Moringa Vegetable Oil: Are there dangers to be aware of?

The moringa vegetable oil is extracted from the resinous tree of the same name, sometimes referred to as the "tree of life" or "miracle tree". Generally obtained by cold pressing, its richness in unsaturated fatty acids makes it beneficial for the body, but also for the skin and hair. Moringa oil is indeed nourishing, antioxidant, soothing and softening. Ideal for dry skin, it can particularly be used to prevent photoaging or alleviate certain redness and itching. Moreover, several studies have shown that the moringa oil accelerates the skin healing process, suggesting that it could potentially reduce the visibility of purple stretch marks.

As of today, there are no known contraindications for the topical use of moringa oil, whether pure or diluted in another vegetable oil.

Extremely gentle, moringa oil is suitable for sensitive skin and can be used by both pregnant women and young children. A recent study focused on the safety of a cosmetic cream formulated with 3% moringa oil. Patch tests were conducted with 11 volunteers over a 48-hour period. At the end of this time, no signs of irritation were observed in the participants, whether in the form of erythema or oedema. The researchers thus concluded that the cream based on moringa oil has no irritating potential.

However, it is important to note that moringa oil is slightly comedogenic. Therefore, its use as a pure ingredient may not be suitable for individuals with oily and/or acne-prone skin. It is instead recommended for these individuals to opt for plant oils with a zero comedogenicity index, such as argan oil, hazelnut oil, baobab oil, or even sunflower oil.

Important : Even though moringa oil is also a culinary vegetable oil, we are only discussing the precautions related to its topical application here.