For centuries, people throughout Polynesia and Asia have used tamanu oil for their skin and hair. Now, modern studies show that it accelerates the healing of eczema, wounds, and acne.
This natural oil is an excellent moisturizer that leaves the skin radiant and supple. Plus, it’s full of fatty acids and antioxidants and can absorb harmful UV rays to defend the skin and hair.
Those are just some of the reasons why everyone’s shopping for the best tamanu oil brands for skin care and hair care. Here are the best tamanu oil recommendations:
The best tamanu oil brands for skin and hair | Why we love them |
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NOW Solutions Tamanu Oil, Certified Organic |
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Tamanu Oil for Face and Skin by Kate Blanc, USDA-Certified Organic |
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Pure Body Naturals Cold Pressed Tamanu Oil |
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Tamanu Oil by Leven Rose |
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Prime Natural Organic Tamanu Oil |
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PURA D’OR Tamanu Oil |
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US Organic Tamanu Oil |
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SVA Organics Tamanu Oil |
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Contents
Can I use tamanu oil on my hair?
Yes, you can use tamanu oil to condition your hair. Add a couple of drops to your conditioner or use it as a hair mask for deep conditioning. However, tamanu oil is pretty thick and it has a strong odor, which means it’s not ideal as a leave-in conditioner.
Is tamanu oil good for your face?
Yes, tamanu oil is good for your face even if you have an acne-prone complexion. Just a little dab of oil goes a long way. It doesn’t take much because the oil is potent against the bacteria that cause pimples (1). Not only does it help heal blemishes, but it also may fade hyperpigmentation like acne scars. This last claim hasn’t been studied as much, but there’s lots of anecdotal evidence that it works.
Furthermore, tamanu oil is anti-inflammatory which alleviates conditions like eczema and psoriasis and also combats premature aging (2).
Who should not use tamanu oil
If you have nut allergies, check with a doctor before using tamanu oil. At a minimum, do a patch test by placing a tiny amount on bare skin out of sight, like behind a knee. If you have any reaction like redness, itching, swelling, hives, or trouble breathing, cleanse the skin and seek medical attention.
Also, tamanu oil irritates the eyes, so be careful when applying it on the face.
How to choose the best tamanu oil brand
Tamanu oil is pressed from the seeds (nuts) of the Calophyllum tree, a tropical evergreen. The viscous oil is greenish-yellow and has a strong scent similar to celery. It solidifies below room temperature.
As you shop for tamanu oil, check out the color, scent, and texture if you’re able. Cold-pressed, unrefined, organic oil is the closest to nature and probably the most potent. Meanwhile, refined oil is a little thinner in texture and may have a milder scent.
If possible, choose a reputable brand of tamanu oil. For instance, the good brands will explain where they source the oil, how it’s extracted, and where it’s bottled. They should also have certifications regarding organic ingredients and the safety of their manufacturing process.
Best Tamanu Oil Brands for Skin Care and Hair Care in 2024
NOW Solutions Tamanu Oil, Certified Organic
NOW is one of our favorite brands of natural tamanu oil. It’s a family-owned company based in North America. Not only are its products affordably priced, but they also undergo extensive purity and quality testing.
They source the oil from the South Pacific where the tamanu trees grow naturally. Then, it must pass a stringent testing process before it’s packaged in the USA. Also important, their facility meets GMP Quality Assured standards.
In this case, the tamanu oil is certified organic by QAI. It has a distinct greenish-yellow color and it smells like you just walked into the herbal store.
Reviewers say they love the oil because it’s extra hydrating. It sinks deep into the skin and leaves it supple. The best results come if it’s applied just after cleansing while the skin is damp.
Pros:
- Certified organic by QAI
- Cold-pressed from seeds harvested in the South Pacific
- Packaged in the USA
- Brand has a stringent in-house testing process for purity and quality
Cons:
- None
Tamanu Oil for Face and Skin by Kate Blanc
This California-based brand offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee plus a one-year warranty. It makes trying tamanu oil practically risk-free especially since the oil is safe for all skin types.
Why would you use tamanu oil instead of some other natural product? Those who find it most helpful fall into two categories. They want a clearer complexion and/or younger-looking skin. Tamanu oil meets both needs.
One of the key molecules in the oil is Calophyllic acid that penetrates three layers down into the skin. Unlike some plant oils, it doesn’t just sit on the surface. It reaches deep to heal and plump the skin from the inside out.
What’s more, this particular brand of tamanu oil is certified to be virgin, authentic, and hexane-free. It’s 100% pure and undiluted with absolutely no additives. All you get from it are the natural benefits and no nasty surprises.
The oil is packaged in an amber glass bottle to keep it from degrading in sunlight. It also comes with an eyedropper.
Pros:
- Comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and one-year warranty
- USDA-certified organic, virgin, and pure, with no additives
- Bottled in amber glass with an eyedropper
Cons:
- None
Pure Body Naturals Cold Pressed Tamanu Oil
Tamanu oil has intense regenerative properties which is why it helps smooth wrinkles and fade scars. The fact that it’s rich in antioxidants means it’s an excellent defense against damage caused by environmental pollution, too.
