Ingredient guide · S

Starflower and Elderberry Oils

Starflower and Elderberry Oils are lightweight, nutrient-rich plant oils prized in UK skincare for their soothing and protective qualities. Starflower oil, also known as borage oil, is loved for its high gamma-linolenic acid content, while elderberry oil offers gentle antioxidant support. Together they make excellent additions to creams, serums and facial oils for dry or sensitive skin.

Starflower and Elderberry Oils — Starflower oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the starflower plant (Borago officinal… | UK Lips ingredient guide

How it works in skincare

In cosmetics and skincare formulations, Starflower (borage) oil delivers a high concentration of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that helps reinforce the skin’s natural barrier and supports smoothness and softness. Elderberry oil, cold-pressed from the seeds of the elderflower tree, is rich in phytosterols, tocopherols and essential fatty acids that provide light moisturisation and help shield the skin from environmental stressors. The two oils blend beautifully in night oils, balms and moisturisers, delivering a silky, non-greasy feel while helping to maintain healthy-looking, supple skin.

Key benefits

  • Helps reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier
  • Provides soothing care for dry or irritated skin
  • Delivers lightweight nourishment without greasiness
  • Supports skin softness and smoothness
  • Offers antioxidant protection against daily environmental stress
  • Helps improve the overall feel of mature or delicate skin

Best for

dry skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, dehydrated skin

Where it comes from

Starflower oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the starflower plant (Borago officinalis), a hardy herb with bright blue star-shaped flowers. Elderberry oil is obtained from the tiny seeds inside the dark berries of the elder tree (Sambucus nigra), a common wild shrub across the British countryside.

Products with Starflower and Elderberry Oils

Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Starflower and Elderberry Oils than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.

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