Borage oil: benefits for facial skin

Borage oil is one of the gentlest vegetable oils for dry, fragile, or mature skin. Here is where it comes from, what its benefits are for facial skin, which skin types it is suitable for, and how to use it when autumn returns with cold winds and heating. You can find it in five OMOYÉ treatments that you can order today, from serums to body care.

Borage, a little blue flower with precious seeds

Borage, Borago officinalis, is an annual plant native to the Mediterranean basin. It is recognizable by its bright blue, star-shaped flowers, its stems and leaves covered in fine hairs, and the bees that never leave it throughout the summer. It grows easily in gardens and at the edge of fields, and reseeds itself from one year to the next.

It is its tiny, black seeds that yield the oil. They are pressed to extract a fine, pale yellow, almost odorless oil. It takes a lot of seeds to obtain a little oil: this is what makes it a precious oil, which is used in small proportions at the heart of a formula.

On an ingredient list, it is identified by the INCI name Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, sometimes followed by "Borage." It is also found in capsules as a dietary supplement. In this article, we are only discussing its use on the skin.

Borage oil: benefits for facial skin

Borage oil owes its reputation to its composition. It notably contains:

• omega-6, including gamma-linolenic acid, for which borage is one of the best-known plant sources, and omega-9;
• palmitic acid and stearic acid;
• phytosterols;
• vitamin E, an antioxidant.

Together, these molecules give borage oil three major properties:

• Protective: it helps preserve the skin barrier, this natural veil that retains water and keeps it comfortable.
• Soothing: it comforts sensitive skin.
• Nourishing: it softens the skin and helps preserve its elasticity.

On the face, this translates to softer, smoother skin that feels less tight. Borage is not a spectacular oil from the first day. It is a fundamental oil that accompanies the skin over time, treatment after treatment.

For which skin types?

Borage oil is recommended for:

• dry, devitalized, or tired skin;
• mature and wrinkled skin;
• fragile and sensitive skin;
• skin that lacks suppleness.

It is an oil that is particularly appreciated in autumn and winter, when the cold, wind, and dry air from heating weaken the skin barrier. It also has its place from the age of forty, when the skin becomes thinner and needs to be nourished for longer.

Not sure exactly what your skin needs this season? The OMOYÉ skin diagnostic proposes a ritual based on a few questions.

Borage, evening primrose, argan: what are the differences?

Borage and evening primrose are often confused. Both oils are rich in omega-6 and are aimed at dry and mature skin. They complement rather than replace each other, which is why they are often found together in the same formula.

• Borage is primarily protective and soothing: it is the oil for fragile skin that feels tight.
• Evening primrose oil is more focused on the suppleness and elasticity of mature skin.
• Argan oil, richer in omega-9, nourishes deeply and provides a more satin finish.

In a treatment, these oils work together: each provides its own fatty acids, and the skin receives a more complete set than with just one oil.

OMOYÉ treatments with borage oil

At OMOYÉ, borage is never alone: it is combined with other plant-based active ingredients in Ecocert-certified treatments made in France. Find all the treatments that contain it on the borage active ingredient page.

For the face, morning and evening: the Crème Magistrale

The Crème Magistrale (€54) is a natural anti-aging cream for the face and neck, nourishing without being greasy. It brings together 23 plant-based active ingredients around bitter orange flower water, with shea, argan, and borage. It is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive, and especially for dry and mature skin. The skin remains supple and no longer feels tight. 93% of testers noted an anti-aging effect (self-assessment, 22 consumers, 30 days).

Before the cream: the Sérum Sacré with baobab pulp

The Sérum Sacré (€57) is a silky fluid that absorbs quickly without a greasy finish. Its baobab pulp is combined with squalane, centella asiatica, and evening primrose and borage oils. The skin is hydrated, plumped, and the complexion looks healthy: 84% of the 26 testers observed a smoothing effect (self-assessment, 28 days). It is applied before the cream, as we explain in our article serum before or after cream.

For the eyes: the Fluide Sacré with Green Coffee

The eye contour is the thinnest area of the face. The Fluide Sacré with Green Coffee (€38) is a treatment for the eye contour and eyelids, with a silky, non-greasy texture. The skin is nourished by borage, evening primrose, and baobab: it no longer feels tight. 97% of users found their eyes looked less tired (self-assessment, 35 consumers, 15 days).

For skin that feels tight: the Baume Magique

The Baume Magique (€34) is a multi-purpose SOS balm for the face and body. It is aimed at dry, fragile, or stressed skin, battered by cold, wind, or pollution. It soothes tightness upon application and nourishes without leaving a greasy film. In winter, it is the treatment for damaged hands, lips, and cheekbones reddened by the cold.

For the body: the Onguent Magistral

The Onguent Magistral (€84, 200 ml jar) is a rich and creamy body treatment for dry to very dry skin. Borage, flax, avocado, argan, and evening primrose accompany shea butter here. The skin is nourished, soft, and satin-smooth: after 28 days, 96% of testers found their skin smoother (self-assessment, 35 consumers).

How to integrate borage into your autumn ritual

Borage gives its best results through consistency. Here is a simple ritual for the cold season:

1. In the morning: a few drops of Sérum Sacré on the face, then the Crème Magistrale. Pat the Fluide au Café Vert onto the eye contour.
2. In the evening: after careful makeup removal, apply the Crème Magistrale again, massaging from the center of the face outwards.
3. When the skin feels tight: a dab of Baume Magique on dry areas, in a more generous layer on nights of extreme cold.
4. For the body: the Onguent Magistral after a shower, twice a week, or every day in case of intense dryness.

Count on three weeks to judge a ritual: this is the time it takes for the skin to show what it has gained in suppleness and comfort.

Frequently asked questions about borage oil

Is borage oil suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes. It is one of the oils indicated for fragile and sensitive skin, thanks to its soothing properties. As with any new skincare product, test it on a small area before the first application.

Can it be used on oily skin?

Borage oil is primarily aimed at dry and mature skin. In a serum or cream, it is dosed with other active ingredients, which makes it pleasant on most skin types. To find out which treatment to choose according to your skin type, the diagnostic remains the simplest method.

Borage or evening primrose, which one to choose?

There is no need to choose: the two oils complement each other. The Crème Magistrale, the Sérum Sacré, the Fluide au Café Vert, and the Onguent Magistral actually contain both.