Sea Buckthorn for Skin and Menopause: The Research, Benefits and Why We Chose the Whole Berry
Sea buckthorn is one of those ingredients that is finally getting the attention it deserves!
A bright orange berry growing in cold climates across Europe and Asia, sea buckthorn has been used traditionally for centuries and is now attracting increasing scientific interest for its unique nutritional composition.
And if you have landed here after Googling sea buckthorn for skin, sea buckthorn for menopause or simply what is sea buckthorn good for?, you're in the right place.
Because there is a lot to unpack.
Sea buckthorn naturally contains a remarkable combination of nutrients and plant compounds, including vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin E, polyphenols and fatty acids, including Omega-7.
But what made us particularly interested in this little berry was not one isolated nutrient.
It was the whole picture.
At The Seed Cycle, we have always believed that food is more than the individual nutrients listed on a label. Foods contain naturally occurring compounds that exist together in a complex matrix and that is exactly why we chose to create our Sea Buckthorn asΒ 100% crushed whole berry powder.
No isolated Omega-7.
No oil capsules.
No fillers or maltodextrin.
Just the berry.
And as research continues to explore sea buckthorn's role in skin and mucosal health, we think this is an ingredient more women should know about.
What is sea buckthorn?
Sea buckthorn, or Hippophae rhamnoides, is a small orange berry that grows on a hardy shrub found throughout parts of Europe and Asia.
The berry has a distinctive bright orange colour due in part to its carotenoid content.
From a nutritional perspective, sea buckthorn is interesting because it contains both water-soluble and fat-soluble compounds.
Depending on the part of the plant and how it is processed, sea buckthorn can contain:
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Vitamin C
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Carotenoids
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Vitamin E compounds, including tocopherols
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Polyphenols and flavonoids
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Organic acids
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Dietary fibre
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Fatty acids
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Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-7 fatty acids
A scientific review of sea buckthorn's nutritional composition describes the berry as containing a diverse range of antioxidants, vitamins, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, fibre and other naturally occurring compounds.
Read the scientific review of sea buckthorn's nutritional composition
That complexity is important.
Because sea buckthorn is often marketed around Omega-7, but the whole berry is much more than one fatty acid.
Why is sea buckthorn interesting for skin?
When people search for sea buckthorn for skin, they are usually interested in one thing:
Can what we eat actually influence the way our skin looks and feels?
The answer is that nutrition is one part of the much bigger skin picture.
Skin is influenced by genetics, hormones, sun exposure, skincare, sleep, stress, ageing and overall nutrition. There is no single food that can replace sunscreen, skincare or medical treatment where needed.
But nutrition absolutely provides the building blocks your body uses every day.
Sea buckthorn is particularly interesting because of its naturally occurring combination of:
Carotenoids
Carotenoids are plant pigments responsible for the berry's distinctive orange colour. They are widely studied for their antioxidant properties.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient with an important role in normal collagen formation and antioxidant protection.
Vitamin E
Sea buckthorn contains vitamin E compounds, including tocopherols, which are naturally occurring antioxidants.
Polyphenols
Polyphenols are naturally occurring plant compounds that are widely studied for their antioxidant and biological activity.
Naturally occurring fatty acids
Sea buckthorn is also known for its unusual fatty acid profile, including palmitoleic acid, often referred to as Omega-7.
It is this combination rather than one single "hero" ingredient that makes sea buckthorn particularly interesting as a whole food.
What does the research say about sea buckthorn and skin?
Research into sea buckthorn is still developing, and it is important not to overstate what individual studies show.
However, there are several areas of research that explain why scientists are interested in the berry.
A recent review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology examined sea buckthorn and its potential relevance to skin and mucosal barrier health.
The review discusses the berry's bioactive compounds including flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and carotenoids and their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair mechanisms.
The authors highlighted sea buckthorn as an area of interest for barrier integrity and skin and mucosal research, while also emphasising the need for continued research.
Read the 2025 review on sea buckthorn, skin and mucosal health
There has also been a randomised controlled trial investigating oral sea buckthorn oil and skin-related outcomes.
In that study, researchers measured a range of skin parameters over 12 weeks, including skin texture and elasticity.
The study found changes in several measured skin parameters in the sea buckthorn group, although it is important to note that this research investigated sea buckthorn oil, not whole berry powder.
