A-Beauty, a term coined for African Beauty has always been at the core of the Black beauty experience. We grew up on raw shea butter from Ghana, Jamaican castor oil, and Moroccan argan oil to both soothe and nourish our skin and scalp. But with a more refined approach, merging Africas’ rich botanicals with high-performing formulation to produce the products that we now invest in, a new wave of A-Beauty was born. The holistic approach to A-Beauty has been deeply rooted in celebrating the rich biodiversity of the Motherland, African, her healing botanicals and century old rituals. To go even deeper, A-Beauty explores and embraces the richness of African culture in the diaspora to shed light on the long lasting influence of the continents’ ecosystem.
Image Courtesy of Melyon
Whether you’ve been hip to these ingredients or not, here are 5 skin-healing ingredients to keep our melanin-rich skin wrapped in hydration.
1. Baobob Oil
Derived from the magnificent Baobab tree, Baobab oil is a powerhouse that is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A to E. Baobab oil is known for its regenerative abilities as it deeply nourishes and hydrates the skin to reduce the signs of aging skin, leaving the skin refined, ultra-soft, and radiant. We recommend Melyon’s Day Cream (use code skintellect15) and Muri Lelu’s Mauvaise Herbe Indica Oil (award-winning).
2. Watermelon Seed Oil
Rich in Linoleic acid, Watermelon Seed Oil is a light, non-greasy oil that helps to lock in skins’ moisture, reduce the overproduction of sebum (oiliness) and keep the skin nourished throughout the day. Since it is easily absorbed and is packed with anti-inflammatory properties, Watermelon Seed Oil is an excellent ingredient for face oils for oily and acne-prone skin. When found in hair care products, it helps to promote hair growth and reduce breakage. We recommend epi.logic’s Even Balance and Muri Lelu’s Bloomrise Serum.
3. Teff Grass Peptide
Native to the Horn of Africa, specifically Ethiopia and Eritrea, Teff Grass, a newer and more unique ingredient to skincare, is a grass largely grown in crops. In the world of Cosmetic Science, it is popularized as Hydrolyzed Eragrostis Tef Seed Extract and hailed as a fast growing natural, multi-functional peptide that helps to invigorate the skin by stimulating the growth factor of the skins’ collagen and hyaluronic acid for bouncy, youthful skin. We recommend Muri Lelu's Grass Nuit Rebirth Retinoid.
4. Shea Butter
Packed with high components of phytochemical to fight off free radicals and generate antioxidants, Shea Butter is a plant-based fat that delivers an intense boost of moisture to the skin to alleviate dryness and dermatitis, making it the perfect ingredient for dry, flared-up skin. Grown along the “shea belt”, it’s typically sourced from Ghana where it is unrefined and traditionally handcrafted, producing the highest quality and nutrient rich raw shea butter that can be found in some of my favorite body and scalp care products. We recommend Hanahana Beauty and LivSo.
5. Rosehip Oil
Obtained from both the whole fruit and seed, Rosehip is harvested in Chile with roots tracing to Africa and Asia. It’s an incredibly dynamic ingredient that is multi-functional, targeting a range of skin issues from dryness to hyperpigmentation to renew the skin. The wealth of fatty acids in Rosehip oil helps to keep cell walls strong to not lose water (also known as transepidermal water loss) and lock in moisture. We recommend epi.logic’s Clean Reveal, Namesake’s Daily Moisturizer , CEISE Brillian Glow Facial Oil, and epi.logic’s True Calm.