Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil Review

July 12, 2020 (updated May 10, 2023) — Written by

What? You said you want a face oil that’s moisturizing, uber sustainable, reparative, balancing, effective, affordable, certified organic twice over and smells amazing?! Well girl, let me introduce you to Le Prunier’s Plum Beauty Oil.

a black and white of me holding a bottle of Le Prunier

By: Lisa Fennessy


Le Prunier’s Back Story

Sisters Allison, Jacque and Elaine grew up in the business of plums. Their grandfather owned and operated a plum farm in the early 1900’s which later turned into the world’s largest grower of organic plums. The farm became certified organic in the 1980’s when their father took over and it’s still in business today.

Growing up, the girls frequently accompanied their father on business trips to Europe and Asia where plums are regarded as a superfood. It was this reverence that initially sparked the idea of Le Prunier – a single ingredient, superfood face oil – which eventually launched in Neman Marcus in 2017.

Allison says, “We worked outside the family business for many years which was incredible for gaining experience we could then apply to this endeavor. We spent 2.5 years testing the oil to uncover the benefits and officially launched Le Prunier (as an entirely separate company from our fathers) in 2018.” 

RELATED: Girl Talk with Le Prunier Founders


Le Prunier sourcing and sustainability

But we are not talking just any ol’ plum seed oil. Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil is actually a byproduct of their family’s California organic plum farm.

This farm does everything in house including overseeing the entire lifecycle of the plums from growing to harvesting and (cold) pressing.

The farm was originally paying to actually remove the “waste” from their facility. But with the inception of Le Prunier, the sisters are purchasing the kernels and up-cycling them as a byproduct so there’s virtually no part of the plum that goes to waste.

But their commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly farming practices doesn’t stop there. Le Prunier also has…

  • a waste water filtration system which allows worms to recycle waste water from the processing plant.
  • facilities which are entirely operated by solar power.
  • an herbicide-free farm which uses cover crops to add nitrogen to their soil keeping it healthy while bees naturally pollinate.
  • 2,000 goats eat down the cover crops at the end of the harvest rather than relying on heavy machinery.

RELATED: 6 Plum oils to try!


Le Prunier light yellow oil in the bottle dropper

User experience

As far as user experience goes, Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil has a viscous consistency that keeps skin plump and deeply moisturized all day long. It smells incredible with an essence of sweet nectar and it’s the first bottle of face oil that I’ve finished in a long time.

So what’s the deal? Get this. Le Prunier is a SINGLE ingredient face oil made with several varietals of plum seed oil.

Plum Seed Oil has so many incredible benefits (read all about them here). This specific plum seed oil is also PETA certified, vegan and cruelty free.

RELATED: Speaking of Le Prunier…check out my Spring 2022 Quarterly Faves


Here’s a little bit more about why this oil is so special….

It’s the exception, not the rule that a brand has full control of every single ingredient from seed to bottle. And this can have a huge impact on a product’s integrity.

For example, a brand can order organic olive oil through a manufacturer or a supplier but unless that oil is single source, it can be a marriage of olive oils from around the globe. With multiple entry points, it’s really hard for a brand to control the makeup of that oil.

Or, a brand could order a “single source” organic olive oil from a supplier but little does the brand know that the drum of oil was shipped in plastic and now contains trace amounts of PFAS.

And the list for possible compromise goes on and on…

Here’s where Le Prunier stands out. Le Prunier owns their own plum farm that’s been certified organic twice over – both USDA & CCOF Certified Organic.

They plant, cultivate, harvest and cold press all of their own plum seed oil. They truly have full control over every step of the process making this face oil one of the very few that is truly “seed to bottle”
or “seed to face.”

Le Prunier flat lay black bottle on a white background

Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil is a great fit for all skin types but especially for dry, mature, acne-prone, sensitive and redness-prone skin. Gentle yet powerful, it can be used to calm skin conditions like rosacea and eczema (Choi et al. 2013, Su et al. 2019).

Rosacea’s redness and lesions are due to high nitric oxide (NO) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) release. NO and MMP enzymes damage and break down skin but can be inhibited with certain antioxidants — like those found in Plum Oil’s antioxidant profile (Plainfossé et al. 2019, Selvaraj et al. 2016, Cordova et al. 2010). NO also reacts with superoxide free radical and this is also inhibited with Plum Oil’s antioxidants.

Dermatologist tested, allergy tested and non-comedogenic (Dunaway et al. 2018) so it won’t clog pores. Light enough to use during the day yet potent enough to use at night.

This is a a tremendously effective oil, rich with antioxidants, polyphenols and a boss at delivering and retaining moisture.


Additional benefits…

1.Makeup primer – Apply a drop or two before your foundation as a primer.

2. Skincare enhancer – Add a drop or two to your foundation to turn your makeup into skincare!

3. SPF – A natural boost of SPF protection to your skincare routine.


What readers are saying….

And it’s not just me who’s head over heels for Le Prunier! Here’s what a couple readers have to say…

“I like this oil more than True Botanicals.  I have several sample bottles from boxes but hadn’t yet bought a full-sized version.” – Andi

“THANK YOU!!  I’ve been wanting to try this oil for awhile and now I will.” – Sheila

After offering my readers a code to save, Judee replied, “I would have taken you up on this offer if I didn’t already have 2 bottles of LePrunier. It’s fantastic.”

