to soften the skin, help the skin retain its moisture and to support the skin’s barrier function.
Skin that does not have sufficient lipid content on its surface can appear dull, dry and rough. Emollients "fill in the gaps" in the skin barrier and soften it along with giving it a healthier look
The role of emollients in the treatment of dry skin conditions is often underestimated. Emollients promote optimal skin health and prevent skin breakdown, and their use can improve quality of life (Moncrieff et al, 2013; Newton et al, 2021).
Emollients are skin conditioning – the give skin a soft and smooth appearance, restoring suppleness and improving elasticity (Brown et al, 2005).
Emollients:
- Make your skin feel soft and smooth.
- Help reduce flaking and roughness from dry skin.
- Help assist the skin barrier by filling in gaps between cells.
Learn more: What are Emollients? Benefits for Your Dry Skin
3. Strawberry seed oil can strengthen your skin barrier
Strawberry seed oil contains ~50% linoleic acid, the major essential n-6 fatty acid found naturally in our skin barrier. Linoleic acid is a precursor for ceramides, which are bioactive lipids that play a role in keeping our skin barrier firm, smooth and healthy.
Strawberry seed oil also contains 16% oleic acid and 0.5% palmitic acid, fatty acids which are found naturally in the protective outer layer of the skin barrier, and help the skin retain moisture.
Learn more: Beneficial Fats Found Naturally in Your Skin Barrier
What is your skin barrier?
The skin barrier includes the outermost layers of skin, called the stratum corneum.
Your skin barrier is essentially what you can see and touch on the surface of your body.
When your skin barrier is healthy, it feels and appears smooth, soft, and plump.
In contrast, a damaged skin barrier looks dry, rough, dull, and dehydrated, and may become irritated and inflamed.
Learn More: What is The Skin Barrier?
4. Strawberry seed oil can calm your skin
Dry skin is often accompanied by irritation, redness, and sensitivity.
Strawberry seed oil possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory properties, due to its high omega-3 fatty acid content.
Strawberry seed oil contains 28 - 38% alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega 3 fatty acid that calms redness and irritation (McCusker et al, 2010).
Omega 3 fatty acids work to reduce skin inflammation, calm irritation, and soothe dry, itchy patches.
Incorporating strawberry seed oil into your skincare routine can help alleviate discomfort, leaving your skin feeling calm.
5. Strawberry seed oil can protect your skin against damage
Strawberry seed oil is a rich source of antioxidants such as tocols, bioflavonoids and phytosterols (Pieszka et al, 2013).
What is an antioxidant?
Antioxidants protect your skin by preventing free radical damage.
Free radicals are unstable molecules or atoms that can damage skin cells.
Free radicals are generated from normal aging, and by daily environmental damage - such as UV radiation from the sun and air pollution. Free radicals cause destruction to your cells and tissues, and accelerate skin aging (Masaki et al, 2010).
Antioxidants protect your skin by neutralizing unstable free radicals.
Summary
Strawberry seed oil is rich in nutrients, including essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, and has many benefits for your skin.
Strawberry seed oil can nourish your skin, soften your skin, strengthen your skin barrier, calm your skin and prevent free-radical damage.
Strawberry seed oil makes an excellent ingredient in skin care because it can deeply moisturize the skin without causing greasiness or clogging pores.
Like other berry seed oils, strawberry seed oil is ideally suited for use in facial serums, lip balms, and eye creams.
References
Aaby, K., Skrede, G., & Wrolstad, R. E. (2005). Phenolic composition and antioxidant activities in flesh and achenes of strawberries (Fragaria ananassa). Journal of Agricultural and Food chemistry, 53(10), 4032-4040.
Ariza, M. T., Reboredo-Rodríguez, P., Mazzoni, L., Forbes-Hernández, T. Y., Giampieri, F., Afrin, S., ... & Mezzetti, B. (2016). Strawberry achenes are an important source of bioactive compounds for human health. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(7), 1103.
