When you hear something described as ‘green gold’ you know it’s going to be special.
Tamanu oil has been making waves in the natural skin care community for a while now.
And with good reason:
Its powerful moisturizing, skin regenerating, and protective properties have made it a precious commodity in its native Polynesia for thousands of years.
It’s also helpful for skin conditions and shows remarkable powers of healing.
With scientific research starting to support its many benefits, it’s become one of the most valuable oils for cosmetic use.
We’ve undertaken a search to find the very best tamanu oil brands.
In this article, we’ll show you exactly what you need to look for and then we review our favorite selections.
Our top tamanu oil picks at a glance:
- Our Favorite Choice: Pur360 Tamanu Oil
- We Also Really Like: RejuveNaturals Organic Virgin Tamanu Oil
- Economical Choice: Rise & Shine Cold Pressed Tamanu Oil
*All links lead to Amazon
You can see our full selection of brands below
Buying Guide: Choosing The Best Tamanu Oil
There are many things to consider when you’re looking to buy the best tamanu oil for face care. This is the criteria we use to find the top products:
Is It Organic?
If you’re anything like me, then your idea of the best also includes the healthiest.So it’s important to choose organic oil. The issue?
Unfortunately, oils that aren’t organic sometimes use chemicals in the production and extraction process. And traces of these can remain in the final product.
They are then absorbed by your skin when you use the oil. Which isn’t ideal if you care about your skin’s health.
But even if that doesn’t concern you, there’s another reason to go organic:
Studies have shown that organically grown plants contain higher levels of phytonutrients. And it’s these nutrients that give you the benefits for your skin.
It’s best to choose an oil that’s USDA certified. Any brand can claim that their product is organic. But certification proves that it really meets the required standard.
Is It Cold Pressed?
The best tamanu oil is extracted using a cold-pressed method. Which is usually done with a screw press.You see, other extraction methods can involve the use of heat. Which destroys the beneficial nutrients the oil contains, making it less useful for your skin.
Is It Unrefined?
To get the full benefits of tamanu oil for your skin you should choose an oil that’s unrefined.Why is this important?
Well, some companies refine the oil to remove the scent and natural color. The natural oil is also thicker in consistency and can solidify at cold temperatures.
The refined oil is thinner and remains liquid. Which makes it easier for cosmetic companies to use in their products.
However, the refining process also strips the oil of many of its beneficial phytonutrients. Which makes it lose some of its anti-aging and skin healing powers.
The highest quality oil is all-natural, just as it came straight from the kernels of the tree.
Is It Pure?
The oil that you’re buying should be 100% pure.It’s not uncommon for tamanu to be mixed with other oils, so check the ingredients list before you buy.
Unfortunately, some companies use pure tamanu oil and then dilute it with olive oil or something similar.
So, there are a couple more things to check to make sure that your product is the real deal…
What Is The Color?
Unrefined, pure tamanu oil ranges in color between greenish-yellow to dark green and brown when it’s in the bottle.But it looks golden when applied to your skin.
You should avoid black tamanu. The oil takes on this color when the nuts have been put in a fire to speed up the lengthy curing process.
Usually, the nuts are sun-dried. So this is a clear sign of a low-quality oil.
How Much Does It Cost?
Real, unadulterated, raw tamanu oil is not cheap.It takes a long time and a large number of nuts to produce just a small amount.
In fact, the nut harvest from one tree only produces about 2.5 kg of oil. And there are only two harvests a year.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of low-quality tamanu oil available on the market.
Don’t be taken in by companies that claim they are selling pure tamanu oil at a low cost. It’s unlikely to be very good.
The Top Tamanu Oil Brands Reviewed
This is our selection of the best quality tamanu oil brands that are available on the market:
Pur360
This tamanu oil by Pur360 is sourced from the Pacific island of Vanuatu in Polynesia. It has a yellow color with a greenish tinge and comes in a 1 oz amber glass bottle with a pump lid.
It’s cold pressed, unrefined, 100% pure, and USDA certified organic.
This is a light oil that absorbs quickly and easily into the skin, and has a gentle nutty scent.
People report that it’s very good at treating eczema and dry skin. And it’s great for psoriasis when massaged onto your face and scalp.
It leaves skin feeling soft and well nourished, and also helps to clear up skin conditions like acne.
Many people rate it as the best tamanu oil for acne.
Pur360 show complete confidence in the quality of their product. They offer a no questions asked and no returns required refund policy if you are not happy with the bottle you receive.
Leia Naturals
This 100% pure and cold pressed tamanu oil by Leia Naturals comes in a 1 oz bottle with a pump lid for dispensing the oil in small amounts.
It comes from the South Pacific island of Vanuatu and has been ECOCERT and USDA certified organic.
Users report success at reducing acne and acne scars, and lightening dark marks on the skin.
As expected from a high-quality tamanu oil it does an excellent job of healing any wounds. And it leaves the skin feeling well moisturized.
RejuveNaturals
This product from RejuveNaturals comes in a 1 oz dark amber glass bottle with a pump nozzle. It’s a rich dark green oil from Vietnam, with the packaging done in the USA.
It’s ECOCERT and USDA certified. And ticks all the boxes for our quality requirements by being cold-pressed, 100% pure, and unrefined.
The oil has a thick consistency, but when applied to the skin it’s easily absorbed without leaving an oily residue.
Users comment on how effective it is at moisturizing dry and flaky skin. It also improves your complexion and fades areas of hyperpigmentation.
Some people even claim that it helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
US Organic
This tamanu oil by US Organic comes in a 2 oz dark amber glass bottle with a dropper lid. It comes from Vietnam and has a dark green color and a slightly earthy smell.
It’s cold pressed, 100% pure, unrefined, and USDA certified organic.
This oil is amazing at healing cuts and scratches and works effectively as a moisturizer. Users also report success at using it to treat a range of skin conditions including acne breakouts.
This is another high-quality tamanu oil that works well on its own or when used as a carrier oil for homemade skin care preparations.
It’s good value for a certified oil, as it comes in a larger bottle than the other certified selections.
But, some people have had problems with the dropper lid.
Our Top Budget Choice
The products listed above are the best that we’ve found. But I know what it’s like, the cost of all the beauty products we need to buy can really add up!
So sometimes it’s good to find an economical choice that does the job. But, this does mean compromising on some of our buying criteria above.
Here is our favorite budget tamanu oil:
Rise ‘N Shine
This tamanu oil by Rise ‘N Shine is produced in Madagascar and packaged in the USA in a 4 oz BPA-free plastic bottle.
It’s a cold-pressed and unrefined oil, which is also organic. But, it doesn’t have certification, which is quite costly for companies to get.
This saving passes on to the customer. And it means that you get a large 4 oz bottle in comparison to the smaller bottles of the premium brands above.
The downside is that without certification you’ll have to take their word for it. But, this is a reputable brand with many satisfied customers.
Why You Should Use Tamanu Oil
Tamanu oil has been used for thousands of years for its benefits for the skin:
Anti-aging
One of the wonderful things about Tamanu oil is that it’s packed full of antioxidants.
How does this help?
Well, they can neutralize free radicals that cause damage to your skin.
This usually happens after exposure to UV radiation or environmental pollutants. So it’s unavoidable as you go about your life each day.
This damage accumulates over time and shows as wrinkles and lines.
Regular topical use of tamanu oil allows your skin to soak up these antioxidants. Helping to prevent the appearance of the visible signs of aging.
It also absorbs UV light and acts as a sun protectant. Increasing its ability to protect your skin from aging (1).
And best of all?
Tamanu can regenerate the skin. It reduces the appearance of existing lines, wrinkles, and blemishes. Making your complexion look more beautiful and youthful.
Moisturizing
It makes a great daily moisturizer for dry skin. It’s quickly absorbed and increases skin hydration leaving it soft and smooth.
Acne
Tamanu oil is well known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (2).
This is particularly useful for people treating acne as it could help to combat two of its key stages.
Firstly, it can kill the acne bacteria that colonize your skin pores.
And secondly, it helps to relieve the painful and angry swelling on your face.
Healing
On the islands of Polynesia, it has a long history of traditional use for healing skin wounds.
Because it promotes the growth of new tissue it’s very good at healing cuts, scratches, burns, abrasions, stings, and insect bites.
Pain Relief
When it’s applied to the skin, tamanu oil has also shown remarkable ability to relieve pain.
Traditionally, it’s used in the treatment of sciatica, rheumatism, shingles, sores, and sore throats.
Final Thoughts
The tamanu tree (Calophyllum Inophyllum) produces nuts that give us one of the most beneficial oils you can use on your skin.
Alongside its ability to moisturize, it also has powerful skin regeneration and anti-aging properties.
It works well to clear up skin conditions like acne and psoriasis, and leaves skin looking youthful.
You can use it on its own, but it also makes a great carrier oil when mixed with essential oils.
Because of its outstanding reputation for quality, our best organic tamanu oil brand is the one by Pur360.
But, a better recommendation for those people on a budget might be the one by Rise ‘N Shine.
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