It seems that every few months a ‘magic’ new skincare ingredient comes to the forefront of the beauty industry, promising significant changes in your complexion from anti-aging to curing dry skin. Many of these ingredients end up being debunked for a lack of effectiveness, leaving you better off sticking to the basic retinol and SPF combination, but there are some ingredients which do reveal themselves to be productive additions to your routine for a variety of functions.
Most recently, tamanu oil has gained traction as a useful oil to help hydrate and heal your skin, so we spoke with NYC dermatologist Dr. Hadley King to find out once and for all if it’s worth making a slot in your beauty routine for this new ingredient.
Derived from the tamanu nut tree, tamanu oil is taken from the seed and has been used over the years within other cultures to heal wounds and strengthen the skin. Your complexion can sustain significant damage throughout your life from the sun, acne scarring, and other outside sources, and studies have shown that tamanu oil may be useful in soothing these wounds while providing regeneration to the skin.
“It's been shown to promote cell proliferation and the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans,” explains King. “It's also rich in antioxidants, and it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties.” Tamanu oil has also proven to be rich in fatty acids which can contribute to a well-hydrated complexion as well.
So whose skin can benefit from the use of tamanu oil? According to King, those with inflammation and redness issues may experience the most significant results after using tamanu oil for an extended period of time due to the regeneration it can promote within the skin. “Because of its wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, it may be helpful for treating inflammatory acne,” she explains. “It could also be helpful for inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema, but more data is needed.”
However, the benefits don’t stop there. While tamanu oil is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids for hydrating and supporting skin health, its ability to boost collagen in the skin means that it can also have some impact on fine lines and wrinkles as well.
“Because [tamanu oil] can promote the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, it may be helpful for anti-aging,” notes King. “Its antioxidant properties also help to protect the skin from damage from free radicals.” Free radicals can wreak havoc on the surface of the skin, so using products that can support and build up your skin’s barrier will be useful in the long term for keeping signs of aging at bay.
The great thing about using an oil on your skin is that as it is not an acid or particularly harsh ingredient, it can be used as many times as you feel necessary throughout the day. However, King says that twice daily should be more than sufficient to see changes in your skin.
Combining tamanu oil with a moisturizer throughout the winter can also help this ingredient work overtime, so if you’re prone to dry, flaky patches it may be a worthwhile addition to your morning and evening routine. If you do have a nut allergy, however, it’s important to first check with your doctor to make sure tamanu oil will not provoke an allergic reaction in your skin or put your health at risk, as it is a tree nut oil.
