One of the newest and trendiest beauty products on the market also may be one of the most promising to emerge in years.
Extracted from the seeds of the Kalahari melon, it contains the highest concentration of vitamin E of any known plant oil. It also is 70% composed of linoleic oil (aka vitamin F), a champ at fortifying the skin barrier, locking in hydration and calming irritation.
This lightweight substance is quickly absorbed by the skin and appears to be safe for all skin and hair types.
These wild melons are prized by the San people of the Kalahari Desert as an essential source of hydration, but they’ve been dismissed as a crop by farmers because of their bitter taste. This plant can survive on very little water, a quality that became even more obvious after a series of droughts crippled the region’s agriculture beginning around 2010. This led to further study and the discovery of the seeds’ nutrient profile.
Today the oil is available from numerous sources and can be massaged directly onto the skin or hair, its high vitamin E content serving as a preservative to ensure long-lasting effects.
Its benefits are numerous:
Hair growth — Shampoos, conditioners, cleansers and styling products were one of the first beauty products to adopt this oil, as it’s got plenty of linoleic acid to tame frizzy and dry hair yet is sheer enough to not weigh hair down or occlude follicles.
It’s a great ingredient to include with a scalp massage and has even been included in some treatments for alopecia.
Skin cleansing — Its linoleic acid content naturally unclogs pores by restoring your sebum’s balance of linoleic and oleic acids if the latter gets out of control and causes the thick and greasy consistency that can cause acne and blackheads. Not surprisingly it scores high on the noncomedogenic scale.
Moisturizing — This melon oil provides deep nourishment to the layers of the skin and has proven to have humectant properties that help them retain that moisture.
Wrinkle reduction — Its rich combination of linoleic acid, vitamins and minerals act together to plump the skin and reduce puffiness and fine lines and wrinkles while leading to tighter skin.
Skin repair — The San were the first to discover this oil’s ability to heal skin from sunburns, and it’s known now for its ability to regenerate enough growth to reduce scar appearance, while its antioxidant content fights damage from UV rays and free radicals.
Babies your baby — Kalahari melon oil is gentle enough to be used on anybody, including infants. Baby oil is used to protect a baby’s thin, fragile skin from dryness that can lead to infections, blisters and other issues. Kalahari oil’s rich nutrient profiles means it is as nurturing for brand-new skin as for aging skin.
