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Sea Buckthorn Carrier Oil
INCI: Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil
Supplier: New Directions Aromatics
Evidence: ●●○ Supplier-substantiated
In our formulas: The Innovator — 3%
What it is
Sea buckthorn is a thorny shrub that grows in some of the harshest terrain in Eurasia — coastal dunes, high-altitude scree, permafrost margins. The fruit oil is one of the very few plant sources of palmitoleic acid (omega-7) in meaningful quantity, and it carries an extraordinary carotenoid load, which is what produces the deep orange colour. We use the supercritical CO2 extract rather than a solvent-extracted grade: no residual solvent, and the heat-sensitive carotenoids survive intact.
Why it matters for changing skin
Palmitoleic acid is the relevant molecule here. It is a component of human sebum and of skin cell membranes, and its concentration in skin declines with age. Very few botanical sources supply it. Sea buckthorn does, and that is the specific reason it is in the formula rather than a general “antioxidant-rich fruit oil” rationale.
It is also why The Innovator is a dark golden oil. At just 3%, the carotenoid content dominates the appearance of the whole product. That colour is a marker of what is in it, not a colorant.
What it does
|
Concern |
How it helps |
|
Age-related decline in skin lipids |
One of the few plant sources of omega-7 palmitoleic acid |
|
Oxidative and environmental stress |
Dense carotenoid and tocopherol content |
|
Compromised, slow-recovering skin |
Long traditional record in skin repair |
|
Dullness |
Supports the appearance of radiance |
On the label you may also see it as
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Oil · Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil · Seaberry Oil · Omega-7 Oil
Written by Joy Kirst
Joy Brown Kirst is the founder and formulator of Modern Age Skin, an award-winning clean beauty brand specializing in perimenopause and menopausal skincare. With an MBA from Rice University and over 20 years of experience in corporate leadership and entrepreneurship, Joy brings strategic business expertise to the beauty industry.
Following her successful career in the executive search industry, Joy earned her Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation from Formula Botanica (2021), combining her business acumen with botanical expertise to create bioadaptive, results-driven formulas for hormonal skin changes.
Modern Age Skin’s hero product, The Innovator - Luminous Repair Oil, has won both the Shape Skin Award for Best Facial Oil (2024) and the Healing Lifestyles Earth Day Beauty Award (2025). The brand is Power Beauty Collab certified and Leaping Bunny Certified, reflecting Joy’s commitment to clean, cruelty-free beauty.
Joy and Modern Age Skin have been featured in Forbes, BeautyMatter, Well Defined, on television with Pix 11 in NYC, and on the Well Done, Thrive After 45, and Midlife Mavericks podcasts. Through her work, Joy is redefining skincare for women navigating hormonal transitions, proving that aging skin deserves sophisticated, science-backed solutions.