Plant Derived Exotic Oils

When I was a child, my mother gave me fish oil capsules to calm my eczema… I always thought “gross” and gulped them down with a scowl to please my mum. Now that I am an adult – and mastered control of my gag-reflex (thanks to a sea urchin hand-roll at a questionable restaurant) – I happily supplement my diet with fish oils. If you prefer not to pump your body with the innards of sea creatures, try these industry favorites - derived from plants, trees and flowers:

Argan Oil: If you haven’t heard of this oil, you will soon. Rich, rare, and indigenous to a small region in southwestern Morocco, the Argan tree provides concentrated oils that for centuries have beautified the women of sub-Saharan Africa – and the women are very, very, beautiful.

Prized as a skin, nail, and hair softener, Argan oil is super rich with vitamin E, phenols, carotenes, and fatty acids, and has been used to soothe the following:

Rosacea I Eczema I Wrinkles I Psoriasis I Acne I Scarring

This concentrated oil has been named endangered by UNESCO, mainly due to the small region it grows in. The extraction process is quite intensive – taking many days to produce just one liter. The seeds from this tree are harvested and extracted by native women of the region (Berber’s). The use of Argan is providing work for women in co-ops across this impoverished region, and has established a project to ensure that profits from this oil continue to give back to the community. Because of this scarce beauty ingredient, native women of Morocco continue bringing money into the region for the education of women, and for a reforestation project that keeps this fantastic tree from growing extinct. (Applause!)

Meadowfoam Oil: Packed with healthy, fatty acids, this miraculous oil prevents loss of natural moisture from skin by quickly penetrating and building a non-greasy barrier.

Used as a hair treatment, Meadowfoam adds shine, and promotes growth and a healthy hair cuticle. Applied to skin, it reduces wrinkles, reverses aging, and contains UVB protection.

Bhringaraj Oil: Traditionally used to encourage hair growth by massaging into the scalp, Bhringaraj oil is also known to fend off premature hair-loss, thinning, and repairs the cuticle with emollients and antioxidants which fight free-radical damage.

(Free radicals are also known as environmental toxins and strip hair of natural shine.)

Oldies but goodies: Rose Hip Oil, Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil.