So what gives evening primrose it’s skin-healing powers, and should you fold it into your routine? All this and more, dear readers. How does this translate to skin? One study found that taking 3 soft gel capsules at 500 mg for 12 weeks improved the appearance of the participants’ elasticity, moisture, fatigue resistance, and even firmness. Not only do these contribute to a better appearance overall, but they can also mitigate acne as often breakouts, oil, and inflammation come because of skin fatigue and moisture loss. Not to mention enhanced elasticity and firmness means improved texture, a common complaint for those with acne. Experts agree: “This is the one omega-6 fatty acid that could specifically promote skin health. This fat is primarily found in the seeds of evening primrose. Topical and dietary supplementation4 of GLA oils has been studied for inflammatory skin conditions, and one intervention study in healthy women found that both intake of GLA-rich borage oil and flaxseed oil (rich in the omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid) experienced benefits to skin health including decreased reddening and improved hydration5,” says explains Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN is a registered dietician nutritionist. “And, as you may know, hydration is crucial when it comes to oil production—in fact, dehydrated skin may overproduce oil to compensate for a lack of moisture.” One reason people benefit from ingesting evening primrose oil is that our bodies cannot produce GLA on their own. So supplementing with it is really the only way to get your skin-supporting benefits. For topical uses, really, the uses abound in skin care products. You’ll find in the likes of hand creams and hair oils. Others fancy it a solid option as an oil cleanser for acne-prone skin (we know that oil cleansing can actually help keep breakouts at bay, but this one even goes a step further thanks to major anti-inflammatory properties.) It’s also a popular addition to luxe face oils, again specifically for those with blemishes.
