Borage Seed

TL;DR. This ingredient is a botanical it material used mainly for skin conditioning, with a secondary role as a mild physical exfoliant when milled into particles. Its lipid fraction can also contribute emolliency when extracted into an oil phase.

What does Borage Seed do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a botanical it material used mainly for skin conditioning, with a secondary role as a mild physical exfoliant when milled into particles. Its lipid fraction can also contribute emolliency when extracted into an oil phase.

Is Borage Seed clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well accepted because it is plant-derived and not a common restricted-list ingredient. Quality control matters, especially around botanical identity, pesticide residues, heavy metals, and trace plant alkaloids.

Is Borage Seed sustainable?

This material is renewable and readily biodegradable, with a comparatively simple agricultural supply chain. Sustainability depends on farming practices, solvent use if extracted, and responsible sourcing documentation.

Is Borage Seed COSMOS-approved?

It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when sourced and processed according to the standard, especially as a physically processed plant material. It aligns well with Green Chemistry when obtained through low-impact mechanical processing or approved extraction methods.

How does Borage Seed work chemically?

The it material contains triglycerides rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid in the lipid fraction, along with proteins, fibers, and minor phenolic compounds. Polyunsaturated lipids are oxidation-prone, so formulas often pair this material with antioxidants and protection from heat, oxygen, and light.

Last updated 2026-05-14