(Ribes nigrum · INCI: Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil)
Biomimetic lipid · Rich in GLA · Rare omega-6 and omega-3 balance · Calming · Upcycled from the berry harvest
6 min read · A seed lipid in the Bio-Lipid Concentrate
Black currant seed oil for menopausal skin is the calming member of our lipid family. It is one of the few plant oils to carry a genuinely balanced mix of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, including the prized gamma-linolenic acid, GLA, which is valued for soothing reactive, easily-sensitised skin. Like our pomegranate oil, it is pressed from seeds left behind by the fruit harvest.
The lipid gap, and skin that has turned reactive
The lipid gap of perimenopause does not only leave skin dry, it often leaves it reactive, quick to flush, sting or feel irritated by products it once tolerated. This is where black currant seed oil earns its place. Its GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid the skin uses in its lipid pathways, and GLA-rich oils are among the most valued for calming the feel of sensitised skin and supporting a comfortable barrier. It fills the gap and settles the surface. Read more in The Lipid Gap.
The fatty-acid profile
Black currant seed oil is unusual for carrying four fatty acids in meaningful amounts: linoleic acid (omega-6), gamma-linolenic acid or GLA (omega-6), alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and stearidonic acid (omega-3). Very few plant oils offer both omega-6 and omega-3 together, and fewer still include GLA and stearidonic acid. This gives it a distinctive, conditioning character aimed squarely at comfort and calm rather than richness or lightness.
What black currant seed oil does for skin
- Calming: its GLA is valued for soothing the feel of reactive, easily-irritated skin.
- Conditioning: its omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids support a comfortable, supple barrier.
- Barrier support: helps replenish the lipids that keep the surface calm and protected.
- Suited to sensitive, menopausal skin: one of the gentlest oils for skin that has turned reactive.
Where it comes from
Blackcurrants are grown across Europe for juice, cordial and preserves, and their tiny seeds, rich in these rare fatty acids, are a byproduct of that harvest. Cold-pressing them rescues an oil that would otherwise be lost, the same circular thinking behind our pomegranate oil. Choosing upcycled seed oils lets us reach for genuinely special fatty-acid profiles without asking the land to grow anything new, sourcing that honours our Slow Food and low-waste values.
What the research shows
The interest in black currant seed oil centres on GLA and its omega balance. Dermatology reviews of fatty acids describe the roles of essential omega-6 and omega-3 acids in skin, and GLA in particular is associated in the literature with skin comfort and barrier support (linoleic acid review, 2025; botanical oils review, 2020). As with our other seed oils, we describe black currant by its fatty-acid chemistry and its calming character rather than by clinical claims.
Ingredient profile
- INCI: Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
- Common name: Black currant seed oil
- Key fatty acids: linoleic and gamma-linolenic (omega-6), alpha-linolenic and stearidonic (omega-3)
- Character: calming, conditioning, distinctive omega balance
- Sourcing: upcycled from juice-industry seeds, cold-pressed
- In Philogeni: in the Bio-Lipid Concentrate
Featured in
Black currant seed oil is one of the seed lipids in the Bio-Lipid Concentrate, our anhydrous facial oil, where its calming GLA complements the desert oils and the M-Veil active complex.
Common questions
What is special about black currant seed oil?
It is one of very few plant oils carrying both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, including the prized GLA, which is valued for calming reactive skin.
Is black currant seed oil good for menopausal skin?
Yes, particularly if your skin has become reactive or easily irritated. Its GLA suits sensitised, menopausal skin.
Why is it called upcycled?
It is pressed from the seeds left over from the blackcurrant juice and preserve harvest, turning a byproduct into a valuable oil.
References and further reading
- The role of linoleic acid in skin and hair health: a review (2025). PubMed Central
- The enigma of bioactivity and toxicity of botanical oils for skin care (2020). Frontiers in Pharmacology. DOI
At a glance
- Common name: Black currant seed oil
- INCI: Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil
- Key fatty acid: gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), with omega-3s
- Cosmetic function: calming, conditioning, barrier support
- Sourcing: upcycled, cold-pressed
- Found in: Bio-Lipid Concentrate
- Status: vegan, plant-derived
The calming lipid for reactive skin, rescued from the berry harvest, black currant seed oil settles the Philogeni blend. Explore the Bio-Lipid Concentrate.