Love the Le Prunier! It has quickly become one of my favourites. I had been researching it for a while but a post from you a while back sealed the deal for me!” – Lori

I know I’m not supposed to promise anything but seriously, between you and me, I promise you will fall in love with Le Prunier!

Grab Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil here! and use code THENEWKNEW for 15% off.

xo, lisa in cursive

P.S. Here are some other beauty products I’m kinda obsessed with: HENNÉ Organics, True Botanicals Clear Line, and KHUS + KHUS!

TNK Team Note: This article may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.


REFERENCES

Choi JK, Kim SH. Rutin suppresses atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2013 Apr;238(4):410-7.

Clark AK, Sivamani RK. Phytochemicals in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Botanics. 2016;6:89.

Dahl A, Oregajo C, Yatskayer M. American Academy of Dermatology, 69th Annual Meeting, February 4-8, 2011, New Orleans, LA. Poster #3209.

Dunaway S, Odin R, Zhou L, Ji L, Zhang Y, Kadekaro AL. Natural antioxidants: multiple mechanisms to protect skin from solar radiation. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2018 Apr 24;9:392.

Ebrahimzadeh MA, Enayatifard R, Khalili M, Ghaffarloo M, Saeedi M, Charati JY. Correlation between sun protection factor and antioxidant activity, phenol and flavonoid contents of some medicinal plants. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research: IJPR. 2014;13(3):1041.

Jaiswal R, Karaköse H, Rühmann S, Goldner K, Neumüller M, Treutter D, Kuhnert N. Identification of phenolic compounds in plum fruits (Prunus salicina L. and Prunus domestica L.) by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and characterization of varieties by quantitative phenolic fingerprints. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2013 Dec 11;61(49):12020-31.

Kamal R, Kharbach M, El Jemli M. Antioxidant activities, total polyphenolic compounds and Hplc/Dad/Ms phenolic profile of argan oil derived from two differents methods of extractions. J Chem Pharmaceutical Res. 2016;8:173-9.

Kamel R, Mostafa DM. Rutin nanostructured lipid cosmeceutical preparation with sun protective potential. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. 2015 Dec 1;153:59-66.

Kanthraj GR. Skin-lightening agents: new chemical and plant extracts-ongoing search for the holy grail!. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology. 2010 Jan 1;76(1):3.

Kaulmann A, Jonville MC, Schneider YJ, Hoffmann L, Bohn T. Carotenoids, polyphenols and micronutrient profiles of Brassica oleraceae and plum varieties and their contribution to measures of total antioxidant capacity. Food chemistry. 2014 Jul 15;155:240-50.

Khallouki F, Haubner R, Erben G, Ulrich CM, Owen RW. Phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of various botanical parts of the fruits of Prunus× domestica L. from the Lorraine region of Europe. Food Chemistry. 2012 Aug 1;133(3):697-706.

Mahmood A, Ahmed R, Kosar S. Phytochemical screening and biological activities of the oil components of Prunus domestica Linn. Journal of Saudi Chemical Society. 2009 Oct 1;13(3):273-7.

Matsuda H, Murata K, Itoh K, Masuda M, Naruto S. Melanin hyperpigmentation inhibitors from natural resources. Advances in malignant melanoma-Clinical and research perspectives. 2011 Sep 22;171:184.

Nwabuebo AT. The effect of extraction methods on the oxidatives stability of marula and moringa seed oil (Doctoral dissertation).

Peres DA, De Oliveira CA, Da Costa MS, Tokunaga VK, Mota JP, Rosado C, Consiglieri VO, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV, Baby AR. Rutin increases critical wavelength of systems containing a single UV filter and with good skin compatibility. Skin Research and Technology. 2016 Aug;22(3):325-33.

Pieroni P, Quave CL, Villanelli ML, Mangino P, Sabbatini G, Santini L, Boccetti T, Profili M, Ciccioli T, Rampa LG, Antonini G, Girolamini C, Cecchi M, Tomasi M (2004). Ethnopharmacognostic survey on the natural ingredients used in folk cosmetics, cosmeceuticals and remedies for healing skin diseases in the inland Marches, Central-Eastern Italy. J. Ethnopharmacol. 91:331–344.

Plainfossé H, Burger P, Verger-Dubois G, Azoulay S, Fernandez X. Design Methodology for the Development of a New Cosmetic Active Based on Prunus domestica L. Leaves Extract. Cosmetics. 2019 Mar;6(1):8.

Plainfossé H. Recherche et développement d’ingrédients cosmétiques innovants favorisant la réparation cutanée à partir de matières premières naturelles d’origine méditerranéenne (Doctoral dissertation, COMUE Université Côte d’Azur (2015-2019)).

Savic I, Savic Gajic I, Gajic D. Physico-Chemical Properties and Oxidative Stability of Fixed Oil from Plum Seeds (Prunus domestica Linn.). Biomolecules. 2020 Feb;10(2):294.

