First of all, let me start out by saying this: The information in this article has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. I do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Information is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content in this article, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition. By all means if you are dealing with a serious or questionable skin condition please, as an act of self-care, see a doctor.
Now, if you are inclined to improve the appearance of a skin condition - that causes your skin to become red, dry, flakey, or prone to blemishes and breakouts - using more naturally occurring solutions, tamanu oil is an excellent choice! Now I, would be remiss to not mention that tamanu oil is derived from the nut of the tamanu tree. If you have a nut allergy, I would suggest to proceed caution, conduct a small patch test, or better yet, avoid it all together. You can skip past this part and read all about the benefits of volcanic ash and the economic and environmental sustainability of the Volcanic Earth company. If you are curious about the benefits of tamanu oil, let's walk and talk...
When I was mentally building the Amber Essence e-boutique I wanted to enhance the product selection by including a natural facial skincare line...enter Volcanic Earth (VE). As I researched all of the options and brands I kept coming back to VE. The purity of their products, the quality of their ingredients, and the mission of the company resonated with me. So I tried their Volcanic Ash Clay Mask and was hooked!
The beautiful gardenia scent the cool grey texture took me directly to the south pacific. I was in the forest, at a luxury spa sipping coconut water, on a mountain top overlooking the ocean on a balmy slightly humid afternoon.
Reason #1 I Volcanic Earth
- Tamanu Oil
The Tamanu Tree is native to the south pacific islands located off the coast of Australia. The tree itself flowers bi-annually with fragrant, white blooms that produce clusters of round fruit that look like large nuts. Inside each of these fruits is an actual nut kernel and it is from these kernels that Tamanu Oil is extracted.
Now let me be clear, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) does not recognize Tamanu Oil as being a proven treatment for any skin condition, therefore to be on the safe side I can only promote it as a cosmetic item. However, there are plenty of scientific studies available that you can review yourself if you are so inclined.
For centuries indigenous Polynesians have cultivated the oils contained in the Tamanu Nut and have used it on nearly every skin condition imaginable, with successful results. Researchers have found that tamanu oil contains calophyllolide, which is a naturally occurring substance known to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E and other anti-oxidants are also found in Tamanu Oil. The properties work with the skins natural repair process by locking in moisture, vitamins, and other natural substances needed for optimal appearance.
In case you need another reason to dive into the VE line
Reason #2
- Authentic handcrafted bar soaps, cleansers, and masks made with natural exotic volcanic ash!
So, first a little background on the VE. The company, it's day spa, and manufacturing operations are all located on the pristine South Pacific island of Port Vila. Port Vila is part of the Vanuatu nation of 83 separate islands situated between Fiji and the west coast of Australia...a little corner of the world I like to call paradise!! It's also the region of the world with the most active volcanos a.k.a "The Ring of Fire"
Anywho, back to the volcanic ash. Sought after by skincare professionals and amateurs alike, for its purification, cleansing, and exfoliating qualities. Why? Because of the sulfur contained in the ash which works with your skin's naturally occurring collagen to enhance, soften, and brighten your already gorgeous skin.
- Removes Dead Skin Cells
- Detoxifying
- Cleans Pores
- Gentle Exfoliant
- Ph Neutral (not likely to irritate sensitive skin)
- Reduces fine wrinkles
- Even Skin Tone
- Reduces the appearance of stretchmarks
Reason #3 – Why VE?
- Their commitment to building sustainable communities
From administrative, to management, spa services to product manufacturing VE provides meaningful stable employment in a region classified as a Least Developing Nation. The owners of the company recognize the need for natural skin care companies to consider both economic and environmental sustainability. The respect the values and traditions of the indigenous people, culture, and natural resources. Vanuatu is known for its natural waterways, sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters. It's an untouched paradise virtually free of pesticides and all those other –icides that pollute our bodies and our environments. The crops are grown naturally and flourish in the rich volcanic soils and high amounts of annual rainfall, without the use of chemicals. For centuries the Vanuatu people have used a cold-press process for extracting the oil from the Tamanu nut and prepare handmade natural soaps from the oils and ashes. Those traditions live on through the productions of all VE products whether they are being used in the company's local day spa or shipped across world. So, go ahead and indulge your inner Polynesian Princess!
