In 2015, marula oil hit the global beauty market in a big way and there’s been no looking back! This previously little-known oil from Africa quickly rose to first-in-class status, rivaling beauty oils like argan, coconut and jojoba. Marula oil can be found in today’s beauty products, ranging from skin care to nail care to hair care, and remains one of the hottest trending ingredients in the market. And now it’s made the jump to the massage industry — as the newest must-have ingredient to benefit both massage therapists and their clients.

What is Marula Oil?

Considered a seed oil, marula oil has come a long way from its humble origin, the marula tree (scientific name Sclerocarya birrea). This flora has grown in South and West Africa, as well as on the island of Madagascar, for thousands of years and in challenging climatic conditions.

The medium-sized trees are deciduous, meaning they shed leaves annually. Trees sprout soft, white, edible kernels that contain copious amounts of oil and protein. The oil can be clear, pale yellow and brown and it emits a pleasant, nutty aroma. And marula oil is cold pressed, meaning a steel press crushes and presses seeds to extract the oil in a totally pure state — leaving you with nothing but benefits.

What are the Benefits?

A look at the heritage of marula oil helps support its increasing international popularity. According to a review of African seed oils used in cosmetic applications, published in the South African Journal of Botany, South African women use it to massage babies and commercial manufacturers put it in infants’ nose drops.

It is effective against dry and cracking skin in general, and specifically when incorporated into lotions for face, feet and hands. Because of this, marula oil finds its way into soaps, as well as into shampoos for dry hair.¹ Marula oil also contains natural antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and flavonoids, a type of phytonutrient. The oil is rich in free radical scavenging properties,³ meaning it “searches” for free radicals that might inflict cellular damage to cells and tissues.

This southern hemisphere import also contains the amino acids glutamine, arginine and aspartic.⁵ Previous research has suggested that amino acids may play a role in reducing photoaging of skin.⁵

While argan oil dominated the market for a long time, marula oil is steadily becoming a more sought-after option. Compared to argan oil, marula contains a higher concentration of antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin E, making it more effective against inflammation. It also heavily outweighs argan in the amount of oleic acid it contains. Oleic acid is what makes marula oil better at moisturizing and healing sensitive skin.⁶

Oils with a short shelf life obviously aren’t ideal for commercial use. Because marula oil contains abundant monounsaturated fatty acids, just like olive oil, its oxidative stability is very high—but it’s actually 10 times more stable to oxidation than olive oil. Those fatty acids include omega-9 oleic and omega-6 linoleic, both of which help make it an ideal choice for topical application.^1-2

Why Marula Oil Belongs in Massage Therapy

As a professional, it’s nice to know the products you’re using are effective and beneficial to you and your clients. The beauty of using marula oil in your practice is being able to capitalize on its versatility and its light, silky texture — it penetrates skin easily for rapid absorption and it has outstanding “slip factor.” You can choose to use marula oil alone or apply a product that already contains this remarkable natural substance.

What to Look For in a Marula Oil Product

You’ll want a product that contains generous proportions of marula, along with premium oils such as olive, avocado and jojoba oils. Another consideration is to look for a product that won’t irritate your clients with sensitive skin. And you’ll definitely want a complete product that provides superior performance in the treatment room made by a reputable company.

“We know that Massage Therapists are truly interested in using ingredients that not only perform well during treatment, but also provide skin benefits to their clients and themselves. Marula is a rich, vitamin-packed oil that not only imparts the perfect glide, but also helps to moisturize the skin and improve skin condition,” says Franklin Warren, formulation scientist for Performance Health.

“Clinical testing of a new massage cream featuring Marula Oil was shown to significantly increase skin hydration, benefit overall skin health and to be hypoallergenic. The balance of Marula Oil and other highly moisturizing, skin conditioning oils combined with extracts of arnica, ivy and horse chestnut that are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and anti-inflammatory lactones and polyphenols clearly drove these impressive results,” explains Warren.

All oils are not created equally. Judging by glowing reports from professionals and clients alike, Marula oil stands to become one of the industry’s most reliable and requested choices for massage and spa therapeutic use.

References

1. Vermaak I, et al. “ African seed oils of commercial importance - Cosmetic applications.” South African Journal of Botany, October 2011;77(4):920-933.
2. Mariod A, et al. “Sclerocarya birrea (Marula), An African Tree of Nutritional and Medicinal Uses: A Review.” Food Reviews International, October 2012.
3. PhytoTrade. “The uses and properties of marula oil.” PhytoTrade Africa, 2017.
4. AfriNatural. “Marula Seed Oil.” AfriNatural, 2017.
5. Murakami H, et al. “The importance of amino acid composition to improve skin collagen protein synthesis rates in UV-irradiated mice.” Amino Acids, June 2012;42(6):2481-2489.
6. A. ““Marula Oil vs. Argan Oil: Which is Better for Your Skin?” The Best Organic Skin Care, December 2014.