Kukui nut oil is an oil that is extracted from the nuts of the kukui tree, which is also known as the candlenut tree. Native to the state of Hawaii, the kukui nut tree is used extensively in face and body products because of its hydrating and beneficial qualities.
Hawaiians hold the tree and the oil derived from its nut in great esteem for its rejuvenating and regenerative properties. When consumed, kukui nut oil has anti-microbial benefits. It can be used for oral care to treat toothache, mouth sores, tonsillitis, and bad breath. In folk medicine, kukui nut oil is used to treat constipation, irregular bowel movement, food poisoning, and dysentery. Let’s take a look at the skin and hair benefits of kukui nut oil.
Skin Benefits of Kukui Nut Oil
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Helps heal wounds- Kukui nut oil has anti-inflammatory properties that help ease the swelling caused by wounds and even act as a barrier on the skin to reduce the risk of infection, thus, speeding the process of healing.
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Repairs dry skin- Kukui nut oil is rich in saturated fatty acids which are known to repair the top layer of the skin as it moisturizes it thoroughly and form a barrier between the skin and pollutant. It helps the skin retain its moisture.
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Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles- Kukui nut is a rich source of antioxidants, which helps slow down the oxidative process and removes free radicals from the body. Antioxidants also boost the production of collagen in the skin and promote the removal of old dead cells from the body. Therefore, it has a smoothening effect on fine lines and wrinkles.
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Helps reduce pain- Messaging kukui nut oil helps reduce joint pain and muscle ache because of its anti-inflammatory and pain-inhibiting qualities.
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Prevents stretch marks- Pregnant women are recommended to apply kukui nut oil during their pregnancy in order to avoid stretch marks.
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Burn relief- Kukui nut oil is an effective remedy for burn relief. However, in case of severe burns, ask your doctors what you can apply to your skin for pain relief.
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Doesn’t cause pimples- Usually, when oils are applied to the skin regularly they can clog our pores, and this results in pimples. However, kukui nut oil is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and easily absorbed into the skin. Therefore, it neither clogs pores nor causes breakouts.
Hair Benefits of Kukui Nut Oil
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Improves scalp health- Kukui nut oil treats itchy scalp and even gets rid of dandruff. Kukui nut oil works alongside the sebum produced by our scalp to prevent scalp flakiness and improve scalp health. It also provides several essential nutrients to the scalp.
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Deeply nourishes and moisturizes hair- Kukui nut oil deeply nourishes and moisturizes the hair when used as a hair sealant. It is rich in amino acids and fatty acids that help hair become shiny and maintain its long-term length.
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Softens, smoothens, and detangles hair- Kukui nut oil softens the edges of the hair, smoothens the texture of hair, and prevents hair from tangling in order to avoid split ends.
How to use kukui nut oil?
While there are skin care products that have kukui nut oil as the main ingredient, kukui nut oil can also be applied directly to the skin. Kukui nut oil can be mixed with other hydrating, repairing, and nourishing ingredients to make face masks and hair masks.
