3 min read

Superfruit Pomegranate to Nourish Skin

Written By: Robin Lander

Autumn is the season for Pomegranate fruit – the ripe, ruby red quintessential fruit of Fall appears everywhere from store shelves to holiday décor. The deliciously tart, juicy seeds are sprinkled over fall salads and the seed-derived red syrup, Grenadine, adds a blush to holiday beverages. The Pomegranate tree, Punica granatum, is native to areas of Iran through northern India and has been cultivated throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa since ancient times.[1] Pomegranates appear in Egyptian mythology and art, in ancient Greek mythology and literature, and in many historical customs of the Eastern world. The fruit has been seen as a traditional symbol of fertility and is often used to decorate and bring vibrant color to the home in the colder fall and winter months.

While many of us are familiar with Pomegranate seeds and their juice, one might be surprised to find that the seeds contain a unique and rare fatty acid with remarkable skin and hair conditioning properties. Extraction of the seeds produces Pomegranate Seed Oil, a luxurious and elegant fixed ‘carrier’ oil with a mild nutty-fatty and slightly tart aroma and transparent golden orange color. The seed oil contains punicic acid, an omega-5 fatty acid found almost exclusively in Pomegranates that is known to help balance the skin’s pH, calm, support elasticity, and improve the appearance of sun-exposed and mature skin.[2] In addition, phytosterols and flavonoids in the oil offer antioxidant properties, and gallic acid has been shown to improve the appearance of imperfections. Ellagic acid supports skin’s healthy look while providing some protection from environmental stress.

This process helps protect the precious nourishing components...

We are pleased to offer a beautiful, certified organic Pomegranate Seed CO2. While many seed oils are expeller or cold-pressed, our Pomegranate Seed CO2 Organic is extracted by a low temperature carbon dioxide extraction process. This process helps protect the precious nourishing components, while ensuring a product that more closely resembles that which is found in the raw plant material, and offers a longer shelf life than most cold processed carrier oils.[3]

Pomegranate Seed CO2 feels thick and rich on the skin, helping dry and mature skin to feel hydrated and supported. Skin appears more supple with a beautiful texture. The oil can be easily incorporated into facial and body oil blends, or enjoyed directly on the skin. For a massage or body oil, we suggest combining 5% to 20% Pomegranate Seed CO2 with 80% to 95% of another carrier oil, or a combination of other carrier oils, such as  Sunflower Oil - Organic, Jojoba Oil, Golden - Organic, or Fractionated Coconut Oil - Organic. Following is a body oil recipe to deliver deep hydration and nourishment to dry or mature skin.

Winter Gems Body Oil

Materials: 

Directions:

Set the 2 oz. bottle on a paper towel to absorb any spills. Use the large measuring pipettes to add each carrier oil (Pomegranate, Plum Kernel, Marula, Sunflower oils) to the bottle. Then, use the fine pipettes to add each essential oil, if desired (Grapefruit, Orange, Clary Sage, Frankincense). Twist on the pump top and gently shake to combine.

Apply to damp skin after bathing, or skin that has been spritzed with Rose Hydrosol and massage in.

Enjoy your supple skin!

Footnotes:

1 Parker, Susan M. Power of the Seed, 2014, p. 163.

2 Ibid.

3 Industry communication