If African carrier oils are your thing, you may have heard of baobab oil. But what is baobab oil and why is it so special?
Baobab oil is a carrier oil made by cold-pressing the seeds of the Baobab tree. Baobab trees are native to the African Savanna, and provide a high number of nutrients that make its oil highly sought after in skin/hair cosmetics. It can be used alone to nourish the hair and skin or can be mixed with essential oils for other beauty applications such as massage oil.
In this article, I’ll take you on a tour of everything baobab oil, from how it’s made, to its wide range of benefits and uses. You’ll even learn about its shelf life and ideal storage tips, plus some potential substitutes!
What is baobab oil made from?
Baobab oil is made from the seeds of the Baobab tree in Africa. This process involves cracking open the fruit and separating out the seeds, before removing the hard outer shell of the seed and being cold-pressed to extract the oil.
The oil is then filtered to ensure optimum purity is achieved, and it’s then either used raw or sent to other manufacturing facilities where other products may be added.
Uses for baobab oil
There are many popular uses for baobab oil, primarily on/within the hair and face.
Baobab oil has been shown to soften the skin and improve skin texture, due to its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and fats such as palmitic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, and linoleic acid.
It is even used by some as a treatment for acne, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
In terms of hair, baobab oil is great for adding nourishment to hair follicles and helping the hair to look and feel healthier. The omega-3 acids baobab oil contains are also great for moisturizing the scalp,
Benefits of baobab oil
There are many benefits to using baobab oil – here are some of our favorites!
- May offer antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties due to containing hydroxycinnamic acid glycoside
- Highly moisturizing and strengthening for the hair, lips, and skin due to numerous omega-3 fatty acid content
- Contains essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese
- The fruit pulp of baobab fruit pulp contains at least 7 times more Vitamin C than an orange
- May help symptoms of eczema due to omega-3 acids helping to heal the skin barrier
- Helps to lock in moisture for both the hair and skin
- Very gentle which makes it suitable for delicate skin such as under the eye area
- Low comedogenic rating of 2, which means it shouldn’t lead to clogged pores or acne
Appearance and scent of baobab oil
Unrefined baobab oil is usually a deep amber color, however, it can be yellow or clear if it has been heavily refined.
Its scent is lightly nutty, and is often described as slightly floral. That’s been my experience, anyway.
Substitutes for baobab oil
Some good substitutes for baobab oil include:
- Safflower oil
- Hemp Seed oil
- Argan oil
- Jojoba oil
- Abyssinian
Take a look at our guide to carrier oils for more information, with 63 carrier oils analyzed in detail!
Shelf life and storage of baobab oil
One of the best features of baobab oil is its shelf life, with an incredible 2-5 year lifespan when stored correctly.
This makes it a great carrier oil if you don’t use them too often, as it will likely last for a long time without being used. (And it pairs well with all kinds of essential oils, too.)
Make sure to store your baobab oil in an air-tight container in a cool, dry space. It’s also best if it’s stored away from direct sunlight to prevent it from spoiling.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions that should provide some extra insight into the details of baobab oil!
Baobab oil is good for increasing moisture in the hair and skin, as well as providing additional vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B, calcium, iron, and potassium.
It may also provide medicinal benefits such as antibacterial and anti-fungal properties – but we’ll leave the details up to the medical professionals!
Another carrier oil that is high in essential vitamins is Abyssinian oil – here’s a guide to Abyssinian oil if its not one you’ve heard of!
Baobab oil has a mild nutty scent, with some thinking it smells slightly floral.
It’s worth bearing in mind that if it’s been added to essential oils or other products, the aroma may change.
For some tips on essential oils, checkout these recommendations for essential oils to use daily!
Baobab oil is different from jojoba oil, as they are derived from different plants. Also they offer different benefits, with jojoba being more moisturizing while baobab oil is more of a strengthening oil.
Baobab oil may help with wrinkles in the sense that it helps to prevent collagen breakdown, therefore leaving the skin plumper and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
However, while some products claim to be anti-aging, it’s impossible to prevent/reverse the aging process, but baobab oil should provide a healthy look to the skin and reduce the chance of collagen breakdown.
While baobab oil doesn’t technically contain collagen, it does help to preserve it and in doing so prevent it from breaking down. This can help to keep the skin looking healthy and plump, and help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
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