Baobab-Packed Beauty Products

Baobab oil blends with extra-virgin olive oil in this rich anti-aging moisturizer that is chock-full of vitamins and omegas to bring relief to the most parched complexions. Shea Terra founder Tammie Umbel’s line looks to traditional African skincare remedies for inspiration with ingredient harvesting done in a way that sustains local economies.

This product is available at our shopping site, BeautySage, where we only sell products proven to work!

Dr. Jackson’s Skin Care, $50-$134

Founder Simon Jackson, Ph.D., studied African medicinal plants while completing his pharmacy degree in London, and infuses all but one of the products in his natural skincare line with baobab seed oil. Pricing is prestige, though other ingredients like marula oil, calendula and frankincense are as pure as they come.

Baobab can work wonders for curly hair in need of moisture. Aveda’s styling prep spray softens hair with an organic dose of the extract blended with babassu oil and macadamia nut, while wheat protein and aloe help shape curls and control frizz. We’re fans of the refreshing scent, which is a blend of organic lime, lemon, bergamot, orange and light flower essences.

Dry skin repair is the goal of Decléor’s formula that mixes a rich base of baobab jelly with nourishing cotton lipids and chestnut extract to cocoon skin in balmy hydration. Creamy shea butter and black currant seed oil add antioxidant power. Application is a full sensory experience, with peony, rose, vetiver and vanilla leaving a soft fragrance on skin.

This body cream that hails from New Zealand is like a daily vitamin for your skin. Massage the soothing blend that silkens with baobab lipids, vitamins A and E, and omega-3s into damp skin for best results. Purity and sustainability are at the heart of the brand, with whole ingredients like cocoa butter, olive oil, lemon oil and beeswax rounding out the formula.

This product is available at our shopping site, BeautySage, where we only sell products proven to work!

For hair and scalp in dire need of hydration, try a pre-shampoo oil like this version by Phyto. Simply apply to scalp and comb through hair (which can be dry or damp), and let sit for 15 minutes before hopping in the shower and shampooing out. You can also use it as a leave-in treatment that provides natural sun protection for hair, or as a moisturizing body oil.

(Body Wash, $19, is also pictured)

Hands can take a real beating from the rigors of everyday life. Treat digits to Orico’s baobab-enriched hand wash and lotion that feature all-natural fragrance and organically farmed ingredients like aloe, hibiscus and kigelia africana fruit extract. The Brit product carries a variety of certifications and labels like Ecocert, Cruelty-free and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

A double-tasking salve, this fine oil from L’Occitane can be used on hair or body for hydration and protection provided by baobab and rare desert date palm oil that also originates from Africa. You can expect the brand’s rich shea butter base, though the dry-finish formula is rapidly absorbed without leaving behind the creamy finish found in the line’s body and hand cream products.

Crow’s feet are targeted with the antioxidant power of baobab in this rich eye cream by Artistry that is also formulated with anti-aging peptides. Mediterranean myrtle plant extract moisturizes the delicate skin and encourages production of youth proteins. The brand claims you’ll see a difference in fine lines within two weeks of daily use.

Men can get in on the baobab action with Nuxe’s after-shave balm that uses the tree leaves to soothe and moisturize skin for up to 24 hours after shaving. Sandalwood and oak are included to prevent razor bump irritation, and horse chestnut and licorice jump-start skin’s cellular metabolism for anti-aging benefits.

This product is available at our shopping site, BeautySage, where we only sell products proven to work! 

If your hair is weighed down by today’s popular nut oils, try this weightless rendition by Agave that instead uses light sugars from the agave plant to help hydrate and make hair more resilient. Madagascar baobab seed oil is added for moisture, while coconut, vanilla, sunflower and safflower nourish strands with deliciously scented nutrients.