The reputation of olive oil no longer needs to be made, so many are its benefits. Whether on the health or the cosmetology side, olive oil seems unbeatable. But do you know baobab oil ? Less widely known by the general public, known only by a small handful of people, baobab oil is nonetheless a high-quality oil. Moreover, it seems to have nothing to envy olive oil. If you do not know what to choose between olive oil and baobab oil, here is an article that will help you decide.
4 benefits of olive oil
Olive oil is full of benefits for the beauty and health of the skin. It is essential to recall a few of them:
Rich in antioxidants
Olive oil contains excellent antioxidants, such as squalene and oleic acid, which protect the skin against premature aging.
Ideal for removing makeup
Olive oil does an excellent job of removing stubborn makeup without causing irritation. It is more and more used as a makeup remover by a number of people and has proven very effective.
A moisturizer for the face and the body
Olive oil contains fatty acids and can therefore be used as a moisturizing cream for the face. It moisturizes the skin, makes it radiant and keeps it supple even in difficult climatic conditions.
It unclogs pores
Olive oil can also take care of your blackhead and whitehead problems. It penetrates deep into the skin, absorbs all the impurities that have built up under the skin over time and thus prevents/reduces the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads.
However, this richness of olive oil does not make it an oil without side effects. Indeed, using olive oil, sustained or not, has many drawbacks and side effects.
The side effects of using olive oil
If your skin is acne-prone or congested by nature, you must avoid using olive oil on the problem areas of your skin. Acne is caused by bacteria and yeasts, both of which feed on the fatty acids present in vegetable oils, butter and essential oils. Olive oil is rich in fatty acids and may very well become the cause of acne forming.
In addition, olive oil also contains oleic acid and can make dermatitis worse. It must therefore not be used near infants and children. It can be used as a makeup remover, but must be combined with another makeup remover, since olive oil does not have antibacterial properties like most vegetable oils. Furthermore, it goes without saying that if your skin is already oily, it produces an excess of sebum and oils on its own, so it is pointless to use olive oil on skin that is already oily.
The benefits of baobab oil
The baobab is a tree that belongs to the Malvaceae family, Adansonia digitata, and was named the African Baobab by the English and the French. Depending on the country where it grows, it is notably nicknamed the magic tree, the tree of life, the upside-down tree, the symbol of the earth and the monkey bread of Africa.
There are eight types of baobabs in tropical regions, but it originates from the arid and semi-arid regions of West Africa. These are large deciduous trees measuring on average 20 to 30 m in height for a circumference of 14 to 32 m, and they can live up to 450 years.
The baobab is a lifeline in the African savanna, since it has a great tolerance to hot, dry conditions, moistens the soil and is a source of food, water and shelter for humans and animals.
The medicinal and health use of the tree is justified by high levels of protein, calcium, vitamins A and C, and the 8 essential amino acids.
In addition, the baobab has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating properties beneficial to health.
Baobab oil in cosmetics
Although people are used to using the baobab for its health benefits, there has been an increase in cosmetic patents to add baobab oil to beauty, skin care and hair products for its soothing, emulsifying, softening and moisturizing effects.
Indeed, baobab oil is made from the pulp and the seeds found in the large, oval-shaped fruit. Baobab oil offers many advantages for the hair, the skin and the nails, thanks to the high levels of vitamins and minerals it contains. Here are 5 advantages of baobab oil:
It contains large amounts of antioxidants
Antioxidants are the vitamins of the skin that help repair the damage caused by the sun and the environment. Baobab oil contains high levels of antioxidants from significant amounts of vitamin C (10 times more than an orange), bioflavonoids and provitamin A. These high levels of substances in baobab oil are able to protect the cells of the body against the oxidative damage of water, food and air on the skin.
It is a natural moisturizer
Baobab seeds are a source of unsaturated fatty acids and of vitamins A, D, E and K. These compounds offer advantages for the skin and for overall health generally.
Vitamins A and K help with the renewal of the cell membrane, and vitamin E contains linoleic acid, which is useful for protecting the cells of the skin and for its hydration, for decreasing inflammation and for generating new tissue.
The vitamin E contained in baobab oil also helps extend the shelf life of a product, since it ensures oxidative stability. These health benefits brought to the skin give it a healthy glow and a fresh appearance.
Ideal for dry skin
Products formulated with baobab oil are particularly suited to a skin care routine for those looking for a little more hydration, a fresh appearance and overall skin health.
For people who have dry skin, baobab oil is certainly the best skin care product. Indeed, baobab seeds, once pressed, produce a golden oil rich in antioxidants and in omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids that help retain moisture, even for the driest skin.
It increases collagen production
Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, thus giving us that plump, young and fresh appearance. Vitamin C is in fact known to promote collagen production for the health of the skin. Baobab oil is not only rich in antioxidants: it also contains high levels of vitamin C compared to most other oils, notably olive oil. Combined with the omega fatty acid content of the oil, this makes baobab oil a vital substance for radiant, fresh and young skin.
It acts as a gentle cleanser
Natural oils such as olive oil or jojoba oil are known for their gentle cleansing properties. Yet baobab oil is not only nourishing, but also cleansing. By gently massaging baobab oil onto damp skin, you get an unmatched healthy, natural and fresh effect on the skin.
Baobab oil, a major ally for your skin
Despite the popularity of olive oil, baobab oil easily dethrones it by offering a wider variety of benefits of every kind for the skin and for health in general. It contains incomparable amounts of vitamins and is a source of essential fatty acids for fresh, younger-looking skin.
In addition, it is a good source of antioxidants that also helps reverse oxidative damage. When you buy new skin care products, always remember to check whether baobab oil is among the ingredients, or add a bottle of baobab oil to your routine. The myriad of benefits it offers for the skin means you get your money worth in a single beauty product.