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 that produces fruits (berries) with multiple 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 often 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 alleviate 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 by first cold pressing of whole berries. It is rich in fatty acids essential such as the linoleic acid (omega-6), the acid oleic (omega-9), the palmitic acid and the stearic acid. For reference, oleic acid is the fatty acid monounsaturated 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 color from yellow to green, with a mild scent 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 antioxidantcare to protect the skin from free radicals. As a reminder, these are reactive oxygen species naturally produced by the body. However, when cells are faced with a stress, they produce them in an excessive manner. The sources of stress are numerous, the main ones being exposure to UVA, pollution, smoking, 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 a pair of electrons, and thus cause damage to cells, DNA, and proteins in the body. Aging is thus accelerated and wrinkles appear on the skin surface. The polyphenols present in acai oil donate electrons to free radicals, stabilizing them and thus preventing them from causing harm. This vegetable oil is therefore a valuable ally in preventing premature skin aging.

It is important to note that these antioxidant properties are also effective when applied to hair. Indeed, oxidative stress is a factor associated with the deterioration of hair fibers, the appearance of gray hair, and hair loss. The acai vegetable oil helps combat these phenomena and thus preserves the beauty of the hair. It revives the hair's shine and aids in protecting it from damage (heat, coloring, UV, pollution, salt water, etc).

Furthermore, rich in omega-6 and omega-9, the acai vegetable oil provides nutritionandelasticityto the skin, andprevents dehydrationbystrengthening the barrier functionof the epidermis. The hydrolipidic film improves the resistance of the horny layer against external aggressions and limits insensible water loss. The acai vegetable oil is therefore recommended for taking care of dry and dehydrated skin.

Our dry hair oil contains four plant oils includingaçaí oil,hibiscus oil,pracaxi oil andcastor oil. This treatment repairs, strengthens, nourishes, and protects the hair fiber. It is suitable for dry, brittle, and colored hair.