Evening primrose is a plant native to North America, but it grows in Europe and parts of the Southern hemisphere as well.  It has yellow flowers that bloom in the evening.  The plants may grow anywhere from 3 to 7 feet in height.  The seed is about 2 inches in length and they are used to produce the volatile oil that are used in cosmetics.  Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), as essential fatty acid.

What Evening Primrose Oil Is Used For:

• Evening primrose oil has been used since the 1930s for eczema (a condition in which the skin becomes inflamed, itchr scaly because of allergies or other irritation)
• It is also used for skin disorders such as psoriasis and acne

When used as a topical application on the skin, evening primrose oil has moisturizing and softening effects.