What is Tamanu Oil? And Why Should You Use It?
The Tamanu nut tree is a tropical evergreen tree that grows in parts of Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.
Tamanu oil is known as the “Oil Of The Gods.”.
For hundreds of years, many cultures have harvested the oil from tamanu nuts, because it of its medicinal and cosmetic functions including being used as a solution for skin problems.
It’s a painstaking yet quite sustainable process, which involves pressing the tamanu nuts (which only contain small amounts of oil in each individual nut) to create a completely natural extract that works wonders on the skin.
Either the oil is sold as an essential oil on its own or included in skincare products to create a natural enhancement.
Most commonly, it’s used in many natural beauty products to produce anti-inflammatory, restorative, healing results.
Let’s go over some of the key purposes that tamanu oil serves, and why it might be a good idea to incorporate the ingredient into your beauty routine.
THE RESTORATIVE PROPERTIES OF TAMANU OIL
There are many studies done that suggest tamanu oil is good for your skin but also achieves landmark effects on your body at large.
Let’s start with its effects on psoriasis and eczema.
While psoriasis is an incurable skin condition characterized by the overproduction of skin cells (mostly causing white flakes and skin flare-ups), and eczema is generally a temporary condition characterized by skin itchiness and rashes, tamanu oil can have a positive, lasting effect on both.
This is because of the anti-inflammatory properties of tamanu oil – when applied to the skin of some people (big emphasis on some people: if your skin negatively reacts to tamanu oil, it’s not the right remedy for you) with skin conditions, it’s been found to soothe the negative symptoms of those conditions.
Some have found that tamanu oil, when applied to rashes caused by these skin conditions, relieves epidermal pain and swelling.
Not only is it good for pacifying the effects of these two conditions – but it’s also a great natural solution for those looking to fade scar tissue and regenerate healthy skin.
When applied to acne scars, its boost for natural collagen and GAG (glycosaminoglycan) production (chemicals that bind skin cells together and promote wound restoration) produces a plump, brightening effect on the skin.
The regenerative compounds in tamanu oil promote skin regeneration when applied to acne scars, and work to both close and heal the scar tissue.
This can also be applied to other scars found on the skin (including scars resulting from surgery and previous injury) – not just acne scars.
The compounds found in tamanu oil are also extremely effective at reducing wrinkles and ageing on the skin.
Its combination of function as a moisturizer, collagen producer, GAG producer, and antioxidant carrier creates the perfect breeding ground for skin restoration and helps the user to attain a youthful glow with strong skin.
THE ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF TAMANU OIL
We’ve just gone over how helpful tamanu oil can be for acne scars.
Now, let’s touch on how helpful it can be for acne.
Tamanu oil has some seriously antibacterial properties to it – enough to warrant a few studies done to evaluate its effectiveness (most of which found promising results).
When used on acne, its combination of healing, regenerative, antioxidant, and antibacterial compounds makes it an immensely helpful acne treatment for those looking to attain clear skin.
Bacteria buildup inside of pores is what leads to those pores becoming inflamed (essentially, this is what acne is).
When tamanu oil is used, it cuts through the bacteria and flushes it out of the pores, all the while promoting skin regeneration and depositing nutrients into the pores – not only does it fight bacteria, it leaves the skin stronger and clearer than it was before the bacteria got there.
It also fights fungal infections, namely athlete’s foot, from spreading and harming your skin.
HEALING WITH TAMANU OIL
Put antibacterial together with anti-inflammatory (and throw some moisturizing properties in the mix), and you have the perfect concoction for a natural healing compound.
Tamanu oil works wonders for healing damaged skin and can be used for sunburn, wounds, and insect bites.
Because it is a natural moisturizer, it also fights dry skin and prevents it from cracking, wrinkling, and flaking.
There are a number of skin issues that the aforementioned properties remedy (that is, healing and hydration solve most problems).
Take, for instance, the impact tamanu oil has on sunburn.
Sunburnt skin, in the technical sense, can be best described as dried and inflamed as a result of its being unprotected and exposed to sunlight for a long period of time.
Essentially, it’s the kind of thing that tamanu oil can knock out with one punch.
When tamanu oil is applied to sunburn, it penetrates the dry layer of skin to distribute hydration, alleviates the pain brought on by the burn, heals and lowers the inflammation in the burn, and regenerates a healthy layer of skin to replace the burn.
