Marula seed oil – claimed to be the beauty secret of Africa, available here in London

Also dubbed the ‘miracle oil’, this is another addition to my facial oil collection.

It has moisturising and anti-ageing properties, with vitamins C and E, and EFAs making up the nourishing and hydrating profile of this oil. It has a higher Oleic Acid vs Linoleic Acid content (70-78% vs 4-7%) and is, therefore, more suited to drier skins. It is claimed that it is one of the most effective oils for protecting skin from damaging free radicals, which can lead to skin ageing. It is also claimed to improve skin tone, firmness and elasticity, whilst softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Mine is from Kenya, and is a cold-pressed, virgin oil. It costs £14.50 for 50ml, and available from Fushi. There are other suppliers, and African Botanics is where I first heard about this wonder oil, but theirs is blended with fragrance and is a whole lot more expensive. Plus, Fushi source theirs sustainably, and is 100% pure.

I use it at night only, blended with some sweet almond oil, rosehip oil, baobab seed oil and pomegranate seed oil, all balanced so that the oil is non-comedogenic. It’s helping my skin deal with the cold and harsh weather. Having used it for a couple of weeks, I can report that I have had no new breakouts and skin is healing well after my eczema attack a few weeks ago. Skin is also soft and looking supple. I can’t say if fine lines are less prominent but skin does look fresher.

So far, I have a morning oil blend that has replaced my morning moisturiser and a night oil blend that has been beefed up for winter (no night moisturiser used either).

Do you use any facial oils? Which ones do you use?