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At Nine Naturals, we’re on a mission to make beauty simple, smart and safe for moms and moms-to-be. Integral to that is understanding our ingredients’ science and benefits. Today’s Nine Naturals Ingredient Story, featuring Tamanu Oil, is part of an ongoing series featuring the natural, plant-based ingredients behind our high-performance beauty products.

Extracted from the nut of the Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) tree—deemed sacred by Polynesian natives—tamanu oil helps to heal wounds and promote the generation of new tissue—a process known as cicatrization. Predominantly used to naturally combat skincare issues, including acne, anti-aging and scaring, tamanu oil is also considered a powerful first aid remedy for use on burns, cuts, insect bites, and blisters.

The Science and Extraction of Tamanu Oil

Cold pressed from the sun-dried nut of the yellow-skinned fruit of the Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) tree, which is indigenous to Southeast Asia—but profuse in East Africa, South India, Sri Lanka, and the Melanesian and Polynesian islands—this dark green, fragrant oil is unrefined and rich. Tamanu oil has been researched since the early 1900s for its many skin benefits. It contains many lipids and fatty acids, that are also found in the protective cell membrane and the intercellular matrix that holds layers of skin cells together. The three most abundant fatty acids in tamanu oil have unique, beneficial properties. Linoleic acid is quick-drying and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Oleic acid is rich, locking in extra moisture. Stearic acid helps water and oil mix to prevent all the many fatty acids in Tamanu oil from separating, create a smoother application without the need to shake.

Tamanu Oil's Benefits for Skin and Hair Care

Tamanu oil has a high capacity for absorption, making it an ideal skin and hair conditioner. Cold weather, indoor forced heat, and an ever-growing bump can leave your skin itchy and flaky, so rub pure tamanu oil—or a natural product that features the oil—into your epidermis to calm the irritation. To remedy damaged hair and promote healthy hair growth, apply tamanu oil to your roots before bedtime to allow the fatty-acid laden natural elixir to deeply penetrate each follicle down to the hair bulb, and then simply cleanse in the morning with a gentle shampoo.

Why Nine Naturals Loves Tamanu Seed Oil

Tamanu oil's moisturizing and healing properties make it a star ingredient in our skincare line. Reap its full range of benefits in our luxurious Natural Belly Oil. Its fast-absorbing formula, which also includes coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, and vitamin E, moisturizes and calms irritation without leaving skin feeling greasy.

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The physical changes that your body undergoes during pregnancy—swelling, stretching, and shining (AKA, “pregnancy glow”)—can all be controlled and/or comforted by indulging your skin in plant-based oils. Especially during the fall and winter seasons, when cold weather strikes and these issues are exacerbated, these natural elixirs can also prevent and soothe cracked, wind burned and chapped skin.

Plant-based oils are not only non-toxic and therefore, pregnancy-safe, they are also rich in natural antioxidants and vitamins, making them a powerful, all-natural alternative to chemical-laden drugstore moisturizers and skin treatments. Botanical plant materials are non-greasy and non-comedogenic, making them safe for all skin types, as well as easily absorbed into the dermal layers of the skin. They defend the skin’s lipid barrier from environmental pollution, and act as a humectant to keep the skin moist. You can use botanical oils singularly or combine them with other botanical oils--and even makeup--to maximize skin care health.

Argan and coconut oils, while both tremendously beneficial to skin, are only two of the many plant-based oils that can pack a punch with only a tiny drop. Here are six lesser-known oils that can cleanse, moisturize and reduce skin imperfections:

• Borage Seed Oil: Produced from the Borage blossom, Borage oil contains essential fatty acids, including the highest naturally found concentration of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)—an omega-6 fatty acid—that, when processed by the body, is transformed into a hormone like substance that inhibits inflammation. Used to reduce redness and minimize the appearance of stretch marks, this oil can be found in Nine Naturals Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter.

• Tamanu Seed Oil: Tamanu oil, sourced from Southeast Asia, helps heal wounds and promote the generation of new tissue—a process known as cicatrization. This oil contains three type of lipids—neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids—in addition to calophyllic acid and calophyllife, as well as four fatty acids. All of tamanu oil’s components render it a superior non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, which is why it is a featured ingredient in Nine Naturals' Natural Belly Oil.

