Natural products are certainly the best. The chemically produced and toxin filled skin care products we use are mostly harmful to our skin. This is why many people are turning to ‘green products’. It’s a trend that will not be dead soon because of its lasting effect. The super cool thing is that natural products are just easy to access and relatively cheap when compared to these commercially produced skin care products.
If you’re already subscribed to natural products, here are five more you can add to your stash;
Camwood powder
Baphia Nitida aka camwood is a tree from Central West Africa, the core of this tree is grounded into what we know as camwood powder.
The powder has rich rejuvenating and cleansing properties excellent for Skin, it can be made into a paste by mixing with water, honey, egg, yoghurt and applied on the skin. There are a lot of benefits of the powder, not only can it brighten up the skin and treat skin irritation, it can also heal sprains and rheumatic pains
Camwood powder can be gotten from the market, the section where herbal products are sold, in Igbo the powder is called
Uhie, in Yoruba
‘Osun and
Ajigi in Hausa.
Palm Kernel oil
Palm kernel oil is an edible plant oil derived from the kernel of the oil palm ‘
Elaeis guineensis‘. The oil is mostly dark brown when processed locally, the perm kernel oil should however not be confused with palm oil, as the former is made from the kernel of the palm nut. The palm kernel oil is an excellent source of vitamin E and contains anti-ageing properties that prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is also an excellent moisturizer for the skin and it protects against harmful UV rays and other toxins. The oil known as ‘Eli-Aki’ in Igbo has healing properties as African mothers have since subscribed to it for treating infections and preventing diseases. The oil is also excellent for hair as it prevents dandruff and makes the hair silky. The oil can be found in the market, the oil has a strong nutty smell, so you might want to dilute it with other essential oils before applying.
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is a yellow oil gotten from the seeds of sesame, enriched with essential vitamins such as vitamins E, D and B complex which makes the oil very effective in reducing scars and other rashes on the skin. The oil also boasts of the presence of fatty acids excellent for moisturizing the skin. Sesame oil has a nutty smell and is thick and sticky when compared to other oils. Despite its thick nature, it is capable of penetrating deep into the pores of the skin, working from inside the surface of the skin and thereby regulating the circulation of blood.
Other benefits the oil includes:
- The sesame oil is great for massage. The deep penetrating nature of the oil completely detoxifies the skin
- It acts as a natural sunscreen; the presence of vitamin E acts as an antioxidant ensuring protection against damaging UV rays.
- The oil is very effective in the treatment of inflamed and wounded skin.
Watermelon Seed Oil
Watermelon seed oil also known as
Ootanga and Kalahari oil, is gotten from processing the toasted and dried seeds of the watermelon fruit. The oil is very light and thus easily absorbed into the sk
It contains many properties essential for the health of the skin such as vitamins A, B3 and E, minerals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, copper and also acids such as linoleic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid.
The high linoleic and oleic acid content makes it potent in fighting wrinkles and premature ageing. It’s also an excellent moisturizer, although, it works for all skin types, those with oily skin greatly benefit from it.
Cocoa Butter
A pale yellow fat extracted from the cocoa bean, also edible as it is used for the production of chocolate and chocolate beverages. The butter has a cocoa flavour and aroma, it is also high in fatty acids which generally improve skin moisture retention and elasticity and erase rashes. It also contains cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP) which inhibits the growth of cancerous cells.
The antioxidant in the butter has healing properties which make it effective in fading out scars and stretch marks.
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This article was first published on 29th September 2017
amarachi
Amara Adanna Ogbonna is a Christian, foodie, and lover of arts. She spends most of her time on Facebook.
Comments (3)
How about Shea Butter……..is far better.
Hello dear! Do you know how I can source Kalahari oil? Your help will be greatly appreciated
About the palm kernel oil, is it to rub like that or to put inside cream, because i thought the oil alone makes one dark. How do we use it?