Brown A, Butcher M. A guide to emollient therapy. Nurs Stand. 2005 Feb 23-Mar 1;19(24):68, 70, 72 passim.
Hancock, J. E. (1999). Fruiting and postharvest physiology. Strawberries.
Huang TH, Wang PW, Yang SC, Chou WL, Fang JY. Cosmetic and Therapeutic Applications of Fish Oil's Fatty Acids on the Skin. Mar Drugs. 2018 Jul 30;16(8):256.
Jara CP, Mendes NF, Prado TPD, de Araújo EP. Bioactive Fatty Acids in the Resolution of Chronic Inflammation in Skin Wounds. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2020 Aug;9(8):472-490. doi: 10.1089/wound.2019.1105. Epub 2020 Jun 23.
Ligęza, M., Wyglądacz, D., Tobiasz, A., Jaworecka, K., & Reich, A. (2016). Natural cold pressed oils as cosmetic products. Family Medicine & Primary Care Review, 18(4), 443-447.
Masaki H. Role of antioxidants in the skin: anti-aging effects. J Dermatol Sci. 2010 May;58(2):85-90.
Mildner-Szkudlarz, S., Różańska, M., Siger, A., Kowalczewski, P. Ł., & Rudzińska, M. (2019). Changes in chemical composition and oxidative stability of cold-pressed oils obtained from by-product roasted berry seeds. Lwt, 111, 541-547.
McCusker, et al. Healing fats of the skin: the structural and immunologic roles of the omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Clin Dermatol. 2010 Jul-Aug;28(4):440-51.
Moncrieff G, Cork M, Lawton S, Kokiet S, Daly C, Clark C. Use of emollients in dry-skin conditions: consensus statement. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2013 Apr;38(3):231-8; quiz 238.
Newton H. Using emollients to promote safe and effective skin care for patients. Nurs Stand. 2021 Oct 6;36(10):77-82.
Pieszka, M., Migdał, W., Gąsior, R., Rudzińska, M., Bederska-Łojewska, D., Pieszka, M., & Szczurek, P. (2015). Native oils from apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry seeds as a source of polyenoic fatty acids, tocochromanols, and phytosterols: A health implication. Journal of Chemistry, 2015.
Pieszka M, Tombarkiewicz B, Roman A, Migdał W, Niedziółka J. Effect of bioactive substances found in rapeseed, raspberry and strawberry seed oils on blood lipid profile and selected parameters of oxidative status in rats. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2013 Nov;36(3):1055-62.
Raczyk M, Bryś J, Brzezińska R, Ostrowska-Ligęza E, Wirkowska-Wojdyła M, Górska A. Quality assessment of cold-pressed strawberry, raspberry and blackberry seed oils intended for cosmetic purposes. Acta Sci Pol Technol Aliment. 2021 Apr-Jun;20(2):127-133.
Sikora E, Michorczyk P, Olszańska M, Ogonowski J. Supercritical CO2 extract from strawberry seeds as a valuable component of mild cleansing compositions. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2015 Dec;37(6):574-8.
Symoniuk, E., Wroniak, M., Napiórkowska, K., Brzezińska, R., & Ratusz, K. (2022). Oxidative stability and antioxidant activity of selected cold-pressed oils and oils mixtures. Foods, 11(11), 1597.
Takeda S, Shimoda H, Takarada T, Imokawa G. Strawberry seed extract and its major component, tiliroside, promote ceramide synthesis in the stratum corneum of human epidermal equivalents. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 9;13(10):e0205061.
Author Information
Dr. Natasha Ryz is a scientist, skin care expert and an entrepreneur. She is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare, and she creates skincare products for beauty, dry skin and pain relief.
Dr. Ryz has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she is a Vanier scholar. She also holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
Natasha is the former Chief Science Officer of Zenabis Global, and she oversaw cannabis extraction, analytics, and product development. Her team brought 20 products to market including oils, sprays, vapes and softgels.
Why I Started A Skincare Company