Five Lesser Known Oils You Need to Know

At Ishtar we are big fans of facial oils. Contrary to popular opinion, there are facial oils suitable for every skin type (including oily skin). Our line has two wonderful oils in case you want to try them out (just saying). Today we investigate five lesser known oils and their benefits for the skin.

Tomato Seed Oil

Official name: Solanum lycopersicumHow it is processed: By cold pressing tomato seeds.

Tomato Seed oil is orange in colour and rich in essential fatty acids, phytosterols, lycopene, vitamins E and A and Beta-carotene. It is light, easily absorbed oil which makes it suitable for oily and combination skin types. Due to its antioxidant properties, it is suitable for more mature skin types and people who want to treat sun damage.

Both our EFA ProRepair Oil and EFA AntiStress oil contain Tomato Seed oil.

Andiroba Seed Oil

Official name: Carapa Guaianensis How it is processed: By cold pressing the seeds of the Andiroba tree plant. It is native to Brazil.

Andiroba Seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties and it is a rich source of essential fatty acids. Because of this, it belongs to the category of Natural Moisturizing Factors. This means it moisturizes the skin, improves the skin's moisture barrier function, conditions the skin and soothes irritation. Our EFA AntiStress oil contains Andiroba Seed oil.

Blue Tansy Oil

Official name: Tanacetum AnnuumHow it is processed: By stem distilling the flowers.

Blue Tansy oil is native to Northern Morocco and has a distinctive blue hue. This is due to chamazulene, a naturally occurring constituent that appears after the flowers of the plant have been steam distilled. Some have also dubbed it the Moroccan Chamomile (it belongs to the Chamomile family). Blue Tansy has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It soothes, balances and hydrates irritated skin.

Borage Seed Oil

Official name: Borago officinalisHow it is processed: By cold pressing the seeds of the plant.

Borage oil is rich in vitamins (A, C and riboflavin), but its most notable quality is that it is a rich source of gamma - linolenic acid (GLA), which is a strong anti-inflammatory. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, Borage oil is used to treat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. It also deeply moisturizes, soothes and revitalizes the skin.

Baobab Oil

Official name: Adansonia digitata

How it is processed: The seeds are extracted from Baobab fruit and airdried. The seeds are cold pressed. The Baobab tree is native to Africa and referred to as the Upside Down Tree due to its thin branches that resemble roots.

Baobab oil is rich in all Omega fatty acids - 3, 6 and 9 as well as vitamins A, C, E, D and F. Not only it has antioxidant properties, it is also a light oil and absorbs easily into the skin. It soothes dry skin, restores elasticity and heals damaged skin.

Have you tried any of these oils? How did you like them?