You might have enjoyed sunflower seeds as a healthy, crunchy snack. But did you know that these tiny seeds are also a skincare superstar? Packed with antioxidants, minerals and fats, they can transform your skin in several ways. Sunflower seed benefits often extend beyond their dietary consumption. Multiple sources suggest that the topical application of sunflower seed oil has immense potential to boost your skin health.

So if you’re looking for a natural remedy to improve your skin, you’re at the right place. In this blog, we’ll be uncovering 4 science-backed benefits of sunflower seeds for your skin. We’ll also be talking about how these seeds benefit your overall health.

Keep reading!

How Sunflower Seeds Benefit Your Health

Before we understand its skin benefits, let’s uncover 5 benefits of sunflower seeds for your health.

1. Lowers Cancer Risk

Sunflower seeds are loaded with cancer-fighting nutrients such as antioxidants and good fats. The high vitamin E content of these seeds protects against cancer. Research also shows that sunflower seeds have the highest content of Conjugated Linolenic Acid, an anti-cancer fatty acid.

2. Improves Heart Health

Vitamin E in sunflower seeds also plays an important role in regulating your blood cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL or bad fat. By doing so, it helps to ward off many heart-related ailments and keeps your heart healthy.

3. Improves Thyroid Health

Sunflower seeds are rich in Selenium, a mineral essential for supporting the health of your thyroid glands. These glands play an important role in several bodily functions like metabolism, heart function, digestion, etc.

4. Prevents Muscle Cramps

Sunflower seeds also contain plenty of Magnesium and Pantothenic Acid, two vital minerals that help to keep muscle cramps at bay.

5. Fights Inflammation

Inflammation is the root cause of several disorders in your body, including allergies, joint pain and even cancer. Choosing foods like sunflower seeds can also help keep the inflammation in check, lowering your risk of several diseases.

Having said that, let’s move on to explore the benefits of sunflower seeds and its oil for your skin.

Benefits Of Sunflower Seeds for Your Skin

Here are 4 ways in which sunflower seeds can benefit your skin:

1. Hydrates Skin

Sunflower seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, mainly linolenic acid. And linolenic acid is lauded for its role as a natural skin protectant. It strengthens the skin’s natural moisture barrier, retaining moisture and preventing transepidermal water loss, ultimately resulting in plump, dewy and hydrated skin. The linolenic acid also plays an essential role in the production of ceramides, which further help to keep the skin hydrated.

2. Protects Against UV Damage

The high levels of Vitamin E in sunflower seed oil make it an excellent photoprotective agent. Vitamin E helps combat the damage caused by free radicals, which are responsible for breaking down collagen and causing premature ageing. The oil is also rich in beta carotene, which can absorb the harmful UV rays of the sun and act like a natural sunscreen.

3. Promotes Skin Repair & Regeneration

Sunflower seeds are loaded with Zinc, a mineral that plays a vital role in skin regeneration. Zinc can help your body in DNA synthesis and collagen formation. And both these processes play a crucial role in the process of skin repair. Sunflower seeds also contain another important skin-friendly mineral called Selenium. The mineral helps your skin repair itself and gives you a healthier and even-looking complexion over time. These seeds also contain the mineral copper, which plays an important role in keeping your skin youthful and radiant.

4. Promotes Wound Healing

Sunflower seed oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which are essential for the wound healing process. Being rich in antioxidants & minerals, it helps to repair damaged tissues while preventing scar formation. While Vitamin E in sunflower oil boosts cell regeneration, its high protein content ensures new tissue formation. Keeping the wound hydrated with sunflower oil can also lower the risk of scar formation.

A study found that using sunflower oil on the skin of infants significantly reduced mortality caused by hospital-acquired infections such as sepsis. Another suggests that sunflower seed oil can inhibit diaper rash-causing bacteria and fungi in babies.

How To Use Sunflower Seed Oil To Benefit Your Skin?

Sunflower oil is a lightweight, non-comedogenic oil which can be easily absorbed into your skin. You can use it in a variety of ways either directly or mixed with your everyday lotions and body oils.

For direct use on skin, we recommend that you choose organic, cold-pressed sunflower seed oil and apply it in the following ways:

1. As A Daily Moisturiser

Wash your face and pat it dry. Take a few drops of the oil and massage it onto your palms, and then apply it to your face while it’s still damp.

For spot treatment, you can directly apply a few drops on cuts, bruises or dry skin patches. If you want to use it for the whole body, you can mix sunflower oil with your body lotion and slather it on your skin with gentle strokes.

2. As A Makeup Remover

Apply sunflower oil to a cotton ball or a soft wipe and gently massage your skin where the makeup is. Once the makeup dissolves, wipe it off and follow up with your regular cleansing routine.

Precautions When Using Sunflower Seed Oil For Skin

According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group), sunflower seed oil is generally safe for topical use. It is non-toxic and relatively low in allergy and immunogenic potential. So even people with sensitive skin can easily avail its benefits.

That said, before using it, it’s always advisable to do a patch test. Moreover people who have seed, nut or ragweed allergies might want to stay away from sunflower oil (or ask your doctor before use).

How Is Sunflower Seed Oil Extracted?

Sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds of the Helianthus annuus (common sunflower), a plant native to America. But it’s not uncommon to find lush sunflower gardens in India.

The cold-pressed extraction process (ideal for oils used for skincare) involves :

1. Cleaning & Dehulling

For the first process, the sunflower seeds are removed from the flower. It is then cleaned to remove dust and dirt and later washed to get rid of unwanted chemicals such as pesticides and germs which may be lingering on the seeds.

2. Seed Conditioning

This is done to maintain the moisture levels in sunflower seeds. While this helps to break down the oil glands in the seeds, it may have a slightly negative effect on the oil quality. Other factors like quality and maturity of the seeds also play a role in the oil extraction process.

3. Seed Crushing & Pressing

The conditioned seeds are then mechanically pressed to break them open and release the oil from the seeds. The crushed seeds are then taken to a pressing machine to extract the oil.

4. Filtration

The pressed oil is collected and left to stand for sedimentation. After that, it is decanted and filtered and collected in bottles to store and sell.

Summing Up

Sunflower seed oil has multiple skin benefits, ranging from moisturisation to skin repair. You can use the oil directly on your face or even mix it with your body lotion.

Moreover, you can also include it for your baby’s skincare. Consider using AreoVeda’s Diaper Rash Cream infused with Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Sulphate and Sunflower Seed Oil. It is cellularly proven to seal out wetness, fight 99.9% of germs and relieve rashes in your baby’s diaper area.

Note: Always do a patch test before using the oil for the first time on your or your baby’s skin.

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