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Obtained from the kernels of the marula tree (native to southern Africa), marula oil is pleasant-smelling, and loaded with proteins – which make it useful in a number of skin and hair treatments. It contains antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C; essential fatty acids including stearic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid, and amino acids such as L-arginine and glutamic acid.
Marula oil is excellent at restoring life to dry, aging skin. The amino acids work to make your skin more hydrated and fresh, fatty acids make your skin softer and act as a natural moisturizer, and antioxidants protect your skin from UV and pollution damage.
Some people who are allergic to nuts are also allergic to marula oil, so test a small patch of skin first. Secondly, marula oil is comedogenic, meaning it can clog your pores. It contains a high level of oleic acid, which is a layer that can clog pores and make oily skin worse. So if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should reconsider using marula oil.
Pores are itsy-bitsy openings in the skin—and there are millions covering every millimeter of skin. There are two types of pores with different functions: sweat pores and oil pores. The sweat pore allows moisture, produced by sweat glands, to exude out to the surface of the skin, where it helps to cool the body in response to heat, exertion or fever. Sweat pores are so tiny, they are mostly invisible to the human eye.
The oil pore, on the other hand, is a bit larger. Oil pores are also known as hair follicles because these pores produce oil from the sebaceous glands, but they are also the openings from which hair emerges. The oils help to keep our skin and hair healthy. It is the oil pores that can get clogged with sweat, debris and other gunk, causing acne, blackheads and whiteheads. Sweat pores rarely get clogged, as they are so tiny.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for keeping pores unclogged as well.
marula oil may be effective for clogged pores, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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