Plant Description:

Sunflower is an ancient native-American plant with its culinary use dating as far back as 3000 years.

Skin Care with Sunflower Oil:

Sunflower seed oil is light in texture and great for eye care and delicate skincare. It is usually grown without pesticides and fungicides as the flowers are high in the air and away from soil borne fungus or bugs. It is adapted to dry farming and thus ecologically and earth friendly. It is stable in skincare products and creates a smoothing feel your skin is sure to love. This light oil is best for normal to oily skin. In skincare, this oil mixed with cold-processed and unrefined oils provides the best absorption for your skin.

Benefits of Sunflower Oil:

• Prevents Sun Damage:

  Sunflower oil is higher in vitamin E than almond oil or shea butter. Vitamin E is essential for preventing damage to skin cells by ultraviolet light or UVA from the sun. It also improves the appearance and health of your skin through prevention of scarring and smoothing of existing wrinkles.

• Fights Acne:

  Sunflower oil is also rich in vitamins A, C and D and healthy carotenoids and waxes that form a protective barrier on the skin. The oil is light and non-greasy and gets absorbed into the skin easily without blocking the pores. Its range of vitamins and fatty acids act as antioxidants to regenerate skin cells and rid the skin of acne causing bacteria.

• Excellent Source of Beta Carotene:

  Beta-carotene is a richly pigmented fat-soluble compound that can be converted into vitamin A and its antioxidant properties are beneficial for the appearance of your health and skin. Sunflower oil is an excellent source of beta-carotene. It makes your skin less sensitive to the sun.

• Prevents Premature Aging:

  Exposure to UVA rays from the sun speeds aging, thus causing wrinkles and fine lines at an early age. The antioxidants in sunflower oil neutralize the free radicals that cause sun damage to your skin, premature aging, and in some cases, cancer.

• Good for Dry & Dehydrated Skin:

  Being a natural emollient, sunflower oil improves your skin’s moisture retention capacity and is beneficial for individuals with dry, dehydrated or sensitive skin. A mixture of sunflower and castor oil contains fatty acids and vitamins that make them a great moisturizing cleanser. It removes impurities, dead cell buildup, and makes your skin soft and supple. It is widely used in skincare and eye care products because of its moisturizing and skin smoothing properties.

Sunflower Oil for Hair:

The nutrients, antioxidants and fatty acids in sunflower oil, along with its moisturining properties makes this oil a popular remedy for the hair.

Benefits of Sunflower Oil for the Hair:

• Maintains Luster & Texture:

  Sunflower oil softens the hair and adds a delightful sheen to it. It helps control frizz, dryness and damage and makes you hair manageable. This versatile oil maintains your hair’s luster and texture and can be used as a natural conditioner. Sunflower oil can be applied and massaged on your scalp before a bath once a week for maximum benefits.

• Prevents Thinning and Breakage:

  Being extremely light, sunflower oil helps nourish and condition greasy hair and prevent breakage. It is an important source of gamma alpha linolenic acid (GLA) (an omega-6 fatty acid), which helps prevent thinning of hair. It has been used to prevent hair-loss, baldness and alopecia areata (round patches of lost hair).

Due to its wide range of benefits for health, skin and hair, sunflower oil is considered as one of the healthiest oils and is generally preferred over other heavier oils like coconut, almond, safflower and olive oils. However, to reap its benefits, it is advisable to consume it in small quantities as it has some associated side effects.

WARNING:

This article is for informational purpose only. Sunflower oil is not a treatment for any disease or condition. It is generally safe when used on the skin or hair, but to ensure safety, it is best to do an allergy test. Consult your doctor before using for medical purposes.

Bibliography:

1. Book “Herbs Bible” by Jenni Harding