Author: afrikaadmin

At Afrika Botanicals, we work directly with natural oils and sometimes forget that not everyone has the same level of knowledge. This blog explains the basics of using natural indigenous African oils on the skin.

Why are people turning to these oils, what they can do for your skin and how can we create a comprehensive skincare regimen that harnesses their power? Are they unisex?

In recent years, the beauty and skincare industry has grown toward incorporating natural oils, especially those derived from indigenous African plants like Ximenia, Mongongo, Marula, Baobab and Kalahari melon. These oils offer many benefits for your skin and can seamlessly integrate into your daily skincare routine.

Why Natural Oils for Skincare?

Natural oils have gained immense popularity due to their ability to nourish and protect the skin. Unlike some commercial skincare products that may contain synthetic ingredients or harsh chemicals, these natural oils are gentle and packed with essential nutrients.

Here are some compelling reasons why people choose to incorporate them into their skincare routines:

1. Fatty Acids: Natural oils, particularly those indigenous to Africa, are rich in fatty acids that can deeply hydrate the skin, leaving it soft and supple. Fatty acids play a crucial role in skin hydration, as they help to lock in moisture, prevent water loss and maintain the skin’s natural barrier.
2. Nutrient-Rich: These oils are abundant in vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that help repair and rejuvenate the skin, promoting a healthy complexion. The oils contain significant vitamins (such as vitamin E or C) and minerals (like zinc or selenium). Each of these nutrient categories plays a distinct role in supporting skin health.
3. Protection: The natural oils form a protective barrier on the skin, shielding it from environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays.
4. Non-Comedogenic: Another phrase is ‘non-pore clogging’, which makes them suitable for various skin types, including oily, combination and acne-prone skin, as they are less likely to trigger breakouts or worsen existing skin issues.

Your Daily Skincare Routine with Indigenous African Oils

Morning Routine:

1. Cleansing: Start your day with a gentle cleanser to remove impurities and prepare your skin. Look for a cleansing product that doesn’t strip away natural oils.
2. Toning: Apply a natural toner to balance your skin’s pH levels and enhance the absorption of the oils.
3. Serum: Incorporate a serum infused with indigenous African oils like Marula or Baobab. These serums are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that will help protect your skin throughout the day.
4. Moisturising: Apply a lightweight moisturiser containing ingredients such as Kalahari melon oil to lock in hydration and provide a smooth canvas for makeup.
5. Sunscreen: Finish your morning routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen to shield your skin from harmful UV rays.

Evening Routine:

1. Double Cleansing: Start your evening routine with a thorough cleansing to remove makeup, dirt and pollutants. Begin with an oil-based cleanser to effectively remove makeup and follow with a gentle, water-based cleanser to purify your skin.
2. Toning: Repeat the toning step to maintain balanced skin.
3. Treatment: Use a treatment oil containing Mongongo or Ximenia oil. These oils are excellent for repairing and rejuvenating the skin.
4. Eye Cream: Apply an eye cream to target the delicate skin around your eyes.
5. Moisturising: Utilise a richer moisturiser with Baobab oil or a blend of indigenous oils to deeply nourish your skin while you sleep.
6. Weekly Treatments: Incorporate a weekly exfoliation and mask routine using products that suit your skin type.

Additional Tips:

• Ensure you choose products with these indigenous African oils as primary ingredients.
• Perform a patch test before using any new product to check for allergies or sensitivities.
• Stay consistent with your skincare routine for optimal results.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
• A balanced diet of fruits and vegetables also contributes to healthy skin.

By integrating natural indigenous African oils into your skincare routine, you can enjoy their many benefits and achieve radiant, nourished skin that reflects your commitment to natural beauty.

Afrika Botanicals supplies natural oils to Moya Essentials (www.moyaessentials.com). They have a wide range of natural products incorporating our carrier oils. They also produce lip balms, cleansing balms, serums and many more.

Our upcoming blog will delve into the effects of natural oils on hair. Please watch this space!

Prickly Pear Seed Oil Serum

Combining neroli and frankincense essential oil with prickly pear oil creates the ultimate serum

Prickly pear seed oil is one of the most sought-after facial oils due to its remarkable properties. It contains the highest vitamin E of any other beauty oil. It is extremely rich in essential fatty acids, including omega 6 and 9, antioxidants, polyphenols, amino acids and vitamin K.

Cold pressing the prickly pear (Opuntia Ficus-indica) seed from the fruit produces this sought-after oil. Our prickly pears grow on a Free State farm that follows strict sustainability practices. 

This oil is also extremely rich in essential fatty acids, including omega 6 and 9, antioxidants, polyphenols, amino acids and vitamin K. The oil is easily absorbed into the skin and penetrates quickly without leaving any greasy residue.

Prickly Pear Seed Oil offers the following benefits:

• Suitable for all skin types but works particularly well on dry, mature skin
• Brightens skin and gets rid of dark spots
• Reduces wrinkles and adds firmness
• Highly effective moisturiser
• Easily absorbed into the skin
• Does not clog your pores
• Calms down any inflammation and redness, especially for those prone to rosacea
• Brightens under-eye circles and minimises spider veins
• The fatty acid profile of linoleic acid and oleic acid helps moisturise and restore skin elasticity
• Its high linoleic acid content helps prevent sebum from hardening and thus prevents blocked pores which would lead to acne and spots

The addition of Frankincense, known for its ability to beautify and rejuvenate skin, helps to reduce the appearance of sunspots and age spots. Neroli essential oil slows ageing, significantly reduces wrinkles and adds a beautiful fragrance. Prickly pear oil contains the highest amount of vitamin E of any other beauty oil on the market.

