Why Sea Buckthorn Is the Unsung Hero of Natural Anti-Ageing Skincare

When most people think of anti-ageing skincare, they picture retinol, vitamin C serums, or hyaluronic acid. And those ingredients certainly have their place. But tucked away in the mountainous regions of Tibet and Central Asia, there’s a small, bright orange berry that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries—and modern science is finally catching up to what practitioners have known for a long time.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is one of the most nutrient-dense botanicals on the planet. Its oil contains over 190 bioactive compounds, including a rare combination of omega fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants. Yet in the Western skincare world, it remains relatively unknown compared to flashier ingredients with bigger marketing budgets.

That’s starting to change—and for good reason.

Related: The Complete Guide to Choosing a Serum After 50

Related: How Hormonal Changes Affect Your Skin (And What Actually Helps)

What Makes Sea Buckthorn So Remarkable?

The short answer: almost everything. Sea buckthorn oil is unusually rich in vitamins C and E, both of which are well-established antioxidants in skincare research. Vitamin C supports collagen synthesis and helps brighten uneven skin tone, while vitamin E protects cell membranes from oxidative stress. Together, they form a synergistic pair that research suggests is more effective than either nutrient alone.

But what truly sets sea buckthorn apart is its fatty acid profile. It’s one of the very few plant sources of omega-7 (palmitoleic acid), a fatty acid that was only identified by researchers at Harvard in 2008 as playing a key role in cellular communication and tissue repair. Omega-7 is naturally present in human skin, and supplementing it topically may help support the skin’s ability to regenerate and maintain its moisture barrier.

Beyond omega-7, sea buckthorn oil also delivers omegas 3, 6, and 9—an unusually complete fatty acid spectrum for a single botanical source. These essential fatty acids contribute to skin suppleness, hydration, and the kind of healthy lipid balance that tends to diminish with age.

The Science Behind Anti-Ageing Benefits

Collagen Support

Collagen production naturally declines from our mid-twenties onwards, accelerating significantly during and after menopause. Sea buckthorn’s high vitamin C content directly supports collagen synthesis—vitamin C is a necessary cofactor in the enzymatic process that stabilises collagen molecules. Without adequate vitamin C, the body simply cannot produce collagen efficiently.

Antioxidant Protection

Free radical damage is one of the primary drivers of premature ageing. UV exposure, pollution, and even normal metabolic processes generate reactive oxygen species that break down collagen and elastin fibres. Sea buckthorn is exceptionally rich in carotenoids (including beta-carotene), flavonoids, and tocopherols—all of which help neutralise these free radicals before they can cause structural damage to the skin.

Moisture Barrier Repair

As skin ages, the lipid barrier that keeps moisture in and irritants out becomes thinner and less effective. The omega fatty acids in sea buckthorn oil closely mirror the lipids found naturally in healthy skin, which means they can integrate into the barrier and help restore its function. This is particularly relevant for mature skin that feels perpetually dry, tight, or reactive.

Hyperpigmentation and Skin Tone

Uneven skin tone is one of the most common concerns for mature skin. Sun damage accumulated over decades, combined with hormonal changes, can leave the complexion looking mottled or dull. The combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids in sea buckthorn has been shown in studies to support a more even, luminous complexion over time.

Why Australian-Made Formulations Matter

The quality of any botanical ingredient depends heavily on sourcing, extraction, and formulation. Australian skincare brands operating under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) framework are held to rigorous manufacturing and labelling standards—which means when an Australian-made sea buckthorn serum lists its ingredients, you can have confidence in what’s actually in the bottle.

Australia’s climate also creates unique skincare needs. Higher UV exposure, variable humidity, and the long-term effects of outdoor living mean Australian women often experience photodamage and dehydration earlier than their counterparts in less sun-intense climates. A sea buckthorn serum formulated with these conditions in mind addresses concerns that generic international formulations may overlook.

How to Use Sea Buckthorn Serum in Your Routine

Pure sea buckthorn oil is best applied after cleansing and any water-based treatments. Because it’s an oil, it sits on top of lighter textures, so applying it as the last step in your skincare routine (or mixed into your moisturiser) allows it to seal in hydration without disrupting the absorption of other products.

A few drops are typically all you need. The oil is potent—its deep orange colour comes from its high carotenoid content—but it absorbs well and won’t leave a visible tint on the skin. Morning or evening use works equally well, though evening application gives the oil uninterrupted time to support the skin’s natural overnight repair processes.

For those concerned about layering, sea buckthorn pairs beautifully with hyaluronic acid (applied underneath, on damp skin) and peptide-based moisturisers. This combination addresses hydration at multiple levels: hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin, peptides support structural repair, and sea buckthorn oil locks everything in while delivering its own bioactive benefits.

Who Benefits Most from Sea Buckthorn?

While sea buckthorn is genuinely suitable for all skin types. It scores just 1 out of 5 on the comedogenic scale. It’s particularly well-suited to mature skin, dry or dehydrated skin, skin recovering from sun damage, and sensitive or reactive complexions that struggle with conventional anti-ageing actives like retinol or glycolic acid.

If you’ve found that many anti-ageing products either irritate your skin or don’t provide enough moisture, sea buckthorn is worth considering precisely because it works with your skin’s biology rather than against it. It doesn’t force accelerated cell turnover or cause the purging period associated with retinoids. Instead, it nourishes, protects, and supports the skin’s own regenerative capacity.

The Bottom Line

Sea buckthorn won’t replace every product in your bathroom cabinet, and no single ingredient ever should. But as the centrepiece of a thoughtful, natural anti-ageing routine, it offers something remarkably rare: a single botanical source that delivers hydration, antioxidant protection, barrier repair, and collagen support simultaneously.

It’s the kind of ingredient that doesn’t need exaggerated marketing claims because the science, and the results, speak for themselves.