This four-ounce bottle is bottled in the USA and comes with a dropper for no-mess application. It’s extra virgin and unrefined, pure and undiluted. It’s as close to the original Caloplyllum inophylum tree as you can get without traveling overseas. You can expect it to have a dark color and a strong scent, but the odor fades after a few minutes. For best results, massage it into slightly damp skin.
Pros:
- Four-ounce bottle with a dropper for easy application
- Extra virgin and unrefined oil from the Caloplyllum inophylum tree
- Bottled in the USA
Cons:
- None
Tamanu Oil by Leven Rose
Did you know there are two types of tamanu oil? They come from two trees: Calophyllum inophyllum and Calophyllum tacamahaca. This brand uses oil produced in Madagascar from the Calophyllum inophyllum tree.
The tree nuts are cold-pressed, not heat-treated, to retain the most nutrients possible. When it’s bottled in the USA, there are no additives at all, not even preservatives. Once you open the amber glass bottle, you’ll smell the unique aroma of the pure oil. The handy dropper makes for precise application because you only need a couple of drops for the entire face.
The brand also has responsive customer service and offers a money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Pure, cold-pressed the oil from the Calophyllum inophyllum of Madagascar
- Packaged in amber glass with a dropper
- Comes with a money-back guarantee
Cons:
- None
Prime Natural Organic Tamanu Oil
When shopping for the best tamanu oil, the easiest option is to either go with a brand that you’ve used before or one that someone has recommended. But even if you’ve never heard of this brand, it’s worth a closer look. It was established in Oregon in 2015 with the goal of using natural ways to improve the quality of life.
This tamanu oil is sourced overseas and bottled in the USA in an FDA-registered facility. It has to pass strict quality controls. One of those tests involves checking the color and aroma. As you’ll see, this tamanu oil is thick and dark green with a strong scent.
Furthermore, it’s USDA-certified organic as it comes from trees that have not been genetically altered or treated with harsh pesticides.
The oil comes in a pump-top amber glass bottle to prevent contamination, but the package also includes a dropper.
Pros:
- USDA-certified organic, packaged in the USA in an FDA-registered facility
- Pure, thick, and dark green oil with a strong aroma
- Comes in an amber glass bottle with a pump top and a dropper
Cons:
- None
PURA D’OR Tamanu Oil
Tamanu oil isn’t cheap, but this brand is one of the more affordable options, which probably explains why it’s so popular. It also helps that it’s certified USDA organic by Ecocert, one of the leading laboratories that assess organic products.
Like most of the oils in our review, it’s bottled in the USA and comes with a satisfaction guarantee. Reviewers say it has a deep emerald color and consistency of warm honey.
Pros:
- Thick like warm honey and a deep green color
- Certified organic by Ecocert
- Bottled in the USA
- Affordable
Cons:
- None
US Organic Tamanu Oil
Like any unrefined tamanu oil, this one is viscous and green. It comes from Calophyllum inophyllum trees raised in Southeast Asia. The light-colored nut kernels are crushed to extract the oil without exposing it to heat. Once the oil reaches USA, it’s bottled in a GMP-certified facility.
What’s interesting is that tamanu oil behaves like an essential oil because you can dilute it with another plant oil and it won’t lose its unique abilities. If the odor is too strong for you, cut it in half with jojoba, sweet almond, rosehip, or grapeseed oil before applying it to the skin. For example, put one drop of tamanu oil , then one drop of grapeseed in your palm and swirl them together with a finger before massaging it into your face.
Pros:
- Harvested from Calophyllum inophyllum trees in Southeast Asia
- Cold-press extracted, then bottled in the USA
- Unrefined and pure, certified USDA organic
- Blends well with other oils like jojoba, grape seed, and rosehip
Cons:
- None
SVA Organics Tamanu Oil
This brand makes no secret of the fact that they obtain tamanu oil from Vietnam. It’s cold-pressed and never treated with hexane. Once it arrives in the USA, it’s bottled in protective glass.
It’s labeled as “therapeutic grade”, but there’s no actual official category with this name. It’s industry jargon – a term used by essential oil companies to promote natural oils. Still, if you aren’t happy with the oil’s quality, the brand offers to replace or refund it.
Pros:
- Pure, cold-pressed oil from tree nuts harvested in Vietnam
- Bottled in the USA
- Packaged in protective glass
- Comes with a satisfaction guarantee
Cons:
- None
Conclusion
If you’d like to try something new that has the potential to heal your skin and repair your hair like nothing else, look to tamanu oil. The best brands offer pure, cold-pressed, unrefined oil with no additives or diluents. They package it in dark-colored glass to protect it from degradation caused by UV rays. Since you only need two or three drops to treat your entire face, the oil should last a long time.
We hope our reviews helped you find the best skin care and hair care products for your needs today. If you’ve had success using tamanu oil in your beauty routine, we’d love to hear about your experience. Please leave us a comment below.
Sources:
1. Léguillier T, et al. (2015). The wound healing and antibacterial activity of five ethnomedical Calophyllum inophyllum oils: An alternative therapeutic strategy to treat infected wounds. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138602
2. Bhalla TN, et al. (1980). Calophyllolide — a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7203581/
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