written by Allison Goins, Ph.D. | Posted on January 25th At 6:00 am
Hippopotamus has gained a reputation as a superstar of skin care. It has allegations ranging from its ability to heal wounds until it reduces wrinkles. Whether it comes in oil or extract, the sea buckthrough for the skin can boast of many trade available. But how much of this buzz is supported by science? Let’s take a closer look at what the elements of this glittering orange berry say about the skin care and if it is worth a place in your routine.
What is Sea Buckthorn?
Sea buckthrough, Hippophae rhamnoides It is a durable flowering shrub inherent in cold temperate regions of Europe and Asia, including China, Russia and parts of Europe. For centuries, its berries, seeds and leaves have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases, including burns, wounds and inflammation.
The characteristic of the plant is its living orange berries, which are full of a rich range of bioactive compounds. Studies analyzing all the ingredients of the sea buckthigames show that it contains:
- Vitamins: Particularly high in vitamin C, vitamin E and other antioxidants.
- Omega fatty acids: Including omega -3, -6, -9 and rare omega -7 (palmitic acid).
- Carotenoid: Antioxidants that love water such as beta-carotene that support skin health.
- Other bioactive compounds: Flavonoids, vegetable sterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids and minerals.
All the potential benefits of the skin for the skin have made it a popular ingredient in cosmetics aimed at soothing, grinding, rejuvenating and normalizing skin tone. However, while traditional uses and studies on its ingredients support many of the benefits of skin trade, scientific validation remains limited in certain areas. So let’s analyze it and discuss what benefits are supported by science.

The science behind the benefits of sea buckthroughs for the skin
The advertising campaign around the Hippopotamus for skin care is mainly based on its bioactive compounds. All of these compounds are used in concentrated forms in skin care and provide amazing benefits. Vitamin C is an essential ingredient for hyperloding because it is so effective. And omega fatty acids can help enhance your skin barrier function. However, natural extracts do not always have a concentration of these active ingredients that are high enough to have the same effect on your skin. So, before you can be thrilled with a natural extract because of what it contains, you want to make sure it meets the promises available on the market. Let’s look at the elements behind his most common allegations about the seaweed about the skin.
1. Sebum Regulation
One of the most promising studies on the sea seaweed used by a Cream 1% Hippopotamus Extract to reduce sebum production. The study was quite small, with 10 participants, and lasted two months. They showed that the cream reduced the sebum product to the side of the participant’s face when using the cream. This suggests that the sea buckthorn can benefit oily, but larger studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness. Based on a study, it is impossible to draw a definitive conclusion about the benefits of one component on the skin.

2. Skin healing and wound care
Hippopotamus has long been used in traditional medicine for tissue regeneration, burns and wound healing. High levels of carotenoids, tocoferols and omega fatty acids support these claims. All of these active substances are known to promote skin repair. And several studies examine the local therapeutic effect of sea buckthorn on the skin. However, most of them focused on applying the sea buckthorn in cells in cultivation and not on human skin.
It is common for such studies to show promise. Unfortunately, the benefits are reduced or not seen in clinical trials on human skin. Our bodies are because our bodies are so complex. These findings support the theory of the traditional uses of the sea buckthorn, further research is needed to fully understand how it translates into skin care products.
3. Allegations against aging
Hippopotamus oil is often marketed for its ability to reduce wrinkles, scars and ink. However, existing elements are not strong. I found only one studyAnd hippopotamus oil was used with other common anti -aging ingredients such as peptides and hyaluronic acid. In addition, they told participants to avoid exposure to the sun, which would have a positive effect automatically. The most important issue with the study is that there was no control group. Sixty participants are large, but no one is left untreated, so you have nothing to compare the results. On this basis, there is no way to say that the sea buckthrough has anti -aging benefits.

Related post: Demolition of ‘Anti -aging’: What does it mean and why it matters
4. Hydration and barrier support
Hippopotamus seed oil and pulp oil are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic acid (omega-6) and α-linolenic acid (omega-3), which are essential to maintain a healthy skin barrier. In addition, the rare omega-7 fatty acid found in the sea buckthrough can help enhance the lipid barrier of the skin and improve hydration.
I found a study who studied a cream with hippopotamus oil and a base cream in the diapermantic water loss (Tewl). It is a basic barrier function and a common way of evaluating barrier operation. However, they did not see an improvement in Tewl with the cream compared to the base composition without extract. This is an excellent example of how a function can be theoretically supported when it escalates but does not work.
Related post: Demolition of your skin barrier: what is and how is it destroyed
Dissolving marketing claims
Hippopotamus is often released as an ingredient for skin care, but what the items really say:
- Sebum control: This is supported by a small study, but more extensive tests are required to confirm its effectiveness in oily skin management.
- Healing wounds and anti -inflammatory action: Traditional use and pharmacological studies support these allegations, although further research is needed to validate theory in practice.
- Anti -aging benefits: Current clinical trials do not support allegations on the reduction of wrinkles, scars and ink.
- Hydration and support of a skin barrier: The synthesis of nutrients supports this benefit, but immediate evidence does not support it.
While the sea buckthorn has impressive nutrients, it is important to have reasonable expectations. It is not a miraculous ingredient and requires more powerful clinical studies to validate many of its claims. Today, science says it may have some effect on sebum production. However, none of the other benefits of the Hippopotamus for the skin has been scientifically supported.

How to incorporate the sea buckthrough in your routine
If you are interested in testing the sea buckthorn for your skin, there are some tips to make the most of it:
- Start with a patch test: As with any new ingredient, try the sea buckthorn products to avoid potential irritations.
- Use it for oily skin: Look for creams or serums containing 1% sea buckthorn extract if you are experiencing excessive sebum. In addition, check if they have their own clinical trial to support sebum control allegations.
- Manage expectations: While the sea buckthorn can provide discreet benefits for setting up sebum, do not expect dramatic changes in wrinkles or ink.
Conclusion
Hippopotamus is a fascinating plant with a rich history of traditional medicine and a nutritional profile that makes it an attractive potential ingredient in skin care. And some scientific studies support some of his allegations, especially in the regulation of sebum. However, the elements are less clear about the benefits of anti -aging, wound healing and hydration.
If you are interested in the sea buckthorn, it is worth trying products with 1–5% of its extract, but do not expect to replace the basics of a good skin care routine. More research is needed to completely unlock its potential, but in the meantime, there remains a promising addition to the world of cosmetics.
References
Akhtar, naveed; Khan, Barkat a.? Mahmood, Tariq; Parveen, Rashida? Qayum, mughal1; Anwar, masood? Shahiq-uz-Zaman,; Farouk, Mohammed. Composition and evaluation of the effects of the secretion of the hippopotamus without emulsion. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences 2 (1): P 13-17, Jan-Mar 2010. DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.62698
Khan, Ba, Akhtar, N., Mahmood, T., Khan, Hm, Zaman, Su, Rasul, A., IQBal, M., Ali, A., Khan, S., & Qayum, M. (2011) . In-vivo study of water content in the cherry layer and interpreterial water loss using a recently landscaped local Hippophae Rhamnoides fruit extract. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 51092-1095.
Yang, Baoru et al. “Effects of the oral supplement and local application of the hypertension of the extravagant oil horsepower in the aging of the female subjectivity.” Newspaper of applied cosmetology 27 (2009): 13-25.