Read the randomised controlled trial on oral sea buckthorn oil and skin outcomes
That distinction matters when choosing a product.
The research into sea buckthorn includes different forms of the plant oils, extracts, seeds, pulp and whole-fruit preparations.
You cannot automatically assume that research on one preparation applies identically to another.
This is one of the reasons we are transparent about exactly what ours is.
Our Sea Buckthorn is 100% crushed whole berry powder.
Sea buckthorn for menopause: why are women becoming interested?
One of the most interesting areas of sea buckthorn research relates to menopause and mucosal health.
As women move through perimenopause and menopause, declining and fluctuating oestrogen can influence different tissues throughout the body.
Many women notice changes including:
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Drier skin
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Changes in skin texture
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Vaginal dryness
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Changes to mucosal tissues
This does not mean every symptom of menopause can be solved with a food.
But it does explain why researchers have been interested in the nutritional compounds found in sea buckthorn.
One double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial investigated oral sea buckthorn oil in 116 postmenopausal women experiencing symptoms associated with vaginal dryness.
After three months, the researchers found a significantly better rate of improvement in vaginal epithelial integrity in the sea buckthorn group compared with placebo.
The researchers concluded that sea buckthorn oil showed beneficial effects on vaginal health and warranted further consideration as a nutritional approach to mucosal integrity.
Read the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study here
Again, an important distinction:
This study used sea buckthorn oil.
Our product is whole crushed sea buckthorn berry powder.
We do not claim that our powder produces the same outcomes as the oil used in that clinical trial.
What the research does show, however, is why sea buckthorn has become an increasingly interesting area of research for women experiencing changes in skin and mucosal tissues through menopause.
Why we chose whole sea buckthorn berry powder
When we started researching sea buckthorn, we had a decision to make.
There are many ways to turn a nutrient-rich plant into a product.
You can isolate one compound.
You can extract the oil.
You can put the oil into a capsule.
Or you can use the whole food.
At The Seed Cycle, our philosophy has always been to start with food.
So we chose the whole berry.
Our Sea Buckthorn is:
100% sea buckthorn berry powder.
The berries are crushed and dried raw, with nothing added.
No fillers.
No maltodextrin.
No isolated Omega-7.
No oil extraction.
No capsules.
Just the whole crushed berry.
Sea buckthorn is naturally complex. It contains a range of compounds, and we didn't want to reduce the berry to one fashionable nutrient.
Omega-7 is interesting. But the berry is more than Omega-7.
Whole-food ingredients also fit naturally into the way we believe nutrition should work.
You add them to food.
You enjoy them as part of your routine.
And they become one small part of your wider nutritional foundations.
Shop The Seed Cycle Sea Buckthorn β 100% Organic Raw Crushed Berry Powder
Why not just take an Omega-7 supplement?
Omega-7 has received growing attention because sea buckthorn is one of the better-known natural sources of palmitoleic acid.
But when you isolate one nutrient, you are no longer consuming the whole food.
The whole sea buckthorn berry contains a broader nutritional matrix, including naturally occurring antioxidants, carotenoids, polyphenols, fibre and other compounds.
This doesn't mean isolated supplements are inherently bad.
They simply weren't what we wanted to create.
We wanted to create something for women who prefer:
Food over more capsules.
Something you could add to your yoghurt.
Your smoothie.
Your chia pudding.
Your porridge.
Your breakfast bowl.
One teaspoon.
Once a day.
A simple food-first ritual.
Why we think seed cycling and sea buckthorn work so beautifully together
This is where we get particularly excited.
Seed cycling and sea buckthorn are not the same thing.
Seed cycling is centred around rotating four nutrient-dense seeds through two phases:
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Phase 1: flaxseed and pumpkin seeds
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Phase 2: sunflower and sesame seeds
Sea buckthorn is an add-on that can be taken at any time.
So why combine them?
Because they fit together beautifully from a food-first nutrition perspective.
Your daily Seed Cycle scoop provides a simple way to add nutrient-dense seeds to your routine.
Seeds naturally provide a combination of:
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Dietary fibre
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Plant protein
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Healthy fats
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Essential fatty acids
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Minerals
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Naturally occurring plant compounds
Sea buckthorn adds another completely different whole-food ingredient with its own naturally occurring profile, including:
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Vitamin C
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Carotenoids
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Vitamin E compounds
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Polyphenols
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Naturally occurring fatty acids, including Omega-7
Instead of looking for one magical supplement to "fix" everything, our approach is to build nutrition through foods that complement each other.
