Beauty Oils From Around The World II
Hey everyone,
In the last blog post, we talked about some plant oils that are native to the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe. We discussed some of the vitamins and antioxidants found in these oils, as well as their benefits on the skin.
We also talked about the beauty industry now recognizing the amazing benefits of incorporating plant oils into skincare products, and how they are on the hunt to find the next unique plant oil.
In this blog, we are going to head over to Australia, Oceania, North and South America to discuss plant oils that are indigenous/native to these regions, as well as their benefits and potency on the skin.
Australia
1. Emu Oil–
Indigenous to the Australian Aborigine culture, the emu oil is collected from the skin of the Emu bird (Dromaius novaehallandiae) native to Australia. The oil is a bright yellow liquid made up of mostly polyunsaturated fats and antioxidants (1).
Emu oil is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and research shows it relieves irritation associated with different skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis (1, 2).
2. Tea tree Oil–
Native to Queensland and New South Wales Australia, tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). The Aborigine people of Australia have used tea tree oil for centuries as traditional medicine and for healing skin lesions.
Research shows that tea tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antiviral and antioxidant properties (3, 4). It also shows that tea tree oil can help inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acne that causes acne vulgaris, also help inhibit the growth of Malassezia furfur; a fungus that causes seborrheic dermatitis, as well as help with wound healing (3).
Remember to always dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil before applying onto your skin.
Oceania
1. Dilo or Tamanu Oil–
Dilo/Tamanu oil is extracted from the seeds of the Calophyllaceae tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) native to Polynesia countries, as well as the island of Fiji. The oil is known to assist in wound healing and has antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes and Propionibacterium granulosum (both bacterial are involved in acne pathogenesis) (5).
Research shows that it contains a high amount of palmitic and oleic acids, and also has UV-absorption properties (5).
South America
1. Buriti Oil–
Native to the rain forest of the Amazon, buriti oil is extracted from the fruit of the Buriti palm (Mauritia flexuosa). Research shows that it contains a high amount of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that is capable of absorbing UV radiation, thereby reducing oxidative stress (6, 7). This process of absorbing UV rays helps slow down and prevents phototoxic effects and photoaging on the skin (6).
2. Sacha Inchi oil–
Derived from the seeds of the Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) plant, this plant is native to and cultivated in Peru. The Peruvian people have traditionally used sacha inchi oil for its skincare benefits. It is used to maintain skin softness (humectant properties), treat wounds and skin infections (8).
It is a rich source of α-linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6) (8, 9). It also contains antioxidants like carotenes, phytosterols, polyphenols and vitamin E (tocopherol) (10). The essential fatty acids help treat inflammatory skin conditions, and the antioxidants promote against UV damage (10).
3. Maracuja Oil–
The maracuja (brazil passion fruit) is a species of about 500 belonging to the Passiflora genus (11). It is endemic to the Amazons, and the oil is extracted from the seed of the Passion fruit vine (Passiflora edulis) (12).
It is known as a rich source of proteins, fatty acids (linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids) and bioactive compounds (sterols, tocols and carotenoids) (12). And studies show that it has antioxidants, antitumor and antibacterial properties (12, 13).
North America
1. Evening Primrose Oil–
Extracted from the seeds of the Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) flowers, the plant is native to the Americas. It is found from the regions of Alberta, Canada to Southeastern Florida and Southwestern Texas.
Evening primrose oil contains two types of omega-6-fatty acid, which includes gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid (LA) (14, 15).
Due to the high GLA and LA content of evening primrose, research shows that the oral and topical use helps strengthen the skin-epidermal barrier, reduce and normalize excess water loss, improve water balance of the skin, improve skin’s smoothness (15). It also helps in the regeneration of the skin (15).
2. Jojoba Oil–
Indigenous to Southern Arizona and California, and Northwestern Mexico, jojoba is a drought-resistant perennial plant (16). The oil is extracted from the seeds of the jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) plant and is technically not an oil, but rather a liquid wax ester (17, 18).
The wax ester found in jojoba oil is very similar to human sebum and can help regulate sebum production (17). Research reports that jojoba has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal properties (16, 17, 19). Jojoba oil is also non-comedogenic and less likely to clog your pores, leading to fewer breakouts and acne.
Centuries of use and application, as well as recent research studies, support the benefits of plant oil for our skin. The triglycerides, fatty acids, proteins, antioxidants and vitamins found in plant oil promote and perform different important functions on the skin. They help promote skin homeostasis, increase antioxidant activities, have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, promote wound healing, act as a barrier for the skin thereby decreasing water loss and improving the water balance of the skin (15, 16).
Remember, the type of plant oil you use would depend on your skin type and what suits it best. Knowing the right oil for your skin type is key to navigating the wonders and beauty of plant oils. Not sure on the right oil for your skin, click here to read more and help you choose the best oil for your skin.
Thank you for reading this blog and let me know if you have used any of the oils listed above. Also, don’t forget to click here to read the first part of this blog.
XOXO,
Precious.
Reference:
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2. Abimosleh SM, Tran CD, Howarth GS. Emu Oil: a novel therapeutic for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract? J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 May;27(5):857-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2012.07098.x. PMID: 22369065. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22369065/
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10. Elgegren, Mariela et al. “Ultrasound-Assisted Encapsulation of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis Linneo.) Oil in Alginate-Chitosan Nanoparticles.” Polymers vol. 11,8 1245. 27 Jul. 2019, doi:10.3390/polym11081245 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723186/
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16. Lin, Tzu-Kai et al. “Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 19,1 70. 27 Dec. 2017, doi:10.3390/ijms19010070 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
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