What Marula Oil Can Do for Your Skin and Hair

Forget your preconceived notions about keeping face oils out of your beauty regimen. Some of our favorite skin and hair care products on the market today enlist the help of natural oils—from coconut oil to rosehip seed oil to argan oil. We love the way they add moisture and improve texture, absorbing instantly to leave our skin soft and our hair shiny and bouncy.

One oil that’s been getting a lot of buzz over the past two years is marula oil. Harvested in Southern Africa from the nut inside the marula fruit, this oil is a nutrient powerhouse, with high levels of important antioxidants (vitamins C and E and flavonoids) as well as essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-9). Together these nutrients help your skin resist environmental damage and transepidermal water loss, both of which result in premature aging in skin and hair.

But perhaps the best thing about this oil is its fine molecular structure and remarkable likeness to our skin’s natural oils, which makes it easier for our skin and hair to soak up its nutrients. And if you’re prone to acne, it also helps that this oil has antimicrobial benefits and is noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores.

Ready to try this oil? Check out the products that count marula as their main ingredient:

1. African Botanics Pure Marula Oil (1 fl. oz.)

African Botanics Pure Marula Oil (1 fl. oz.)

6 reviews

$100.00

COMING SOON

African Botanics’ marula oil comes from wild-growing trees and is hand-harvested from the most pristine and remote rural communities in South Africa. It is unrefined, certified organic and fair trade and is obtained by a single cold-press process using the most advanced green technology to capture all the nutrients.

2. EPARA Balancing Face Oil 1.06 fl. oz.

EPARA Balancing Face Oil 1.06 fl. oz.

$147.00

COMING SOON

This face oil contains virgin marula oil and its high-concentration formula rapidly delivers a powerful mixture of vitamins, essential fatty acids, flavanols and antioxidants throughout the epidermal layers, promoting healthy, radiant skin.

4. REVERIE EVER Recovery Hair Oil (1.69 fl. oz.)

REVERIE EVER Recovery Hair Oil (1.69 fl. oz.)

8 reviews

$38.00

COMING SOON

Packed with marula oil—along with other nourishing natural oils—this oil hydrates your hair and minimizes frizz for a naturally soft and bouncy texture.

5. Lancer Skincare Intensive Night Treatment with Hylaplex and Marula Oil (1.7 fl. oz.)

Lancer Skincare Intensive Night Treatment with Hylaplex and Marula Oil (1.7 fl. oz.)

Lancer Gift

2 reviews

$155.00

QUICK BUY

Rich in texture and deeply moisturizing, this anti-aging night cream visibly smooths away fine lines and wrinkles. Marula oil nourishes the skin with high levels of essential fatty acids, imparting a younger-looking appearance.