When applied to chronically dry skin (either in a skincare routine or an exfoliating scrub), tamanu oil can be used as a toning ingredient to healthily reduce lines and hydrate the skin.
SO, WHY SHOULD YOU USE TAMANU OIL?
Although tamanu oil is not as common as ingredients like coconut oil or shea butter (both of which are also very effective in their own right), it’s one that you’ll want to look for when developing a skincare routine.
It’s been used for many, many years, and is just starting to make headway in the beauty industry (particularly among those searching for natural solutions).
Its antibacterial compounds combined with its innate ability to soothe skin irritation make it the perfect restorative ingredient to include in your beauty cabinet.
Sustainable, natural, and far better for your skin than any artificial chemical (most of which are counter-productive to the skin), tamanu oil produces glowing results that you can feel proud of.
It’s clear that for those with dry skin, acne-prone skin, or easily inflamed skin, this essential ingredient might be the first step to defeating skin damage!
Take a look at our Maui Collection which is based around Tamanu Oil
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Buying Cruelty-Free is Easier Than You Think
Buying Cruelty-Free is Easier Than You Think
by Tiyati Cosmetics May 29, 2020
As the consumer culture of makeup and beauty becomes more nature-based, vegan, and organic, so does the need for cruelty-free products.
With the rise of animal awareness and movements, natural beauty enthusiasts are more and more frequently looking for Leaping Bunny seals and cruelty-free labels.
It’s no secret that animal testing is a cruel and unnecessary practice – it’s already been made illegal by the EU, India, South Korea, New Zealand, and Israel – and the practice is well on its way to becoming illegal in many other countries worldwide.
While animal-tested products are currently being phased out in many countries (whether by developing legislation or creating meaningful cultural shifts), it’s important to encourage this development by voting with our wallets in favour of a Cruelty-Free beauty industry.
Let’s get into why it’s important to shop for Cruelty-Free beauty products (and how the natural beauty movement is helping).
ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY
There are far too many sad statistics citing the huge magnitude of animals tested on every year (100,000-200,000 annually, according to Humane Society International).
Ideally, the beauty industry should produce zero animals tested for its products, and zero animals suffering from an industry that should be centred around health and safety.
In the past, transparency policies for ingredients and ethical practices weren’t really as widespread as they are today. However, this ideology is changing!
Nowadays, especially with the saturation of beauty products out there, we have so many avenues for buying our beauty products – it’s much more feasible to get a cruelty-free product.
Through media exposure and animal activism, we are learning that not only do beauty products not have to be tested on animals to be approved by the FDA, but animal testing is mostly an unnecessary practice with overwhelmingly cruel consequences for animals.
There are now 40 validated effective alternatives to animal testing, and cruelty-free cosmetics companies are using them every day.
Often, when testing toxic chemicals, non-animal tests are much more effective and better at predicting human complications. These tests are also more successful in determining toxicity and don’t require the suffering of an animal.
Our job, as a grandiose entity of people who don’t want animals to suffer for our beauty routine, is to make sure that we support brands who work to implement these harmless testing alternatives.
Consumers and producers in the beauty industry can choose to only accept a future that is cruelty-free by disallowing companies who test on animals to participate in it.
We don’t have to accept companies and norms that call for unnecessary experiments on animals to attain more artificial chemicals that we don’t even need.
And let’s be honest – nobody wants to put on makeup that an animal had to suffer for in order to produce.
Animal cruelty isn’t a good look anymore for the ever-growing transparency and ethics policies emerging in the beauty industry – so much of which began when natural beauty products emerged.
THE DARK TRUTH OF ANIMAL TESTING
Most of the world in 2020 knows about this point, but it’s really worth going over just to clarify the main reason as to why you should buy cruelty-free: animal testing is a horrible, cruel thing to do (especially since it’s not even necessary)!
Dogs, cats, bunnies, rats – all of them are bred to live lives that are lonely, dark, and incredibly painful.
They are kept in tiny cages, and ultimately deformed from experimentation and constant pain. Some are rescued, and most are ultimately killed.
The fact that these practices are allowed to go on behind closed doors and with total financial backing is, to put it mildly, beyond absurd – if most people saw what went on in animal testing laboratories, they would be outraged and saddened.
Of course, there are other points of interest that come with buying cruelty-free products, but it’s important to remember that the only way to end animal testing is to tell companies who test on animals that their archaic practices will not be accepted any longer via purchases and positive reviews.
NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS AND THE ELIMINATION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY COSMETICS
There are so many established, non-toxic ingredients for cosmetics – to create new chemicals (and then try to test those chemicals on animals in order to determine toxicity) is hugely unnecessary and counterproductive.
The fact that cosmetic companies are creating new chemicals every day to include in their products only contributes to massive amounts of overly synthetic beauty products.
Natural beauty solutions and alternatives are, as we have discussed before, making strides within the beauty industry.
All-natural beauty products not only lessen the possibility that a product is toxic (after all, with natural ingredients, there isn’t the same degree of toxicity risk), but they often include cruelty-free policies in their ethical practices.
When you choose natural beauty products with little to no risk for toxicity (and therefore no justifiable need to test on animals), you are inadvertently cutting out parabens and synthetics, and promoting the health of your skin and body.
CONSIDERING VEGAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS
While a product doesn’t necessarily have to be vegan to be cruelty-free, buying vegan beauty products is a great way to make sure your purchases are among the most ethical products available.
Not only do vegan products (almost invariably) not test on animals – they eliminate the need for animal products entirely.
This means that you wind up with a plant-based, completely natural product with no animal interaction during the production process.
THE IMPACT OF TRANSPARENCY
Companies who don’t test on animals tend to say so straight upfront.
When you’re looking for a new product, always make sure to either look for a cruelty-free label or a leaping bunny logo.
Do your research and read labels to make sure that these companies don’t test on animals and are putting ethical business practices first.
As a step up, you can also check the ingredients listings to make sure there aren’t any harmful ingredients (like parabens and synthetics) held in the product.
By combining cruelty-free labels with natural ingredients and product transparency, ethical companies are going the extra mile to ensure that you get a non-toxic product without the need for animal suffering.
Gone are the days of meticulously searching through product after product in the hopes that one may be cruelty-free.
Now, those looking to buy their beauty products are able to selectively vet their products and shop normally through many different brands.
As of 2020, there is no reason left to buy animal-tested products – putting your money into a more natural, ethical alternative saves lives, suffering, and the preservation of your skin (goodbye to harmful chemicals).
Let’s change the world together, one happy animal at a time, and make a real difference in our beauty routines.
Natural Exfoliation: What is It? And Why is It Important?
No discussion about skincare can ever be complete without first touching on exfoliation.
When you exfoliate, you’re helping to unclog your pores, promote natural collagen production (a protein which slows down the physical effects of aging), prevent acne, promote the effectiveness of other skincare products, and aid in the general health and circulation of your body.
Exfoliation can make your skin glow – not to mention keep it sparkly clean. It can be an extremely useful tool in improving the immune system and promoting overall wellness.
If you’re looking to begin piecing together an effective, healthy skincare routine, exfoliating is one of the first things you should be looking into.
In short, exfoliation is the process of removing excess dead skin from your body.
Because your skin is constantly shedding off dead skin cells and requires different care based on different skin types, exfoliation should take place differently for different people.
Exfoliation is most helpful for those who have oily skin – if your skin becomes oily easily, your pores are always going to be more clogged than someone with dry skin.
However, when skin becomes dry and flaky, occasional exfoliation can help remedy the dryness and increase the effectiveness of moisturizers.
Natural Ingredients for Exfoliation
When you choose exfoliants with natural products and nutrients, you’re keeping your skin from being exposed to chemical compounds and nontransparent ingredients.
The ability to read an ingredients list and knowingly understand which ingredients you’re using on your body (along with understanding the essence and purpose of each ingredient) will help you make an informed, comfortable decision.
Let’s kick off by listing four common natural exfoliants:
Salt.
Himalayan salt and sea salt are both incredibly effective ingredients in any exfoliating scrub. When used as an ingredient for exfoliation, salt can have healing, moisturizing, and restorative properties. It’s amazing for exfoliating oily, damaged skin.
Sugar.
A compound within sugar (alpha hydroxy acid, or AHA) promotes cell turnover by breaking down the bonds between skin cells.
Sugar is extremely efficient for treating skin that’s been damaged by age, excessive sunlight, and dryness. AHA is also effective when treating acne-prone skin, but some exfoliating products contain it in doses that are too high.
Coffee.
When used in exfoliating scrubs, coffee grounds can feel a bit coarse on the skin – especially with sensitive skin types.
However, when ground finely, it can aid in scrubbing dead skin cells and increase blood flow via the caffeine. Coffee grounds are effective at toning the skin and hydrating dry, flaky skin.
