Evening Primrose
Carrier OilOenothera biennis
Origin: North America
About
Exceptionally high in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), evening primrose is primarily used as an active therapeutic carrier at 10–25% alongside lighter base oils. It is particularly valued for hormonal skin conditions and inflammatory skin disorders.
Used by Native American tribes for food and medicine for centuries, evening primrose gained widespread therapeutic recognition in the 1980s following research into its unique GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content and its role in hormonal balance and skin health.
Benefits
- ✓Exceptionally high in GLA for skin balance
- ✓Therapeutic for hormonal skin conditions
- ✓Anti-inflammatory for eczema and psoriasis
- ✓Supports cell membrane integrity
- ✓Beneficial for PMS-related tension massage
Pairings (27)
Eugenol in Clove Bud reacts adversely with the high GLA content in Evening Primrose, increasing skin sensitisation risk to unacceptable levels.
Evening primrose's GLA-rich anti-inflammatory base and rose's skin-supporting chemistry create a deeply therapeutic blend for hormonal or sensitive skin.
Both are prized for their exceptional GLA content — blending them creates the highest combined GLA concentration available from plant sources, creating a potent therapeutic carrier for eczema, hormonal skin, and inflammatory conditions.
Evening primrose's high GLA content and skin-nourishing profile complement bergamot's skin-balancing properties superbly in facial massage.
Rich in GLA, evening primrose enhances lavender's skin-healing and anti-inflammatory benefits, particularly valuable for dry, mature, or sensitive skin massage.
Evening primrose's high GLA content beautifully enhances neem's skin-regenerating effects, making this an outstanding pairing for mature or dry skin conditions.
Evening primrose's high GLA content and regenerative skin properties pair excellently with St John's Wort for inflamed, sensitive, or nerve-damaged skin.
Evening primrose's GLA content makes it a superb carrier partner for clary sage in hormone-balancing and mature skin massage formulations.
Evening primrose's high GLA content and skin-regenerating properties pair superbly with olive's oleic richness for mature, dry, or hormonally affected skin.
High GLA content in evening primrose oil enhances sandalwood's benefits for mature, dry, and sensitive skin.
Evening primrose's GLA-rich profile pairs beautifully with sweet almond's oleic acid base, creating a superb blend for dry, ageing, or problem skin.
Evening primrose's GLA-rich profile adds therapeutic depth to grapeseed for hormone-supportive or skin-healing blends.
A classic pairing for mature, dry, or hormonally influenced skin — both oils deliver gamma-linolenic and rare fatty acids that deeply nourish and regenerate.
Evening primrose's high GLA content pairs exceptionally well with rosehip's essential fatty acids for superior skin regeneration and anti-aging blends.
Evening primrose adds high GLA content that complements sunflower's linoleic acid richness, making an outstanding blend for mature or dry skin.
Properties
- Aroma
- very faint, slightly sweet
- Consistency
- light
- Absorbency
- medium
- Shelf Life
- 6 months
Contraindications
- ⚠Short shelf life — keep refrigerated
- ⚠Use as secondary carrier at 10–25% due to cost
- ⚠Avoid with epilepsy at high internal doses (topical use is safe)