Happy August Everyone! Monsoon is in full swing in India, and it reminds me of some good memories from my childhood of this season.
Growing up in India, my mother used to make drumstick curry during the monsoon season! We were all compelled to eat it because during monsoon season in India, your digestion is not at its best! This curry would help you with that!
After starting Glow & Green, I heavily researched sustainable and ayurvedic Indian ingredients. And I discovered that the “drumstick tree,” aka the “moringa tree,” is a new miracle ingredient in the beauty world. NPR stated that it is a unique superfood (click here). Today, I would like to introduce you to a great Sustainable Beauty Product: moringa oil. It is a beauty superfood that comes from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree. It is a common species of the genus Moringa in the flowering plant family Moringaceae. This moringa tree is native to India and countries in the Himalayan region.
The moringa tree is genuinely sustainable because their leaves, seeds, and drumstick are all edible and usable in many areas! (For the basics of Carrier Oil, click here).
In Ayurveda, it is known to cure 300 diseases. The moringa tree requires less water, is suitable for any soil, and grows extremely fast. It is a perennial crop and resistant to most pests and diseases. Moringa oil as natural beauty product is produced by pressing the seeds of the moringa tree. These pressed seeds produce a pale-yellow nondrying oil. This oil is high in antioxidants and has a very long shelf life.
This oil has been traditionally used in the creation of perfumes, because it can absorb and retain scents from botanical herbs. Moringa oil is a very beneficial anti-aging skin moisturizer. So, before we go on and on about the amazing benefits of moringa oil, let’s find out what’s inside and how can we use it in our day-to-day skincare & haircare routines!
Moringa Oil: Sustainable Beauty Product
The moringa tree is originally from India. But this tree is now grown in several other countries, including Thailand, the Philippines, and African countries. When you go and buy moringa oil, we strongly suggest buying cold-pressed virgin oil.
This oil is also known as “Behen Oil” because it contains a high concentration of behenic acid (a kind of fatty acid). Due to the high level of antioxidants that acts as a natural preservative, it is perfect for people who live in urbanized areas with not so clean air. It also contains fatty acids, such as palmitoleic, linoleic, and oleic acid.
All of these are an essential superfood for your skin & hair. It also provides your skin with vitamin A & C. Now that we know this, here is what we are getting with moringa oil:
Moringa Oil for Skin:
This oil is a genuine wonder ingredient when it comes to dry skin & anti-aging properties. Moringa oil creates a high occlusive layer on your bare surfaces and prevents dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. It revitalizes your dry and dull skin and reduces fine wrinkles.
Its truly anti-aging properties prevent the sagging of facial muscles. The moringa plant also produces cytokinin hormones. This hormone promotes sebum production, and that’s why more cells can be generated by your skin.
In Ayurveda, it has been used as medicine because it also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. If you use moringa oil regularly, it will help reduce pimples and blemishes. It brightens your skin tone!
Moringa Oil for Hair
We swear by hair oiling before you wash your hair. Moringa oil can be your best friend for this. It reduces hair loss & split ends, moisturizes the scalp, and promotes hair growth. All win-win!
This oil contains vitamins A & C, which are essential for minimizing hair loss. It also has vitamin E, biotin, zinc, and silica. Vitamin E protects your hair from polluted air, as it is an excellent antioxidant, while silica and zinc will take care of your scalp tissues! And, we all know the “famous” biotin. Biotin is one of the eight B vitamins, which help reduce hair loss as well! A simple application of hair oil can cure so many of your hair issues!
Before we bring this excellent blogpost to a close, I would like to share a few moringa oil products that are available on the market (but we strongly prefer DIY ones).To promote the DIY spirit, I have written out a simple facial oil recipe to reduce dark circles and blemishes! I call it Anti-pollution Facial Oil. This product helps protect your skin from air pollution.
I prefer this store-bought product: Click Here
Moringa Facial Oil Recipe:
Makes 1.7 oz Total
Things you need:
1.0 oz Moringa Oil
0.45 oz Jojoba Oil
0.25 oz Vitamin E (to add an extra boost of antioxidants)
This is how you make it:
In a glass beaker, mix the moringa oil with the jojoba oil. Stir the oils with a glass rod. Now add vitamin E and mix it well again. Pour this mixture into the glass dropper. Use it every day during your morning & night rituals.
Try this recipe and let us know what you think of moringa – a magical tree.
Please leave a comment or DM me. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram & Facebook, as we frequently share simple recipes like the one above.
Till then, see you next time!
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