Our Regenerating Prickly Pear Serum is part of our new Afrika Botanicals range of products using the best Southern African speciality oils – locally and sustainably produced.

Sonja Borodin-Sleigh from Moya Essentials is the master formulator behind this new range.

To order – please visit either:  

www.moyaessentials.com or www.afrikabotanicals.com

Shea butter soothes skin and conditions hair. Shea butter has been around for centuries as a natural skin and hair doctor. The lubricous qualities of this natural butter have transformed the beauty regime of many generations of women.

Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). It is ivory in colour when raw, with more processed versions being white, although it can be naturally dyed yellow with borututu root or palm oil.

Refining Shea butter is becoming preferable and fashionable in many communities – similar to raw coconut oil versus MCT coconut oil. As a result, refined shea butter is attracting much attention in natural and organic circles.

Cosmetics are made with shea as a moisturiser, salve or lotion. Shea butter is also edible. Food cooked with shea is prevalent in many African countries. It is safe to enhance any mating ritual when chocolate is not available. There are so many benefits and uses for shea butter; only the mind needs to explore more.

The butter comes as a softish paste and is ideal for creating balms and ointments. It is highly suitable to be used on its own without any additives. Your personal cosmetic experience is enhanced by adding a few drops of your favourite essential oils. Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids, and easy-to-spread consistency, make it an excellent product for smoothing, soothing and conditioning your skin.

Shea butter soothes skin and conditions hair. It is a natural product that is gaining popularity for its effectiveness.

Shea Butter Contains:

• Linoleic, palmitic, stearic and oleic fatty acids. These are ingredients that balance oils on your skin.
• Vitamins A, E and F. These are antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and healthy skin cell growth.
• Triglycerides. Which is the fatty part of the shea nut that nourishes your skin and conditions hair.
• Cetyl esters. They are the waxy part of the shea nut butter that conditions skin and locks in moisture.

Shea Butter Uses:

• An emollient. It penetrates the skin quickly leaving it soft and supple without an oily feeling.
• Beneficial for dehydrated, chapped and sunburnt skin.
• Wrinkles and stretch marks become less visible.
• Revitalises and conditions hair.
• Contains anti-inflammatory properties.
• Provides an element of UV protection.
• Safe for all skin types.
• It has antioxidant properties with significant levels of vitamins A, E and F.
• Antifungal applications. Shea tree products are known to fight skin infections caused by fungi.

Versatile Prickly Pear Plant with many uses

The prickly pear is one of the most versatile plants. Modern technology allows every aspect of the plant is used. The Americas are the natural home of the Opuntia species of cacti. This species was introduced into South Africa 300 years ago. Different species have followed. Initially, they were using them as fences or hedgerows to protect crops from wild animals. The plant spread throughout Southern Africa and is a common sight on many farms and towns.

They farmed the prickly pear in the Karoo as a hardy, sustainable cattle food. The Opuntia ficus-indica is dominant in South Africa. The Opuntia stricta is widespread in Zambia and other neighbouring countries.

Academic research has revealed the vast potential for the agricultural and energy sectors.

Milled Cladodes

The cladodes (leaves) of the cactus are milled and are consumed by cattle. These cladodes are dried and milled to produce flour for human consumption. Research has seen 25% of cake flour replaced by cactus flour in baking.

A high-fibre and gluten-free cereal can be made when the cladode flour is mixed with sorghum meal. This flour is used as a thickening agent and emulsifier in mayonnaise.

Conversion into Biofuels

Barren Energy is an Australian company currently operating in South Africa. They are successfully converting grown cacti into LPG gas. The cacti grow in remote and dry areas. Arid land can be converted into 10MW power generators. This is an ideal energy solution and opportunity for mining in remote regions.  Their pilot cactus-to-gas project is producing gas. This will be commercialised in due course.

Nutritional Value of the Prickly Pear

The fruit is only available for a short period in summer. They have one of the shortest shelf lives of any fruit. Companies have tried juicing the fruit but it does not travel well and is prone to easy fermentation. Easy fermentation will suit the production of alcoholic beverages.

Amazingly, the fruit contains high levels of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, calcium and other nutrients. It has between 6% and 14% sugars, in the form of glucose and fructose. The vitamin C content of cactus pears is higher than that of apples, grapes, pears or bananas.

Research is being conducted on the efficacy of the plant in treating diabetes. In rural areas, the plant is treating everything from high blood pressure to diabetes.

Prickly Pear Oil

Oil produced from its seed is becoming popular in cosmetic circles. Extracting the fruit from the seeds is lengthy and the seeds are cold-pressed to produce the oil. It takes half a ton of seed to produce one litre of seed oil. Seeds contain only five per cent oil. It is one of the most expensive oils and retails for about US$250/kg. The prickly pear is one of the most versatile plants.

Prickly Pear oil is antioxidant, regenerative, moisturising, soothing, and has anti-inflammatory properties. It calms inflammation and rehydrates skin.

Humble Cactus

The Opuntia ficus and stricta were seen as menaces that grew like weeds. Expensive eradication operations curtailed their spread. The humble cactus is one of the most versatile plants producing different income streams. The legislation does not limit the plant’s growth, but countries apply the CITES Convention differently. A CITES permit is required before any part of the plant, including the oil, is exported to some countries such as China.