Let's talk about chia seeds: those tiny powerhouses that have been a dietary staple since the time of the Aztecs! Did you know that beyond their benefits in your breakfast bowl or smoothie, chia seed oil is a game-changer in skincare?

Derived from the desert plant salvia hispanica, which is actually part of the mint family, chia seed oil is like a secret weapon for your skin, packed with anti-inflammatory, hydrating, and texture-improving properties. It's no wonder it's a star ingredient in our Jade Moon Serum.

Other names: Salvia Hispanica

What it is: anti-inflammatory, skin barrier protection, hydrating, improves texture

You can find it in: Jade Moon Serum

What makes Chia Seed Oil such a wonderful ingredient?

Chia seed oil is made up of some powerful components that all have incredible benefits for the skin. Since it’s a nourishing oil filled with antioxidants and fatty acids, it’s an ingredient suitable for most skin types, especially for those dealing with dryness. Keep reading to find out all the benefits of this mighty superfood ingredient.

It’s a Rich Source of Omega 3

The most notable quality of chia seed oil is that it is incredibly high in Omega 3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids include ALA, DHA, and EPA. That’s a lot of acronyms, but what’s important to know about how they impact your skin is they improve the skin’s fatty acid composition. This leads to a more supple and smooth appearance and added protection because of a strengthened skin barrier. AKA, you get the perfect balance of strong and soft 💪

Here’s how the omega 3 fatty acids in chia seed oil benefit your skin.

Hydration & Skin Barrier Protection

Chia seed oil helps prevent transepidermal water loss.

When you think about hydrating skin products, you likely think about products that add hydration into your skin. But actually, there are many ways of helping your skin’s hydration, and a big way is to keep the moisture your skin already has from leaching out. The skin can stop hydration loss with a healthy skin barrier that traps moisture in and doesn’t let it out! Since Omega 3’s contribute to a healthy skin barrier, they’re helping to keep your skin hydrated. Plus, having skin that is protected and hydrated helps give it a youthful appearance, as it minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Anti-Inflammatory

Omega 3 fatty acids are also known for their anti-inflammatory effects. When it comes to skin, inflammation can look like redness, swelling, heat, pain, or even dryness, itchiness, and skin conditions like eczema and acne. Skin usually becomes inflamed because the surface of our skin sends signals that something is wrong when it has been irritated in some way, which activates an inflammatory response. 

Chia seed oil, because of its high omega-3 fatty acid content (and its high level of antioxidants like vitamin E), helps prevent inflammation in two ways; 1. Strengthening the skin barrier, and 2. Inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory molecules.

It’s Filled with Antioxidants like Vitamin B3 and E

For an oil, chia seed oil is chock full of antioxidants! Especially vitamin B3 and vitamin E.

Chia seed oil contains niacin, a form of vitamin B3 that helps promote the production of ceramides in the skin, strengthens the skin barrier, and helps with inflammation. Ceramides are the lipid components in your skin cells, and they help with protection, hydration, and overall skin health. While you might be familiar with skincare’s more popular form of vitamin B3, niacinamide, niacin is also great for the skin and has similar benefits.

Prevents Skin Damage

The antioxidants in chia seed oil help stop the formation of free radicals, usually caused by the skin’s exposure to environmental factors like pollution and UV rays. These free radicals can cause the collagen and elastin in our skin to break down, which can lead to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, so the antioxidants in chia seed oil help slow the signs of aging! Other damage antioxidants prevent can include rough patches, dark spots, dryness, acne, and more!

Soothes Redness and Improves Texture

Because vitamin B3 stimulates the production of ceramides, it helps your skin tone and texture, especially for sensitive skin, because it helps protect it against irritants. This is similar to the protection your skin gets from chia seed oil’s omega 3 content as well, since they are both related to the fatty acids in the skin. You get extra protection from oxidative damage caused by environmental irritants and free radicals–this helps with smoothing out skin texture.

As mentioned earlier, another antioxidant, vitamin E, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which helps with redness as inflammation.

Who is Chia Seed Oil good for?

Chia seed oil is a great ingredient for those who find their skin becoming dry and irritated easily, and for those who aren’t happy with their skin’s texture. Chia seed oil’s anti-inflammatory and hydrating effects make it perfect for this.

This superfood ingredient is also ideal for anyone who is looking to care for their skin as they age, as chia is capable of protecting against free radicals that contribute to the signs of aging. For anyone with reactive skin, chia seed oil is also for you because of its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. 

Many of the hormonal changes you navigate as you age affect your skin, with dryness and sensitive skin being common issues that come up. If this is something you’re experiencing, chia seed oil will be your best friend! 

Chia seed oil is ideal for dry, mature, sensitive, and combination skin.

However, most skin types can benefit from the phenomenal effects of chia seed oil. Though chia seed oil might not be suitable for oily skin as it’s a mildly comedogenic ingredient and can potentially clog pores, it’s great for dry, mature, sensitive, and combination skin.

Summary

Chia Seed Oil:

• comes from the salvia hispanica plant native to the Central American desert biome.
• strengthens your skin barrier, which protects it from irritants, loss of hydration, and free radical damage.
• is anti-inflammatory and helps with redness and skin texture.
• is good for people who want to support their skin as they age.
• Is a superfood ingredient in Jade Moon Serum.