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Rubus idaeus (seed oil)

Red raspberry seed oil

Red raspberry seed oil is a polyunsaturated, vitamin E-rich cosmetic oil with no human trial showing it improves skin. It is not a sunscreen: the widely repeated "SPF 28 to 50" claim traces to a 2000 laboratory paper, and when the oil was tested properly it measured SPF 0.4 in the lab and 2.6 on volunteers, far below the SPF 15 to 30 that sunscreens are expected to deliver. Use it as a moisturiser if you like it, and wear real sunscreen.

Updated
30 September 2026
Fresh raspberries beside a small bottle of red-gold oil
At a glance
Last reviewed 30 September 2026
Evidence
Traditional
Best for
Skin moisturiser (unproven)
Typical form & use
Cold-pressed oil, applied to skin
Onset
2 weeks
Safety
Not a sunscreen; the SPF 28–50 claim is wrong. No interactions in our data.
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What it's used for

Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.

UseEvidenceWhat the research shows
Sun protection (the SPF claim)TraditionalNot supported. A 2021 study tested five of the most promoted oils, including raspberry seed oil, both in the lab and on volunteers with the ISO method: raspberry seed oil gave SPF 0.4 in vitro and 2.6 in vivo. The authors found the earlier, much higher values came from not following the original method, and that the dilution method is unreliable for substances with such little protection. A 2026 lab study of eleven plant oils found raspberry seed oil had negligible in vitro SPF and UVA protection. A 2025 study of a homemade sunscreen that contained red raspberry seed oil with zinc oxide, and other oils, tested on skin explants found it did not prevent sunburn cells, where an SPF 50+ sunscreen did.1,2,3,4
Moisturising and skin conditioningTraditionalWe found no human trial of raspberry seed oil on skin, for dryness, ageing, scars, acne or anything else. Reviews describe the bioactivity as mainly measured in test tubes, and current commercial use as limited to cosmetics. It is an emollient oil like many others, and any moisturising effect is an assumption, not a finding.4,6
AntioxidantTraditionalIn the laboratory the oil contains tocopherols and carotenoids and quenched free radicals in a test tube. That is a property of the oil, not evidence that it protects skin cells when applied, and no trial shows it.5

How much

Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.

Measured SPF (pure oil)
0.4 in vitro, 2.6 in vivo1
From the 2021 study of vegetable oils. A sunscreen label claim starts at SPF 15 to 30. An SPF below 1 in the lab method is physically meaningless, as the authors point out.
Fatty-acid profile (reported)
About 85% polyunsaturated: 54% linoleic, 32% alpha-linolenic4,5
A review reports these figures as a share of the total fatty acids. Cold-pressed berry seed oils in another analysis had 19.6 to 32.4 g of alpha-linolenic acid per 100 g.
Vitamin E content (reported)
About 300 mg per 100 g, mostly gamma-tocopherol4
The review reports vitamin E of 301.9 mg per 100 g, with gamma-tocopherol 272 mg and alpha-tocopherol 71 mg per 100 g. Values vary with variety, pressing and batch.
Timing · No trial tested it on human skin, so there is no studied schedule. Used as a cosmetic oil, it is applied as needed.With food? · Not applicable; the sources we read concern topical use and composition, not swallowing the oil.How long to trial · Judge it by how your skin feels over a couple of weeks. If you react, stop. We found no patch-test data for this oil.

How people take it

Cold-pressed oil, on skinA few drops as neededThe usual form. A liquid oil that is rich in polyunsaturated fat, so it can go rancid; the tested berry seed oils were oxidatively stable for about 20 hours in a lab stability test, which says little about shelf life.
Ingredient in creams and serums (Rubus idaeus seed oil)Not standardisedAppears on labels as Rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil. Its presence does not make a product a sunscreen.

Safety

Who should avoid
  • Using it in place of sunscreen — it measured SPF 0.4 to 2.6
  • Homemade sunscreen recipes built on it — one tested failed to prevent sunburn cells
  • Relying on an SPF 28–50 claim from a brand or website
Known interactions
No interactions in our data. Absence of a flag is not clearance.

Questions people ask

Does raspberry seed oil have an SPF of 28 to 50?

No. The claim circulates online and traces back to a 2000 laboratory paper that described the oil as a possible broad-spectrum UV protectant. When a 2021 study tested it on volunteers with the standard ISO method, the oil measured SPF 2.6, and in the lab 0.4. It is not a sunscreen.

Is raspberry seed oil good for the face or skin?

We found no human trial showing that it improves skin. It is a polyunsaturated oil with vitamin E in it, so using it as a moisturiser is reasonable, but claims about anti-ageing or blemishes are unproven. We found no patch-test safety data, so try a small area first.

What is in raspberry seed oil?

A review reports about 85% polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic (54%) and alpha-linolenic (32%) acid, and about 300 mg of vitamin E per 100 g, mostly gamma-tocopherol. These are laboratory measurements of the oil, not proof of any effect on skin.

Can I use raspberry seed oil in a homemade sunscreen?

Not as a source of protection. One homemade recipe containing red raspberry seed oil and zinc oxide reduced some markers of UV damage in skin samples but did not prevent sunburn cells, unlike an SPF 50+ sunscreen. Use a regulated sunscreen.

Sources

  1. Laboratory and human study Ácsová A, Hojerová J, Janotková L, et al. The real UVB photoprotective efficacy of vegetable oils: in vitro and in vivo studies. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2021.
  2. Laboratory study Popiół-Adamska J, Kolisz M, Pękala E, Gunia-Krzyżak A. Natural photoprotection under scrutiny: an in vitro evaluation. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2026.
  3. Skin explant study Ince FA, Nayar JC, Wong AL, et al. Uncovering the efficacy of a natural homemade sunscreen in protection from ultraviolet radiation. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2025.
  4. Review Ispiryan A, Viškelis J, Viškelis P. Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Seed Oil: A Review. Plants (Basel). 2021.
  5. Chemical analysis Parry J, Su L, Luther M, et al. Fatty acid composition and antioxidant properties of cold-pressed marionberry, boysenberry, red raspberry, and blueberry seed oils. J Agric Food Chem. 2005.
  6. Review Lopes P, Ferreira IMPLVO, Petronilho S, Passos CP. The road for red raspberry seeds valorization: A comprehensive review on the chemical composition, extraction techniques, bioactivity and applications. Food Chem. 2025.

Reader notes

Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.

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Last reviewed 30 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence