Benefits of Baobab

One of my favorite things about Hard Night Good Morning skincare is that many of the ingredients are sourced from one of my favorite places in the world: Africa. Through my many travels to Africa, and from the brief period in time I was actually able to live in Kenya, I have had the opportunity to learn about the ingredients the natives use, especially those used by the Himba tribe, which you can read more about here.

One ingredient in particular from Africa that I swear by, is the extract and oil of the baobab tree. Referred to as the “Tree of Life” in Africa, it is the only known fruit in the entire world that dries naturally on the branch which it grows. Baobab’s prickly, green coat transforms into a smooth, brown shell, much like a coconut shell, after several months of baking in the sun. Found in Hard Night Good Morning’s Eye Cream and Facial Cocktail Serum, the oil from the baobab tree provides many benefits for our skin.

The baobab tree’s oil is packed with so many nutrients that benefit the skin, such as Vitamins A, C, D, and E, plus Omega 3 and other essential fatty acids. Baobab oil contains six times the amount of Vitamin C as an orange! Vitamin C is one of the most important things we can put into our bodies and on our skin, especially those of us who are not getting enough sleep! Since humans can’t make their own Vitamin C like some animals can, it is important that we get it elsewhere.

In addition to what Vitamin C can do for our overall health and skin health, it is a little-known fact that this vitamin is crucial to the absorption of iron, when taken in powder form. Women especially need to supplement our iron, as many of us lose a lot during our menstrual cycles. This vitamin contributes to normal energy release, immune function (super important with cold season approaching quickly!) and of course, what we all are looking for, healthy, glowing skin!

Using products with baobab oil will not only keep your skin cells functioning at their prime, but will also help rejuvenate damaged cells and promote that much-desired healthy glow, though in this lingering heat, I feel like I am glowing (maybe just sweating?) all the time!

In addition to keeping your skin looking healthy, baobab oil is also great for keeping those dark, under-eye circles at bay, which can make us look older than we actually are! This is especially helpful for those who are just a smidge over 25 and don’t bounce back from those all-nighters like they used to. When fine lines and wrinkles start to appear, baobab oil helps fight those signs of aging, too, leaving you looking well rested and fabulous.

Baobab oil is full of antioxidants. If you have read any skincare blog ever, then you know the importance of antioxidants for the skin. They help us ward off damaging free radicals and pollution, as well as protect our skin from looking dull and dry. As a moisturizing oil, baobab will not leave your skin feeling greasy like a lot of oil-based moisturizers do. Baobab oil contains high levels of antioxidants, in fact, The Journal of Nutrition says Baobab has the highest antioxidant content of any fruit, making it an essential part of your skin care routine!

Along with the benefits for skin care and a healthy immune system, when taken in powder form, Baobab is also essential to healthy blood sugar levels. The soluble fiber helps slow the release of sugar into the bloodstream. It can also control the blood glucose levels, and actually reduce the amount of visceral fat, which is the fat we store around our organs in the abdominal area. I don’t know about you, but that is good enough reason for me!

One of the most notable things about Baobab’s benefits is that, because it is a natural source of these nutrients, it is more bioavailable than picking up a bottle of each individual ingredient at the grocery store. That simply means that our bodies have a much easier time taking in the nutrient naturally vs. synthetically (it’s more available to us) which will, in turn, give our bodies greater acceptance of the benefits of them! (It's important to note that Baobab oil is not to be ingested. However, Baobab fruit powder is available for purchase at some retailers.)

Whatever nutrient you are lacking for your overall skin health, Baobab probably has it! As always, our products are inspired by nature, and proven by science. Baobab is one of the most effective nutrients out there. Try one of our Baobab inspired skin care products today and start to see the difference this ingredient can make in your skin.