Selvaraj G, Kaliamurthi S, Thiruganasambandam R. Molecular docking studies of rutin on matrix metalloproteinase. Insights Biomed. 2016;1(1).

Stierlin E, Azoulay S, Massi L, Fernandez X, Michel T. Cosmetic potentials of Prunus domestica L. leaves. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2018 Jan;98(2):726-36.

Su JC, Lowe AJ. Prevention of atopic dermatitis: Etiological considerations and identification of potential strategies. Indian Journal of Paediatric Dermatology. 2019 Apr 1;20(2):93.

Suryawanshi J. In Vivo Determination of Sun Protection Factor and Evaluation of Herbal Oils. International Journal of Pharmacology Research. 2016;6(1):37-43.

Uluata S, Ozdemir N. Evaluation of chemical characterization, antioxidant activity and oxidative stability of some waste seed oil. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology. 2017 Jan 15;5(1):48-53.

Clinical studies on hyperpigmentation lightening activity of the individual antioxidants and fatty acids in plum oil:

Dahl A, Oregajo C, Yatskayer M. American Academy of Dermatology, 69th Annual Meeting, February 4-8, 2011, New Orleans, LA. Poster #3209.

Kar HK. Efficacy of beta-carotene topical application in melasma: an open clinical trial. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology. 2002 Nov 1;68(6):320.

Merinville E, Byrne A, Visdal-Johnsen L. Clinical evaluation of a dioic acid-based formulation in a darkskinned population. Proceedings of the IFSCC, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22994950/

Wiechers JW, Groenhof FJ, Wortel VAL, Miller RM, Hindle NA, Drewitt-Barlow A. Octadecenedioic acid for a more even skin tone. Cosmetics and toiletries. 2002;117(7):55-68. https://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetail&idt=13778700

Zhu W, Gao J. The use of botanical extracts as topical skin-lightening agents for the improvement of skin pigmentation disorders. InJournal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings 2008 Apr 1 (Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 20-24). Elsevier.

By Lisa Fennessy

Lisa is the founder of The New Knew. Passionate about clean beauty, organic eats and nontoxic lifestyle, Lisa writes to create awareness. Conscious consumerism and informed decisions will impact the marketplace, our health and THE WORLD!

7 Comments

  1. Reply

    Tracy

    Le Prunier is so wonderul, my skin is so happy. It’s great not only for face but lips, feet, elbows, hair, and the smell is delicious

  2. Reply

    Jen

    I’m soooooo fortunate to have read your post when it first went up about Le Prunier, I am so in love with it! I signed up for a subscription (you get a discount!) and am on my second bottle. I use it twice a day and have noticed a massive difference in the evenness of my skin and smoothing of many lines that were annoying me. Even though I use facial sunscreen every day, I still used to see some sun damage. Le Prunier must be the reason that I have had none at all this summer, despite spending way more time outside than normal due to adopting a puppy and being stuck home during the pandemic. Thank you so much Lisa!

    1. Reply

      Lisa

      So happy you are loving Le Prunier Jen! It’s really so effective in so many ways! xo, Lisa

  3. Reply

    Kim

    Curious about the lower rating and thumbs-down because it’s single ingredient.

    Just got my first bottle. Feels great. Love the smell. Having high hopes for my aging, dry skin.

    1. Reply

      Lisa

      Hi Kim! A single-ingredient skincare product can be interpreted either way; as a pro or a con. Because it’s only one ingredient, by nature, it offers limited skin nutrition compared to something that is a cocktail of nutritional ingredients. However it can be a huge benefit for someone with sensitive skin. I personally love this oil in every single way. I wouldn’t change a thing! xo, Lisa

  4. Reply

    Asha

    Much like the other customers same situation with me as well. They are absolutely horrible at communication to the customers. They launched a new sunscreen and many people pre-order it in June 2021. They said in September it would ship out. Customers kept and then they finally sent out an email to everyone letting us know that shipping was delayed. In their social media people ask about shipping updates and they ignore responding to that. However they didn’t activate you respond to other people complimenting their product while continually promoting a product they stay silent on us to the status of the product. I paid $85 on my preorder so not cheap. Then finally an email was sent on sept 20th with a guarantee that the product will definitely ship in November. November arrives and yet again we are asking for an update on social media. On November 10 I saw that some people received a personal response in their DM‘s while others were told an email will go out that week. We received an email on November 11 letting us know that shipping was yet again delayed no update as to when they plan to ship. After taking my money with barely any updates and no transparency I canceled my order. And today and email went out from the founders that now shipping is guaranteed in early December. This is the worst experience I have ever had with a company that rides on the mention of Chrissy teigen using their product. Sales exploded for them. They really don’t care about how angry customers are with this whole situation because they have their sales and promotions from big companies. I wanted to support a small female owner business and their oil is really great but this is unacceptable.

    1. Reply

      Lisa Fennessy

      Hi Asha! So sorry you have not had a good experience. I have also been anxiously awaiting to try their new SPF too. I feel bad for companies right now because some of the supply chains are so messed up. But I also agree it’s super important to communicate with customers too. xo, Lisa

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