What Is Moringa Oleifera And How Does It Benefit The Skin?

If you take a keen interest in your diet and what you do and don’t eat and tend to include healthy foods and superfoods in your daily diet, then you may have come across an ingredient called moringa oleifera. But what is it and what are the moringa oleifera benefits?

Often found in powder form that can be easily added to smoothies and juices, moringa is a green powder that’s full of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients.

It’s so full of nutrients, that in some parts of the world, the leaves, seed pods and seeds are used to help treat and prevent malnutrition. This has led the moringa tree to become known in many cultures as the “miracle tree”. It can be used to help boost the nutrition that babies and young children receive when they’re being breastfed too.

Across the globe, moringa is taken as a supplement or added to breakfast smoothies to help support the health of the heart, bones, stomach and liver as well as helping to support good mental health.

But there are also benefits to the skin both when taken internally and when used topically on the skin (which is why we’ve added it to two of our skin care products, but more on those later…).

So here we look into this ingredient in more detail, and find out exactly what the moringa oleifera benefits are, how it supports the skin and how and when we should use it...

What is Moringa Oleifera?

Moringa oleifera, or simply moringa, as it’s most commonly known, is a plant based ingredient in both skin care and as an edible in health foods.

It comes from a tree known locally as the ‘drumstick tree’ in its native homeland of north west India due to its green seed pods that resemble green beans, or small drumsticks.

The moringa tree is able to survive severe droughts and even mild frost, and is therefore a hardy tree that’s grown throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. But is moringa oleifera good for you?

For many, many generations, extracts from this tree have been used medicinally as part of the ancient Indian system of medicine called Ayurveda. It’s been used medicinally to help treat many and varied health complaints from cardiovascular disease to liver problems and stomach upsets.

It’s even linked with weight loss benefits due to its ability to reduce the formation of fat reserves and boost the rate at which fat is broken down. However these claims are still being researched and need to be validated.

Every single part of the moringa oleifera tree is used in medicinal products, including the leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds and roots.

Here in the Western world, we might think that moringa products for our skin are new, but they’ve been used for millennia by our cousins residing in the Eastern world, but we’re SO happy to be able to use this incredible and natural ingredient in our skin care products now!

Moringa oil is rich in antioxidants that help to soothe the skin, as well as omega fatty acids that nourish the skin. In fact, the seeds of the moringa tree are around 40% oil, similar to that of olive oil, that’s rich in skin loving vitamin E.

So, in answer to the question, is moringa oleifera good for you, yes, yes it is!

What Are the Benefits of Moringa Oleifera for the Skin?

The question should really be, what doesn’t moringa oleifera do for your skin, because this ingredient has so many skin benefits.

Moringa is added to skin care formulations and products to help hydrate the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and reduce the effects of inflammation such as redness, irritation, itching and dryness.

Even in those with ‘normal’ skin types, the benefits of moringa oleifera include helping to improve the overall appearance of the skin.

In addition to these moringa oleifera skin benefits, studies have also found that moringa oleifera leaf extract helps to revitalise the skin after it’s suffered the damaging effects of UV radiation from exposure to the sun. This damage can lead to the signs of premature ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and dehydration.

One study found that using moringa leaf plant based extract on the skin helped to improve the volume of the skin, that is, its plumpness. This study also found that it helped to improve the skin’s roughness, scaliness and smoothness and reduce the appearance of visible skin wrinkles, all measured using a robust and accepted scanning procedure.

Moringa in skin care is also used because of its antimicrobial properties that help to manage the skin bacteria that can lead to acne spots and breakouts, which is something very dear to our hearts here as we know it is with so many of our customers.

Further Benefits of Moringa Oleifera to the Skin

The skin benefits of moringa oleifera don’t stop there! It can also help to protect the skin against the harms of environmental toxins and pollutants. These can otherwise buildup on the skin, potentially making skin conditions such as acne and eczema worse, and even leading to premature ageing.

Moringa helps to protect the skin from these nasties as it helps to strengthen the barrier function of the skin due to its antioxidant properties.

The hydrating properties of moringa also mean that it can help to control shine and oil production. Well hydrated skin doesn’t overcompensate by producing too much oil. It also has antibacterial properties that can help to prevent a buildup of acne causing bacteria in the pores.

How Do I Use Moringa Oleifera?

As we mentioned, each part of the moringa oleifera tree is prized for its remarkable health benefits and medicinal properties. In skin care, it’s the leaf that’s most beneficial, since they’re so rich in vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

We’ve added moringa oleifera leaf extract to our Calming Hydration Day Cream and Deep Hydration Serum and both products are designed to be used every day. Apply them directly to the skin to maximise the benefits of the moringa and other skin supporting ingredients.

All of our skin care products are made using plant based botanicals such as moringa oleifera that nourish the skin, as well as alkalising silica salts that support healthy skin. This includes our brand new product, our Purifying Clay Face Mask, that contains zeolite and bentonite clay to absorb toxins and leave behind essential minerals that make the complexion clearer and more radiant.

What Skin Types Should Avoid moringa Oleifera for Skin?

Our skin care products can be used by any skin type, and are especially beneficial to those with non conformist, stressed out skin types who may have skin that’s prone to acne spots, excess oiliness, psoriasis, rosacea and other types of skin problems.

Generally speaking, all skin types can tolerate moringa oleifera leaf extract, and as it's such a naturally derived ingredient, there are no indications that it reacts with any other skin care ingredient or makes any type of skin condition worse.

There’s no definite proof that moringa has all these skincare benefits, but as with anything, the proof is in the pudding.

So what are you waiting for? Nourish your skin and witness the visible benefits of moringa oleifera leaf extract by ordering your Sönd skin care products today!

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