"Sea Buckthorn is a plant whose chemistry aligns with the skin’s underlying needs. It supports a new way of thinking about skincare."

- Estella, Founder and Formulator

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae Rhamnoides) thrives where conditions are harsh: coastal bluffs, windswept terrain, saline soils. It has learned to flourish where others might retreat. This natural resilience is encoded in its fruit, a vibrant, golden orb packed with carotenoids, essential fatty acids, and a unique spectrum of antioxidants. It offers us a lesson in adaptability, a reminder that strength and sensitivity can coexist, and that beauty does not always bloom in ease, but through endurance.

Scientifically, Sea Buckthorn is remarkable. Its seeds and pulp deliver an abundant balance of omega-3, omega-6, omega-7, and omega-9 fatty acids, an uncommon profile in the botanical world. These lipids play essential roles in maintaining the integrity of the skin’s barrier, supporting hydration, elasticity, and resilience against environmental stressors. Carotenoids, precursors to vitamin A, lend antioxidant support, quenching free radicals and helping the skin maintain a luminous, even presence. 

In our formulation of The Bakuchiol Renewal Facial Oil, Sea Buckthorn becomes more than an ingredient; it is a partner. While Bakuchiol, derived from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia, has earned acclaim as a plant-based alternative to retinol, offering cell renewal and collagen support, and visible improvements to the appearance of fine lines and texture without the irritation often associated with retinoids, Sea Buckthorn supports the environment in which those actions unfold. Where Bakuchiol encourages dynamic renewal, Sea Buckthorn nurtures equilibrium: reinforcing the lipid matrix, infusing the skin with nourishing fatty acids, and supporting against dehydration and oxidative stress.

Together, they represent a powerful botanical duo: one that speaks to regeneration and refinement, the other to resilience and restoration. The Bakuchiol initiates subtle renewal; Sea Buckthorn sustains it with lipid-rich support. This synergy reflects a deeper philosophy that guides us: that effective skincare does not rely on singular performance, but on conscious nourishment - science informed by nature, nature amplified by understanding.

Sea Buckthorn’s hues, warm, golden, full of light, remind us that nourishment is also a sensory experience. To engage with its scent, texture, and colour is to re-enter an elemental conversation between skin and substance. And when we allow ourselves to slow down and listen to the skin's landscape, we find that beauty is as much about response as expression.

Photography : Linda Wit

Copy : Rachael Grieve