Pure oils have been a beauty staple in Africa, Europe and Asia for centuries. In the Mediterranean regions of Europe, Olive Oil is preferred for skin and hair. Italian women swear by it as the secret to beautiful hair and glowing skin.

In South East Asia, Indian women apply generous amounts of Coconut Oil to the hair and skin; in North Africa, Argan Oil is a beauty staple in Morocco, Egypt and most of the Maghreb. Women in Sub-Saharan Africa, known for their ageless glowing beauty, claim that their secret lies in the use of oils and butters like Shea, Moringa, Baobab and Marula.

This global tradition is finally catching on in the U.S., as the shift towards natural food and body care products continues to grow.

Photo above: On left, Shea Radiance Antioxidant Body Cream with Shea & Baobab Oil. On right, Funlayo Alabi, the author and co-founder of Shea Radiance. 

The Many Benefits of Oils

Today the American consumer who used to seek “oil-free” skincare products is becoming increasingly comfortable using natural oils and butters. Oils are rich in essential fatty oils and acids that promote soft smooth glowing skin.

They are heavy duty multi-tasking ingredients for cleansing the skin and removing makeup as they gently cleanse without stripping or tugging at the skin. They are particularly effective around the eye area for gently removing mascara and eyeliner. Light oils like Apricot, Jojoba, Sweet Almond and Grape Seed Oil are excellent skin cleansers.

Marula, Moringa and Baobab Oils

Some oils are especially effective for skin treatments and for boosting the skin’s natural collagen. Powerful oils like Marula, Moringa and Baobab, sourced in Western and Southern Africa are especially rich in anti-oxidants that fight free radicals and keep skin acting and looking young. They contain essential fatty acids Omega 9 – oleic and Omega 6 – linoleic that nourish skin and reduce inflammation. These oils penetrate quickly into the skin are easily absorbed; they do not clog the pores or feel heavy on the skin. These oils are quite expensive and should be used sparingly as treatment oils.

African Botanics is a beauty brand built on the properties and efficacy of Marula Oil based on traditional medicinal knowledge, created around the need to protect the skin from the harsh African environment.

Shea Butter & Oil, Plus Coconut and Argan Oils

Shea Butter and Shea Oil, Coconut and Argan Oils have been used for centuries in hair care. They can be used individually for hot oil treatments or combined with other oils and butters to treat, moisturize and add extra body and shine to hair.

In Morocco and other parts of North Africa, Argan oil is a hair and body care essential. Kahina sources premium quality Argan oil from Berber women in Morocco for its line of beauty products. In India, Coconut Oil is used as a pre-conditioning treatment. The oil is massaged into the scalp and through the hair strands and left in the hair for an hour before shampooing out. The oils are also used on the tips of the hair after drying to prevent split ends.

In Africa and among women with thicker and curlier hair, Shea Butter is used as a deep conditioner and heat is applied to allow the properties to penetrate and strengthen the hair shaft. The powerful moisturizing and anti-frizz properties of Shea Butter make it a natural styling butter for hair.

In massage therapy, natural oils are replacing silicone and petroleum-based massage oils. The therapeutic benefits of massage combined with the nourishing properties of the natural oil significantly add value to the massage experience.

Massage Oils

The best oils for massage are pure single ingredient oils that are light enough to flow easily on the skin and allow the hand to glide across the skin. They should be absorbed slowly enough to remain on the skin through the course of the massage and then absorbed into the skin upon the completion of the massage.

Some of the best oils for massage include Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond oil, Apricot Oil, Sesame Oil, Safflower Oil and Sunflower Oil.

A Shift Toward Natural

The shift toward using skin care products with natural ingredients that are good enough to eat continues to grow amid concerns of the side effects of synthetic ingredients and their impact on the environment.

Consumers, now more aware of the abundant benefits of natural oils are less averse to the sometimes-distinct feel and aromas of natural oils. They are embracing the fact that these differences come with a bounty of skin boosting benefits.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Funlayo Alabi is the co-founder of Shea Radiance, a natural beauty brand dedicated to transforming hair, skin, thinking … and lives into something more beautiful than what it was beforeFunlayo and Shea Radiance were selected to be honored in the 2017 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program offering education, business support services and access to working capital.