What is "Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil" and what is its utility?

Botanically named Euterpe oleracea, the Brazilian açaí is a palm tree native to South America, producing fruits (berries) with numerous benefits. It grows wild in the swampy areas of tropical forests in several countries such as Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador.

The acai berry is typically referred to as a "super fruit" due to its high concentration of nutrients and vitamins. The ancestral populations of South America used this berry to treat various ailments ranging from diabetes to hepatitis, including jaundice and liver and kidney diseases. Acai also helped to soothe muscular and menstrual discomforts.

Today, açaí is widely used in cooking for its nutritional benefits. This berry is also found in certain skin and hair care products, in the form of an extract (I.N.C.I.: Euterpe oleracea fruit extract) or vegetable oil (I.N.C.I.: Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil).

This vegetable oil is obtained byfirst cold pressing of whole berries.It is rich infatty acidsessential such as thelinoleic acid (omega-6), thea cid oleic (omega-9), the palmitic acid and thestearic acid. For reminder, oleic acid is the fatty acid mono-unsaturated long-chain most abundant in our body. Highly nourishing for the skin, it makes it more supple and softer but also more radiant. The plum vegetable oil also contains natural antioxidants, polyphenols (procyanidins, vanillic acid, syringic acid).

In terms of its organoleptic properties, the açaí vegetable oil is afluid oily liquid ranging in colour from yellow to green, with a gentle aroma reminiscent of green olives. It has a dry touch and exhibits alow comedogenicity index, meaning it does not clog pores and quickly penetrates the skin. Even though it is relatively resistant to oxidation, it is best stored in a cool place, away from heat and light in an amber bottle.

Particularly concentrated in polyphenolic compounds, acai oil is an excellent antioxidant treatment to protect the skin from free radicals. As a reminder, these are reactive oxygen species naturally produced by the body. However, when cells are subjected to stress, they produce them in excessive amounts. The sources of stress are numerous, the main ones being exposure to UVA, pollution, smoking, and a diet too rich in fats and/or sugars. Free radicals are particularly unstable molecules due to their single electron. They tend to react with other molecules to form an electron pair, and thus cause damage to cells, DNA, and proteins in the body. This accelerates ageing and wrinkles appear on the skin surface. The polyphenols present in acai oil donate electrons to free radicals, stabilising them and thus preventing them from causing harm. This vegetable oil is therefore a valuable ally in preventing premature skin ageing.

It is important to note that these antioxidant properties are also applicable to hair care. Indeed, the oxidative stress, which is a factor associated with the deterioration of hair fibres, the onset of grey hair, or even hair loss, the acai vegetable oil helps to combat these phenomena and thus preserves the beauty of the hair. It revives the shine of the hair and helps to protect it from damage (heat, colouring, UV, pollution, salt water, etc).

Furthermore, rich in omega-6 and omega-9, the açaí vegetable oil provides nourishment and elasticity to the skin, and prevents dehydration by strengthening the barrier function of the epidermis. The hydrolipidic film improves the resistance of the horny layer against external aggressions and limits insensible water loss. The açaí vegetable oil is therefore recommended for taking care of dry and dehydrated skin.

Our dry hair oil contains four plant oils including theaçaí oil, thehibiscus oil, thepracaxi oil and thecastor oil. This treatment repairs, strengthens, nourishes and protects the hair fibre. It is suitable for dry, brittle and coloured hair.