The therapeutic botanical properties of evening primrose oil are described as astringent and beneficial for skin irritations. It appears to improve cases of pruritis and xerosis when added into formulations at a 10% concentration. Evening primrose oil soothes the skin by offering emollient benefits and improving the skin's ability to develop natural barrier functions. Evening primrose oil contains a high concentration of gamma linoleic acid, which is one of the essential fatty acids needed for proper epithelial barrier membrane function.