What Does Marula Oil Actually Do?
Jo is a former Adore Beauty staffer and qualified dermal therapist with over decade of experience in the beauty industry.
She co-hosted our award-winning podcast Beauty IQ Uncensored for 4 years, interviewing names like Caroline Hirons, Katie Jane Hughes and Chris Appleton to name a few.
Marula oil is a lightweight, antioxidant-rich oil that boosts hydration, helps repair the skin barrier and smooths frizz in hair, making it a versatile pick for dry, normal and combination skin. Read on for marula's main benefits, how it works on skin and hair, and popular retail picks like The Ordinary 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil.
Top Insights From This Guide
- Restore hydration and repair the skin barrier with a fast-absorbing emollient oil
- Select 100% cold-pressed marula for antioxidant support from vitamins C and E
- Apply a few drops to hair ends to smooth frizz and prevent moisture loss
- Prefer marula if you have dry, normal or combination skin as it absorbs quickly
Apart from sunscreen, I'd say facial oils are the skincare product people are most scared of. For some reason, they're associated with not being suitable for acne-prone skin (or even more incorrectly, responsible for causing breakouts), and tend to get a bad rap in general.
That's usually until you try a good one that's suitable for your skin type. Once you're hooked on a facial oil, you won't turn back, I can assure you. Depending on the type of oil, they're usually packed with omega-rich oils, vitamins and antioxidants to support healthy skin function and protect your skin's delicate barrier.
And there is a hero amongst the many, and she's suitable for almost all skin types - it's marula oil.
What Does Marula Oil Do?
Hailed as one of the most versatile and skin-friendly oils you can get, marula oil is a lightweight, antioxidant-rich oil derived from the nuts and kernels of African-native marula trees. Unlike some other oils, its texture is surprisingly not that...oily?
- It has a fast-absorbing emollient texture which effectively moisturises the skin
- Marula oil is packed with fatty acids, antioxidants, amino acids & vitamins C and E
- Restores hydration levels & helps to protects the skin from age-accelerating free radical damage
- It can be used to hydrate both the skin & hair (and helps to prevent moisture loss)
- The skin-mimicking properties of the oil help to protect & repair the skin's barrier
- Works well for smoothing down frizz & fly-aways
- It's most suited to dry, normal & combination skin types
Which Marula Oil Product Is Right For Me?
Thanks to its boast-worthy benefits, marula oil can be found in a lot of beauty products, so I've pulled together some of our best-selling marula oil products.
This 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil is an antioxidant-rich oil mostly composed of oleic acid and linoleic acid but also contains procyanidin, catechins and flavanoids. It's highly nourishing and protective, while also hydrating. It may also help to restore radiance to the skin.
This natural body scrub works to remove dead skin cells, boost circulation and reinvigorate the skin. It's infused with salt, sugar, and marula oil, and is designed to gently buff skin while replenishing moisture. After just one use, skin will be left feeling soft, smooth and glowing.