• Mango Butter Seed Oil: Cold-pressed mango butter seed oil—a great source of essential fatty acids, including linoleic and oleic acids—contains tannins that give the oil anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Commonly used as a base ingredient in body care products, mango butter seed oil can soothe dry, chapped skin, as well as help combat eczema and dermatitis. Find it in both Nine Naturals Simply Natural Lip Balm and Repairing Body Balm.

• Evening Primrose Oil: An essential ingredient in Nine Naturals Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter, evening primrose oil contains Vitamin E, GLA—one of the body’s essential fatty acids—and phenylalanine—a compound that can aid in pain relief.

• Avocado Oil: Extracted from the flesh of the avocado fruit, the super emollient avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, lecithin, and potassium. The deeply penetrating oil, which is an ingredient in Nine Naturals Citrus + Geranium Soothing Body Wash, has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and cellular regenerative properties, making it ideal for relieving dry skin and nourishing aging skin.

• Jojoba Seed Oil: Native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, this fatty-acid rich liquid wax, which is an ingredient in Nine Naturals’ Natural Belly Oil, is most similar in molecular structure to sebum—the oil that your skin’s sebaceous glands produce—therefore, with continued use it will balance out your own oil production.

Experiment with a variety of plant-based oils to discover which one (or two, or three) is best for addressing your specific skin and body care needs.

During pregnancy, your skin stretches -- and stretches -- to accommodate your growing bundle of joy. And just as you take extra care to nourish yourself and your baby from the inside out with healthy foods and lots of water, it’s important to nourish your skin from the outside in, as well. After all, as your body’s largest organ (and its primary barrier against outside pathogens), your skin has a big job to do while you, you know, grow a whole new person. Following the perfect skin care routine will reward you with hydrated, healthy skin that stretches more willingly, and forgivingly -- fewer stretch marks! Holla! -- throughout your nine-month sprint to mamahood.

Go Natural

First and foremost, you’ll want to prioritize using all natural, toxin-free products during your pregnancy; your skin is highly absorbent, and ingredients found in many personal care products, like sulfates, parabens, pthalates and synthetic fragrances -- yuck! -- can be harmful to your health (not to mention that of your baby). Nine Naturals products are plant-derived and never contain any hidden nasties.

A Two-Step Process: Hydrate and Heal

So what does perfect pregnancy skin care involve? Hydration and healing. Besides keeping your water bottle handy at all times, you’ll want to hydrate your skin twice daily with all-natural moisturizers that will help repair stretched skin -- giving extra love to those parts of you that are (or are about to) be put to the stretch test, usually the belly, hips, breasts and thighs. Body oils deliver the oils your skin needs to stay healthy more directly than water-based creams do; they also seal moisture into delicate skin. Our Natural Belly Oil is luxurious and deeply healing; tamanu oil, which is rich in fatty acids and revered as a safe, natural remedy for a host of skin conditions, including dry skin, stretch marks and scars, heals stressed skin while hydrating jojoba seed and coconut oils replenish much-needed moisture. Massaged generously into wet skin immediately after bathing, this nutrient-dense belly oil will dry to the touch within seconds, but continue working hard all day to improve your skin’s elasticity and keep your belly looking and feeling fantastic.

Pair Oil with Creams for Maximum Benefit

Nine Naturals’ Regenerative Belly Butter, one of our most popular products, pairs perfectly with our belly oil as the other half of your healing pregnancy skin care routine. It battles stretch-marks and discomfort with moisture-rich, natural and organic ingredients. Cupuaçu butter triple-tasks as a moisturizing, free-radical fighting, and skin-protecting powerhouse, thanks to its naturally high levels of phytosterols, polyphenols and fatty acids. Vitamin E, allantoin and evening primrose oil nourish the skin and help to maintain its natural moisture balance while you sleep.

Love Your Skin, Love Your Pregnancy

Skin care is an integral part of self-care during pregnancy, and the benefits of a gentle belly (or, hey, full body!) massage with Nine Naturals’ Belly Oil and Regenerative Belly Butter twice daily will extend beyond supple skin, helping you to feel grounded, balanced and beautiful as you grow into your new role as a mom. Bonus: continuing with your pregnancy skin care routine post-partum will help your skin bounce healthily back, too. So show your skin some love, and enjoy your pregnancy, mama!