5 Benefits of Using Pure Virgin Marula Oil in Your Skin Care Routine

Our cold-pressed Marula oil comes from the ancient, sacred Marula tree that can be found in southern African countries. The kernels used to make the oil come from the fruit: Sclerocarya birrea, produced by the tree. Mimaami Organics’ Virgin Marula Oil does not use heat to extract the oil, keeping the essential vitamins and nutritional value intact. Extracting the oil by cold pressing is done without additional chemicals or solvents. This makes it a safe natural oil to apply directly on the skin and hair and an excellent ingredient to be used in skin care products and hair treatments. Despite Marula seed oil having a thick consistency, it is non-greasy and absorbs quickly. The light-yellow oil has a faint nutty scent and is very moisturizing. 

1. Hydrates dry or sensitive skin and soothes acne and eczema

Oily and acne-prone skin can benefit from using natural oils. Seed oils like Marula oil contain helpful antioxidants that repair, rejuvenate, and brighten the skin. Virgin Marula oil reduces inflammation making it one of the best oils to use when battling acne. It has antimicrobial properties that help fight against bacteria that can cause pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. It is a protein-rich oil, as it contains amino acids that can help heal damaged skin, including spots and blemishes.

Before applying it to sensitive or acne-prone skin it is important to cleanse the skin with a facewash or black soap. Marula oil is comedogenic, so it can clog pores when the skin is not properly cleansed and toned. Excess dirt and oils can be removed by using one of Mimaami Organic’s natural cleansing products like the Black Soap Facewash or our Authentic African Black Soap. Cleansing the skin with one of our soaps will also leave it fresh and exfoliated and keep bacteria from reproducing and inflammations from happening. Our African Black Soap Bar with Rose, Rosemary, and Rosehip is perfect to treat acne and calm irritated skin. 

2. Seals and prevent moisture loss

During the dry winter months, applying just moisturizer is not enough. Moisturizers like lotions can evaporate and dry up easily, leaving the skin exposed to harsh climate and environmental conditions. The easiest way to lock in moisture is by applying a layer of oil over your moisturizer you can seal in the moisture and keep your skin hydrated for longer periods of time. 

Marula oil is occlusive and emollient which means that it creates a protective barrier and hydrates when it is applied over your moisturizer. Adding facial oils -like Marula oil or Argan oil- to your skincare routine can help your skin retain much-needed moisture. When picking oil to apply to your skin, it is best to go with fruit, nut, and seed oils.

After applying a natural moisturizer like our Unscented Shea Butter for sensitive skin, you can seal the moisturizer with a couple of drops of unrefined Marula oil. By doing this, you are enabling the Shea butter to deeply nourish and restore each layer of the skin. It is also strengthening the skin barrier thus preventing it from cracking and getting scaly or itchy.

Marula oil is great if you have skin conditions that cause redness, itching, or dry skin. It helps to rehydrate the skin while at the same time providing essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. People that suffer from eczema or psoriasis can apply this over their moisturizer for softer skin and prolonged hydration. Vitamin C and E are good for healing acne scars but also great for broken, flaky skin, including dry cuticles, and roughness due to psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. 

3. Prevent and improves the appearance of wrinkles

As we get older, we produce fewer molecules and amino acids. This makes it difficult for the skin to maintain its moisture and can cause it to lose its elasticity. When the skin loses its elasticity wrinkles form.

To prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, staying hydrated and moisturizing the skin is essential. According to Joshua Zeichner, an assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Marula oil is “rich in essential fatty acids that mimic those that exist naturally in the outer layer of the skin.” The antioxidants, like Vitamins C and E, found in unrefined virgin Marula oil give it its anti-aging properties making it an excellent natural oil for reducing aging signs around the eyes, forehead, and lips.

4. Hydrates and repairs dry or brittle hair

Marula oil can help nourish hair from root to tip, without making it overly greasy. A study in 2018 found that “In most southern African countries, the oil from Marula kernel has been extracted for a variety cosmetic purpose including skin moisturising, maintenance of healthy skin, processing into soap, and as a shampoo for dry, damaged and fragile hair” (Shoko, et al., 2018). The fatty acids in the oil prevent water loss, making it beneficial for dry, frizzy, or brittle hair because it seals in moisture to keep your hair soft and supple.

Since marula oil is absorbed quickly, it won’t weigh down your hair or leave a greasy residue. Depending on your hair texture, the use and amount of Marula oil varies. If you have coarse or heavy hair, Marula oil can be great to use as a deep treatment or deep conditioner. If you have thin or finer strands, the use of a little bit of Marula oil at the ends or tip of your hair will do wonders. Marula oil can also be applied as a heat protectant to prevent heat damage from blow dryers or flat irons while adding moisture and preventing split ends. 

Aside from Marula oil’s antimicrobial properties helping with acne, it can also tackle bacteria on the scalp and other scalp issues. Itchy scalp, dermatitis, dandruff, and fungus can be treated by massaging a couple drops of Marula oil directly onto the scalp.

Marula oil is sometimes also combined with other essential oils and additives, so be sure to double-check the ingredients list to find the right products for your hair texture. Our Marula oil is 100% virgin and pure, making it completely safe to use on the skin and hair. 

5. Prevents stretch marks

Stretch marks are common, especially during pregnancy. Sudden weight gain or weight loss can cause the skin to stretch or shrink. Whenever the skin stretches in a short rapidly or in a short amount of time, it cracks and loses its natural elasticity. To prevent stretchmarks or diminish their appearance, the skin needs to stay moisturized. Marula oil adds an extra layer of protection of proteins and fatty acids and helps the skin retain its elasticity to prevent it from cracking. When applying pure Marula oil daily basis, not only prevents future stretchmarks from forming but can also improve the appearance of already existing stretch marks.

Bibliography

Shoko, T., Maharaj, V. J., Naidoo, D., Tselanyane, M., Nthambeleni, R., Khorombi, E., & Apostolides, Z. (2018). Anti-aging potential of extracts from Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst and its chemical profiling by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2112-1

Nast, C. (2015, February 13). Is Marula Oil the Secret to Perfect Skin and Hair? Retrieved November 26, 2022, from Allure website: https://www.allure.com/gallery/marula-oil-skin-hair-products