Beauty Tips For Body Care
Touted as a potential treatment for premenstrual syndrome, and even hormonal acne, Evening Primrose Oil (usually just called ‘Primrose Oil’ or ‘EPO’) is a powerful essential oil with a good amount of promise. I've collected some info here, hope you guys find it useful.Primrose Oil – TL;DREssential oil derived from the Oenothera family of plantsHigh in Gamma-Linoleic Acids, which is purported to have many health benefitsCould potentially treat hormonal acne, although the science is mixed on EPO & PMSUse it in diluted form to moisturize your skin or hair, or to remove makeupLook for EPO that is cold-pressed and unrefinedWhat it isEvening Primrose Oil (EPO) is a vegetable essential oil extracted from the Oenothera genus of plants, usually Oenothera Biennis. The plant is native to Eastern and Central North America but has been successfully grown in other parts of the world.Unrefined EPO appears as a medium yellowish color and has a distinct odor, variably described as smelling anything like ‘fish’ to ‘sweet and nutty’. Refined EPO, on the other hand, appears as colorless and should be odorless.EPO is composed of roughly 75% linoleic acid, 10% Gamma-Linoleic acid, and 10% Oleic acid, with palmitic and stearic acid making up the small remainder[i]EPO is usually sold in diluted from, with a small amount added to carrier oil such as Jojoba.BenefitsGamma-Linoleic Acid (GLA) is the real key to this oil. It’s been claimed to have dozens of different benefits, treating everything from eczema to premenstrual syndrome to menopause. Below are possible benefits supported by some science.Dry Skin:EPO was shown to improve numerous issues with dry skin, such as xerotic chelitis in patients taking Isotretinoin[ii], and general eczema[iii]Hormones:The raison d'être of EPO is its alleged abilities to influence hormonal swings and fluctuations. The science here is a bit mixed unfortunately. Two systematic reviews suggest that EPO was no better than placebo for controlling symptoms of PMS[iv]. Quite a few studies examining the relation between EPO and PMS show the same conclusion, that EPO is ineffective for PMS symptoms.But why dig into PMS? The reason it’s so important to look at how EPO affects PMS and PMS symptoms is because there are no (to my knowledge) studies that examine the efficacy of EPO on hormonal acne. There is however, a mountain of anecdotal data suggesting that the oil is effective in treating hormonal acne (which one would suspect flares up during PMS).So we’re trying to use logic here to move one foot forward. If EPO was consistently shown to improve PMS symptoms in controlled studies, then it would be a decent guess to say that it could provide relief on hormonal acne as well, considering how interlinked the two are.Unfortunately the bulk of the science appears to say that EPO is no better than a placebo when it comes to PMS.That doesn’t mean though, that EPO is ineffective for treating hormonal acne, just that there needs to be more research on the matter. There could very well be one or more unknown mechanisms through which EPO works to get rid of the hormonal acne that we do not know of. Remember though, there is a lot of research supporting EPO for treating dry skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema!In more positive news, one study combining EPO with Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E did show relief in symptoms of PMS[v]. Another study found EPO to be very effective in treating depression, irritability, and bloating symptoms associated with PMS[vi].Hyperpigmentation:EPO was shown in-vitro (no human subjects) to reduce UV-induced pigmentation in cells, meaning there could be some potential for it to be a cosmetic whitening agent.EPO also has many more wide-ranging skin benefits. It was shown to improve firmness and elasticity, to reduce water loss, and to improve overall skin moisture levels[vii]Other miscellaneous benefits include possibly reducing cyclical breast pain[viii]What to use it forBelow are some of the most common uses for EPO:Skin:You can use EPO (in diluted form) as a general moisturizer as it can help your skin retain water, and improve elasticity and firmness. It works great on dry skin, and can help treat conditions such as xerotic chelitis, dermatitis, and eczema.Hair:Like most other oils, you can apply EPO in diluted form to your hair to keep it moisturized, and try using it as a leave-in conditioner as well. It’s also a quick and easy way to add some shine to your hair.Makeup Removal:EPO is a popular oil used in the ‘oil cleansing method’ of removing makeup. You can use a diluted form of EPO on its own to cleanse your face, or blend a small portion of the oil with a base/carrier oil, such as Jojoba or Castor. Take a few drops of the oil and massage it evenly onto your face before rinsing. EPO could be a great alternative to some of the more harsher makeup removers out there.EPO has many uses outside of cosmetic applications. It is frequently ingested to make up for a lack of omega-6 fatty acids from a diet, and to induce labor in pregnant women.What to look forIt’s important to make sure you buy the EPO that will give you the most possible benefits. There’s nothing special about a particular brand name, so rather than that, I suggest keeping an eye out for the following:Cold Pressed:This means the oil was extracted from the plant mechanically, and that no extra heat was added to the process to induce extraction. The temperature doesn’t rise higher than 50 degrees, and so more of the oils natural and original properties are retained. Cold-pressed is one of two ways of expeller (mechanically) pressing the oil from the kernels, the other being heat-press. As both are mechanical methods of extracting the oil, you should be ok with either cold or expeller pressed. Ultimately, if you can, go with cold pressed.Unrefined:Refined EPO is chemically bleached to remove its natural gold coloring. Refined oil is almost always de-odorized as well through an extremely high-heat process. Solvents and chemicals are often used to extract the oil, and added to act as preservatives.Unrefined EPO avoids these artificial changes and alterations, which don’t really provide much benefit for direct application, unless you are extremely averse to the smell of natural EPO. If you do not like the natural smell, then go for an oil that has been naturally refined (using steam or diatomaceous earth) as opposed to chemically refined.Note: I would avoid oils that do not state these key characteristics (what kind of pressing and whether refined). At the very least, make sure your oil names the plant it came from!Some Final TipsConfirm whether the EPO you are using is in diluted or concentrated formAlways patch test with this oil, to see how your skin reactsStore EPO in a cool, dark, and dry place[i] Various analyses within the document gives these rough ranges –https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/noms/support_docs/evening_primrose_nov2009.pdf[ii] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25473222[iii] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17168667 - but to be fair, the science is mixed – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23633319[iv] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/211719366;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19923637[v] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22952490[vi] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6350579[vii] Too bad it couldn’t reduce redness! - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18492193[viii] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20359269
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