Additionally, it can treat oily or combination skin.
Honey.
Raw honey is another great exfoliant for dry skin.
Although it can be an allergen for some people, typically it’s a very gentle ingredient for treating sensitive, damaged, and acne-prone skin.
There are many, many other active exfoliating ingredients used in natural exfoliating scrubs (oatmeal, baking soda, and almonds – to name a few). Different ingredients work different ways on various skin types.
Before you try to find exfoliants that will be effective to you (skincare is a very personal, individualized science), it’s important to assess the active ingredients.
Now, these ingredients cannot usually form scrubs on their own (not unless you want to scratch up your skin).
Rubbing straight salt or sugar into your skin is incredibly damaging.
However, when combined with other soothing, nourishing ingredients, these exfoliants can become incredibly effective:
Pomegranate.
This is a great ingredient for those with dry or combination skin. It’s a prevalent source of Vitamin C and soothes sensitive skin that becomes easily flaky.
Pomegranate juice, pomegranate seed oil, and pomegranate extract are all great moisturizing, nourishing agents.
Coconut oil.
This can’t possibly be a surprising addition to this list – there seems to be an infinite number of uses for coconut oil. None, however, are more prevalent than its ability to moisturize.
Coconut oil works wonders for dry, damaged skin.
Jojoba oil or wax.
Jojoba is an antibacterial moisturizer with a twist. It’s a non-sticky substance that removes oil from the skin while simultaneously hydrating it.
Jojoba promotes even skin tone and clean pores and clears off the oil that clogs them. It’s best for oily or combination skin.
Kiwi.
Kiwi isn’t mentioned enough as an effective skincare ingredient.
However, its Vitamin C content, antibacterial properties, and natural astringency (meaning its ability to contract skin cells, thus minimizing the size of pores) earn it a place on this list.
It controls excessive oiliness and soothes the skin, making it great for those with oily pores or skin sensitivity.
Again, there are many other ingredients used in physical and chemical exfoliation that are helpful and effective.
Many choose to make DIY exfoliation masks or scrubs – a task much easier than people may think.
Because so many nourishing, efficient nutrients exist in natural ingredients, it’s easy to vet exfoliation products that contain these easily researchable ingredients.
Natural exfoliation is a process of self-discovery and care (not to mention a hugely refreshing, affirmative experience when you find a product that works perfectly for you).
Try our Exfoliating Body Balms.
Exfoliation for Each Skin Type
Exfoliating with natural ingredients means seeking out a perfectly balanced chemical cocktail that works for your individual skin type.
For dry skin,
Exfoliation should really only take place once or twice every two weeks.
Because you don’t have to work as much on removing oil from the skin, much of the exfoliation process will centre around moisturizing.
To protect your skin from becoming clogged or damaged, don’t over-exfoliate.
For sensitive dry skin
Gently exfoliate your skin once every two weeks, and moisturize often.
Dry skin is already quite vulnerable to micro tearing, so if you have sensitive skin, you have to be ultra-careful.
Your skincare routine, ideally, will be less centred around exfoliation (even though exfoliation is still important) and more centred around repairing and strengthening your skin and providing it with sun protection.
For oily skin
Exfoliate twice to three times per week, depending on how oily your skin is.
When exfoliating, it’s a good idea to get in there with brushes (rather than wipes), and scrub in a circular motion on your skin.
For sensitive oily skin
Exfoliate once or twice per week, depending on how oily your skin is.
Don’t use a brush to exfoliate, simply scrub gently in circular motions until your pores are cleared out.
For combination skin
Exfoliate once per week.
When you have combination skin, you may have to experiment with different types of exfoliating techniques in order to find one that best suits you.
You may have certain areas of your skin that crack and dry up easily, and others that are shiny with oil. Treat each part of your skin as a separate one (for instance, if your cheeks are oily but your forehead is dry, exfoliate each part accordingly).
Transparency with Natural Exfoliation
Exfoliation is one of the main components of any skincare routine. How you exfoliate will play a key role in determining how effective the rest of your skincare products and regiment will be.
It will take a few tries, along with experimentation and research, before you learn what combination is exactly correct for you.
This process is much easier, safer, and healthier when you use natural ingredients.
Learning how to pick and choose which ingredients are right for you can be done much faster when you read an ingredients list and know what each and every ingredient is (hundred-point bonus if you can pronounce them all) and how they impact you.