Marula Oil Uses and Benefits for Skin and Hair

Marula oil is extracted from the marula tree, native to southern and western Africa. It is very important there, since it is usually the sustenance of animals such as giraffes or elephants. But for centuries humans found many uses for each part of the marula tree. For example, the leaves and bark are often medicinal. The trunk is often used to make ropes thanks to its quality fiber.

The fruit can be eaten or used to prepare certain drinks, and marula oil is extracted from the seeds, an ingredient used in many cosmetic products. There are products like marula oil shampoo or marula facial oil.

There’s no specified amount or dosage recommended. Many people normally apply small drops of the oil. It is used on their faces, hands or hair to finish off their beauty routines. Marula oil restores elasticity and smooths out cellulite and scars.

You can use marula oil during the day or at night. It doesn’t matter if you have dry or oily skin, it is useful for every skin type. The oil will moisturize the area anyway. You can also apply it right before putting on makeup. The key is to apply the oil on your face without rubbing, you should tap gently. This helps the oil sink into your skin.

Sometimes marula oil is included in the list of ingredients of some shampoos. However, if you notice that yours does not, you can add a few drops to it. Marula oil is also popularly used as a body lotion. Apply it liberally after bathing or before bed on dry skin. It penetrates deep, even where the skin is the thickest.

Keep reading to discover marula's oil benefits and uses. Before you do, you may be interested in our article on how to get beautiful skin like a model.

Marula oil is a great discovery when it comes to cosmetics, since this essential oil has multiple beneficial properties for skincare. It has swiftly earned the title of mega multitasker and magical oil.

• It is an oil rich in antioxidants and vitamins C and E which help cell repair and prevent premature aging. Also, it helps us to work on the signs of aging on our skin, fighting fine lines of expression, wrinkles or sun damage. Find out more in how to apply vitamin C on the face.
• It has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and non-comedogenic properties, making it a perfect oil for acne treatments.
• As a good essential oil, it has moisturizing, hydrating and repairing power, with a highly regenerative effect as well.

Here are some of the promising benefits of marula oil for face:

• Balances skin barrier
• Hydrates blemish-prone skin
• Fights free radicals
• Refines skin texture for smoother skin
• Primes skin for makeup
• Soothes inflamed skin
• Hydrates the under-eye area
• Fights the signs of aging
• Reduces redness

Thanks to its properties and benefits, marula oil is a common essential oil in many cosmetic products. We can also find it in treatments focused on caring for both skin and hair. But, what is marula oil good for? What are the benefits it brings us? We discover them below.

Benefits of marula oil for hair

This essential oil is also wonderful for hair care:

• It will provide extra hydration that is necessary, especially after the summer. As you know, the combination of the sun with sea salt or pool chlorine can deeply damage your hair.
  
  
• It can be a great ally to carry out a quick, efficient and effective shock treatment. Using marola oil you will repair the hair and restore all its shine, besides making it healthy again thanks to its moisturizing power.
  
  
• The use of marula will help protect hair from external factors such as sun, cold or exposure to irons and dryers.
  
  
• Eliminates the frizzy effect, something that will help all those hair with a tendency to friz.

To see some more ways you can condition your hair, you can check out how to get shiny hair with natural products.

Benefits of marula oil for skin

Marula oil is one of the most optimal essential oils for any type of skin. Its use and application has excellent results in terms of radiance and smoothness.

• Thanks to being rich in antioxidants, marula oil has a powerful anti-aging effect. It nourishes the root cells, improving the appearance of the skin. Increasing the production of collagen, it reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
  
  
• Thanks to its vitamin C content, this essential oil is capable of repairing the skin barrier by eliminating free radicals that can damage it.
  
  
• It will provide extra hydration, so its use is recommended on especially dry skin. With this oil, you will achieve soft and much more hydrated skin.
  
  
• It is designed to calm skin inflammation. It relieve sunburn, redness and improve hypersensitivity. So it's a great ally for sensitive skin, all thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
  
  
• Thanks to its antibacterial action, marula oil can be good in acne treatments. It reduces its appearance, as well as the scars and marks it can leave behind. For more ways to help clarify your facial skin, you may also be interested in reading benefits of hyaluronic acid for skin.

Now that you know the properties and benefits of marula oil, we should talk about its uses and applications so that you can get the most out of this popular essential oil.

Marula oil treatment for hair

As we have mentioned, marula oil is one of the best moisturizing ingredients in cosmetics. So it is suitable for treating damaged or dry hair, since it hydrates and eliminates frizz.

• With just a few drops of marula oil you can coat the hair cuticle and seal it, in order to eliminate frizz and restore shine and health to your hair.
  
  
• You can also rub it directly on your hair a few minutes before washing. You will treat dry ends and prevent them from opening or breaking.
  
  
• You can apply the oil to the scalp, where it will absorb quickly. It reduces the presence of dandruff and helps hair grow in a healthy way.
  
  
• If you want to use it against frizz, apply the oil from the roots to the ends before styling it with the help of a hairdryer. It is important to note that this oil has a light and fast-absorbing action. It will not make your hair greasy, so it is suitable for any type of hair. Find out more in our guide to preventing frizz in hair.

Marula oil skin treatment

Marula oil has a light texture that is quickly absorbed, making it easy to use and apply in skin care. As we have seen, it is suitable for sensitive skin, but also for combination or oily skin. There are various uses of marula oil for the skin. You can use it as a restorative treatment during the night. You should apply it to the face after cleansing and serum applications. It is also compatible to use in facial moisturizers, skin exfoliants or as a body moisturizer.

If you use it on your face, apply about three or four drops of oil to your hands. Then apply it to your previously cleansed face and neck. Massage it in circular motions until completely absorbed. In case of using it as a body moisturizer, you can apply it both in the morning and at night. Also, this oil is highly recommended to reduce stretch marks during pregnancy.

There are few side effects and contraindications to marula oil. However, it is important to note that if you have dermatological problems, you should consult your doctor. In addition to this, keep in mind that in some cases, marula oil can cause inflammation of the skin. It can also lead to redness or itching in the case of people with allergies or highly sensitive skin. It is recommended to apply a small amount on a small area of the skin and wait a few hours to see if any negative effects appear.

Allergic reaction

If you are allergic to fruits or nuts, you should be careful using marula oil. It comes from the nut of the marula fruit. So if someone with a nut allergy uses it, they could experience an allergic reaction. Signs that you have marula oil allergy:

• Red skin
• Itchy skin
• Puffy or swollen lips
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing

Of course you can also do an allergy test on yourself at home. This is what you should do to test it at home:

Apply a drop of marula oil on your skin (your inner forearm is the perfect part for it).

Then you have to wait. In case of an allergic reaction, it should appear as fast as a few minutes or even up to 2 days. Keep an eye on the spot you placed the oil.

The changes that can occur include the skin becoming red, itchy, or swollen. If you have observed any of these, you probably have an allergy to marula oil and should not use it.

Vision problems

Marula oil can be applied to many places, but you should avoid it in your eyes. If you get oil in your eyes, try to get it out immediately. Rinse it with a lot of water and try to eliminate it completely. Failing to do so could result in vision problems, so it’s better to prevent it.

If you want to read similar articles to Marula Oil Uses and Benefits for Skin and Hair, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.