Caring for normal skin

Having looked at ways of identifying your skin type and the different skin types, we will now be looking at ways to care for your specific skin type starting with normal skin. You are lucky if you have this type of skin as it has a good oil/water balance hence glowing most of the time. This however does not mean that you neglect it as this balance can fluctuate leaving it more dry or oily at times. Over time, neglect will lead to signs of aging and wrinkles. To retain the glow and make it last, you will therefore need to adopt a daily regimen that will work for you which we have simplified for you here.

Cleanse your skin at least once daily with warm water and a gentle foaming facial wash/cleanser or mild soap. This will remove dirt and excess oil so they don't block the pores. Cool your skin with a gentle refreshing toner. Toning brings back your skin’s pH/acidity level to normal. Finish off with a light weight moisturizer. Your skin produces just the right amount of moisture so the goal is to simply maintain the moisture balance. Massage it in with your finger tips in light upward strokes. Always wear a sunscreen when going outdoors to protect your skin from sun damage. Most foundations and powders nowadays work as both make-up and sunscreen, look out for this while shopping for one. Exfoliate your skin two to three times per week with a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells and refine the skin’s surface.  

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What is Marula oil?

Marula oil is extracted from the kernels of marula tree fruit which grows widely across Southern Africa. Marula oil has been used for centuries by the women of the Tsonga in South Africa and Mozambique to moisturize their skin, cooking and as a meat preservative and to treat leather.

The marula oil production process is mechanical. The kernels are separated from the fruit and the nuts cracked and crushed by hand using hard rocks. The crushed nuts are then cold pressed and the oil filtered without use of any solvent making the process 100% organic. The extracted oil is light yellow in colour, clear and has a nutty aroma.

Marula oil is known to be rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids namely palmitic, linoleic, alpha-linoleic, stearic and oleic acids. These qualities are essential in maintenance of healthy and glowing skin as well as making the oil extremely stable to oxidation and it beats most known natural oils hence combined with its high nutrition value, it is used as a carrier oil in cosmetic formulas for aromatherapy purposes, soaps, massage oils and skin care formulas.

Marula oil is known to soften and revitalize the skin due to high concentrates of oleic acid. It is hence used as an ingredient for dry skin care products to hydrate the skin and reduce redness or irritation. It absorbs quickly and is non greasy hence can be used on any skin type. It has a high concentration of palmitic acid which forms a protective coating on the skin's surface hence helping heal skin tissue and minimizes transepidermal water loss. 

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