Seeds + colourful berries + fibre + protein + whole foods.
That is the philosophy behind The Seed Cycle.
And for women who are already seed cycling, adding sea buckthorn is incredibly easy.
Take your daily Seed Cycle scoop.
Add one teaspoon of Sea Buckthorn.
Put them into the same breakfast.
Done.
No complicated protocol.
No timing to remember.
No extra handful of supplements.
Just more nutrient-dense food in a meal you were already eating.
Start Seed Cycling with The Seed Cycle Starter Pack
Add Sea Buckthorn to your daily routine
How to take sea buckthorn powder
Our preferred approach is simple.
Take one teaspoon daily and add it to something you already enjoy.
Try it in:
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Yoghurt
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Smoothies
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Chia pudding
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Porridge
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Overnight oats
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Breakfast bowls
Sea buckthorn has a naturally bright, tangy flavour, so it pairs particularly well with creamy foods, berries, mango and yoghurt.
There is no complicated timing involved.
You can take it alongside your Seed Cycle scoop or enjoy it on its own.
The key, as with most nutritional habits, is consistency.
Can you take sea buckthorn during perimenopause or menopause?
Sea buckthorn is a food ingredient that is increasingly attracting interest from women in perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause because of its nutritional profile and emerging research into skin and mucosal health.
However, sea buckthorn is not a replacement for menopause treatment, hormone therapy or medical care.
If you are experiencing significant menopausal symptoms, vaginal dryness, pain, bleeding or other health concerns, speak with your doctor or qualified healthcare practitioner.
The clinical research discussed in this article investigated specific sea buckthorn preparations and should not be interpreted as proof that every sea buckthorn product produces the same results.
Is sea buckthorn good for skin?
Sea buckthorn is a nutrient-dense food containing compounds that are relevant to overall skin nutrition, including carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin E compounds, polyphenols and fatty acids.
Research is continuing to investigate sea buckthorn's potential role in skin health and barrier function.
But healthy skin is influenced by many factors.
There is no one food that replaces:
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Adequate nutrition
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Sun protection
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Sleep
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Hydration
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Appropriate skincare
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Medical care when needed
We see sea buckthorn as part of a wider approach to nourishing the body.
Not a miracle product.
Not a replacement for your dermatologist.
Not a magic shortcut.
Just a genuinely interesting whole food that we think deserves a place in the conversation.
Why we created Sea Buckthorn at The Seed Cycle
The Seed Cycle has always been about making food-first nutrition easier for women.
We know women are busy.
We know most people don't need another complicated wellness protocol.
And we know that sometimes the simplest habits are the ones that actually last.
That's why our Sea Buckthorn is one ingredient.
100% crushed sea buckthorn berry.
No unnecessary extras.
No attempt to turn a whole food into a complicated formula.
Just one teaspoon that you can add to your existing breakfast routine.
For us, that is what sustainable wellness looks like.
Small things.
Done consistently.
Built around real food.
Shop Sea Buckthorn
If you're looking for a sea buckthorn powder in Australia and want a product that stays close to the original food, ours was created with exactly that philosophy in mind.
100% Sea Buckthorn Berry Powder.
Crushed and dried raw.
No fillers.
No maltodextrin.
No isolated Omega-7.
No oil extraction.
Just the whole berry.
Shop The Seed Cycle Sea Buckthorn here
And if you already seed cycle, try adding one teaspoon to your daily ritual.
Because sometimes the best nutrition habits aren't the complicated ones.
Sometimes it's simply adding another beautiful whole food to breakfast. ππ±
Research and further reading
The role of sea buckthorn in skin and mucosal health: a review from an anti-inflammatory perspective
Song X, Sun X, Yuan H, Tang Y and Zheng F. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2025).
Read the study: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1643146/full
Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Larmo PS et al. Maturitas (2014).
Read the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25104582/
The impact of oral sea-buckthorn oil on skin, blood markers, ocular, and vaginal health: A randomised control trial
Journal of Functional Foods (2023).
Read the study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2023.105973
Why is sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) so exceptional? A review
Food Chemistry (2020).
Read the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32466930/
