Kalahari melon oil (orcitrullus lanatusseed oil for those in the know) is a nourishing and hydrating oil, concentrated for skin cell recovery and moisture balance. It boosts the health of your skin barrier by providing it with the nutrients it needs for growth and repair at the cellular level. These incredible benefits are owing to the uniquely potent combination of two crucial components: linoleic acid and vitamin E, which synergistically repair and protect your skin barrier.
Linoleic acid, also known as vitamin F, is an omega-6 essential fatty acid (EFA), which means that it is essential for the proper and healthy function of your skin cells. Despite this your body cannot produce it and therefore it needs to be supplemented through your diet or topically via skin care.
After harvesting and splitting open the melons, each melon seed is collected, dried and cold pressed to produce a 100% natural plant oil, which should not be confused for an essential oil. Organic Kalahari melon seed oil smell is neutral, owing to the oil being fragrance-free, whereas essential oils are highly fragrant and, ironically, not essential. In fact, the safety data sheet (a report containing information on the safety of a chemical) corresponding to most essential oils states that they pose a high risk of skin irritation.
In the past Kalahari melon oil has been suggested for use as a carrier oil (an oil that can carry essential oils into your skin), however this use is not recommended, due to the oil having so many more extraordinary benefits to offer.
The 5 Benefits of Kalahari Melon Seed Oil
1. Rich in Essential Fatty Acids
The unique fatty acid profile of Kalahari melon oil shows that it is rich in essential fatty acids, which are essential to your skin. The oil harbors twice the amount of essential fatty acids compared with argan oil and baobab oil, meaning that it has greater antioxidant properties. More specifically, Kalahari melon seed oil comprises an astounding 70% linoleic acid content, higher than most other African oils. Once applied to your skin the linoleic acid integrates within your skin cell wall structure, where it functions as an essential building block for the production of ceramides; crucial components of your epidermal barrier.
2. Highest Vitamin E Levels
Kalahari melon oil is naturally rich in vitamin E*, containing a higher content than any other cosmetic oil. It contains five times more vitamin E compared with argan oil and approximately 10 times more compared with marula oil. This means that the oil possesses extremely powerful antioxidant properties and is superior in preventing the signs of premature skin aging, such as wrinkles and the appearance of fine lines. Vitamin E nourishes and hydrates your skin, while also behaving as a natural preservative, stabilizing the other components within the oil. The extraordinary high vitamin E levels in Kalahari melon oil naturally stabilizes the components for longer than other African oils, ensuring prolonged and long-lasting activity on your skin.
3. It’s Lightweight & Fast Absorbing
The exceptionally high levels of linoleic acid in Kalahari melon oil creates a very dry oil that absorbs quickly into your skin without leaving behind a greasy or sticky residue. The lightweight and fast-absorbing texture benefits all skin types, including those with oily skin.
Being a dry facial oil means that it is versatile for use in both your morning and night-time routine. In the AM the oil can be used as a primer before applying your SPF, whereas in the PM you can use it in the final step of your routine, locking in moisture and allowing the linoleic acid to go to work on your skin cells, without leaving a greasy residue on your pillow while you sleep.
4. Controls Sebum Production
Your sebum (oil) is made up of lipids (fats), including linoleic and oleic fatty acids. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, your sebum is likely to be deficient in linoleic acid, yet rich in oleic acid, resulting in a thick and greasy consistency – which causes acne. The rich linoleic acid content of Kalahari melon seed oil restores this imbalance, replenishing your sebum’s natural linoleic acid levels. This helps to reduce and control sebum production and clogged pores, benefiting oily and acne-prone skin types. Additionally, these incredible properties make the oil ideal for use as a natural facial cleansing oil.
Furthermore, the Kalahari melon oil comedogenic rating (a scale to measure the ability for the oil to clog your pores) is 0 – 1. This extremely low score denotes that it will rarely clog your pores, making it more suitable than jojoba and baobab oil, which both achieved a comedogenic rating of 2.
5. Superior Sustainability
The melon is sustainably superior in its requirement for very little water and desire for arid and underutilized land. Tree-based African oils, such as argan, baobab, marula and sweet almond oil, can take up to 20 years to mature before they can begin to produce oil, whereas the Kalahari melon is a plant-based African oil. This means it has no maturation period and can easily cope with the increasing demand of the global cosmetic trade.