May 18, 2022 Team Vanity Wagon

Ingredient Spotlight: Baobab

Remember The Lion King, the monkey who used to reside in a tree… a huge, ancient significant tree from which the red fruit is plucked? It is Baobab! Now you know, it’s presence dates back to centuries and is considered to be an important species in the world of flora. Baobab is a very amusing plant found majorly in Africa, Australia and South Asia. It is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and is most famously called “The Tree of Life.” The reason why it is called that is because it stores water in its trunk in the monsoon, gets swollen, and then utilizes that same water in extreme dry and arid weather conditions to develop fruits which are densely and extraordinarily rich in nutrients.

If there is a plant which is as multifunctional as it could get, it has to be Baobab. It is indeed the jack of all trades and master of all! All its different parts are valuable and are utilized in different sectors of life — the bark of the baobab tree can be turned into rope and clothing, the seeds can be used to make cosmetic oils, the leaves are edible, the trunks can store water and the fruit is exceptionally rich in nutrients and antioxidants. The women of South Africa swore by its fruits as a natural source of health and beauty for centuries.

Baobab Benefits For Skin

Beauty experts have been asserting baobab as a highly moisturizing agent, and that makes it a perfect ingredient to use for dry and sensitive skin types. According to dermatologists, Baobab is packed with vitamins B, C, and Omega 3s, when used for the face, it can help with dry, aging, and dull skin. Some of the benefits of baobab for you skin are:

Lightens dark spots: Baobab has Vitamin C content which helps relieve the dullness.
Heals dry skin: Due to the presence of antioxidant rich omega and fatty acids, baobab is known for its highly moisturizing properties.
Promotes collagen production: Vitamin C plus oil’s omega fatty acids helps increase collagen.
Maintains a healthy skin barrier: Due to its omega content, it's considered a great ingredient for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Strengthens nails: Baobab contains high amounts of protein and calcium, both of which might aid in healing and maintaining strong, healthy nails.
Is very gentle on the skin: Hence the most suitable to use for sensitive and dry skin types.

Baobab Benefits For Hair

Baobab is basically a hero-ingredient in hair care. Let us see why!

Boosts hair growth: A few studies suggest that omega-3s may aid hair growth. Baobab oil, which is made from pressing baobab seeds and extracting the resulting oil, provides a balance of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids therefore promoting hair growth.
Hydrates and moisturizes hair: If your hair is excessively dry, this is a hero ingredient for you. It is rich in omega fatty acids and hydrating vitamin E, which helps as a natural treatment for your dry hair.
Helps reduce dandruff: It is rich in Vitamin A content and therefore Baobab Oil helps as a scalp exfoliating agent.
Smooths treated hair: It is best to use on colored, treated, highlighted or dry-frizzy hair.
Fights free radicals: Baobab is rich in antioxidants and therefore by suppressing free radicals, antioxidants also reduce levels of inflammation.