We now know it well: every natural plant oil has its own specificities, properties and benefits. And there is one that is particularly interesting when it comes to tackling cellulite: calophyllum oil. To learn more about this remarkable oil — as much for its texture as for its scent — here are some valuable insights.
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What is calophyllum oil?
1- Origin
There are several species of calophyllum. But when we talk about a plant oil, we are actually referring to Calophyllum Inophyllum, also known as Takamaka, Tamanu (in Polynesia) or Foraha (in Mauritius). It is a tropical tree that grows mainly along warm ocean shores, as it thrives in salty, sandy soils. Its propagation is particularly fascinating: its fruits fall into the sea and float until they find a suitable spot to germinate and give rise to new trees.
2- Production and general appearance
Speaking of fruits, calophyllum plant oil is extracted from them. It is obtained by cold-pressing the dried kernels found inside the nuts, followed by filtering to achieve a pure solution free of pulp residue. The main characteristics of virgin calophyllum inophyllum oil are as follows:
- When not decolourised by chemical processes (which is preferable!), it displays a dark green to greyish-green colour. This hue may seem surprising, but it is perfectly normal and is mainly due to the presence of natural resin residues.
- It is quite thick, with a greasy feel and slow absorption. For this reason, it is recommended to blend it with another oil if you wish to use it for massage purposes.
- Calophyllum oil tends to solidify below 20o. However, this does not affect its qualities in any way. One could even say that calophyllum oil is remarkably stable.
- Its scent is quite distinctive — green and subtly spiced (reminiscent of curry for some), with notes of nuts and even coffee.
- It is not really intended for oral consumption. It is primarily used topically on the skin.
3- Chemical composition
The composition of calophyllum plant oil is truly unique. It is a blend of fatty acids and specific active compounds. It contains:
- Around 30% linoleic acid, or omega-6. This essential fatty acid supports healthy skin, as it is a component of ceramides. It also helps prevent water loss while offering softening and nourishing properties.
- Around 35 to 40% oleic acid, or omega-9. A fatty acid that strengthens the skin’s hydrolipidic film (sebum contains it too!) and helps maintain suppleness and hydration.
- Around 13 to 15% palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid particularly beneficial for blemish-prone skin, thanks to its antimicrobial properties.
- Around 15 to 17% stearic acid, which helps reinforce the skin’s barrier function.
- Unique unsaponifiables, such as inophyllin A (a recognised antibacterial), calaustraline and inophyllolide (wound-healing agents), vitamins A and E and polyphenols (antioxidant action), and sterols (supporting cellular structure and function).
Calophyllum inophyllum oil is therefore an oil rich in numerous benefits.
What are the properties of calophyllum inophyllum oil?
Here we go! The unique composition of calophyllum plant oil gives it very specific properties:
- It is anti-inflammatory: it is widely used by athletes for this very reason. Its composition inhibits certain inflammatory factors, making it ideal for topical application to soothe muscle and joint pain.
- It is antiseptic: its antibacterial unsaponifiables make it an ally for blemish-prone skin. Despite being very rich, it works wonders on acne, rosacea, fungal infections and shingles.
- It is healing: regular application of calophyllum oil can help speed up the recovery of wounds, cuts and burns, thanks to its antibiotic and regenerating actives.
- It is antioxidant: it is particularly well suited to mature skin. The combination of vitamins A and E, phytosterols and polyphenols helps slow the visible signs of ageing through free-radical neutralising action.
- It is softening and smoothing: calophyllum oil is also an excellent everyday skin care ingredient, helping to prevent dryness, dehydration, loss of elasticity and even stretch marks.
- It is a vascular tonic: applied through massage or compresses, it has a triple action on veno-lymphatic health — protecting blood vessels, improving blood fluidity and stimulating lymphatic circulation.
Is calophyllum plant oil beneficial for cellulite?
One of the other virtues of calophyllum inophyllum oil is its positive effects on superficial lipodystrophy. Indeed, cellulite is caused by a combination of three factors:
- Adipocyte hypertrophy, which distorts the tissue structure and gives cellulite its characteristic bumpy appearance, commonly known as orange peel skin.
- Sluggish veno-lymphatic circulation, which generally leads to oedema, water retention, feelings of heavy legs and a build-up of toxins in the connective tissue.
- Disorganisation of the subcutaneous elastic network, in the specific case of fibrous cellulite.
By acting on one of the key contributing factors of cellulite — namely poor venous tone — calophyllum oil can certainly help address part of the problem. It is particularly recommended for women dealing with aqueous cellulite, as it helps prevent water retention (caused by blood vessel permeability) and boosts lymphatic circulation (draining metabolic waste towards the body’s elimination organs).
How to use calophyllum oil to treat cellulite?
1- Blended with other oils
As mentioned earlier, calophyllum plant oil is thick, greasy and slow to absorb — much like castor oil, with which it shares many similarities. It can therefore be interesting to combine it with another natural plant oil that is lighter and drier and absorbs more easily, to create a homemade anti-cellulite oil. Good options include jojoba oil, macadamia oil or sesame oil. The recommended ratio is 10 to 20% calophyllum oil, with the remainder being a dry oil.
2- With Aloe Vera gel
If you prefer lighter textures — which may be the case if you suffer from heavy legs — you can perfectly blend calophyllum oil with Aloe Vera gel to create a body gel. Simply mix 10 ml of calophyllum oil, 10 ml of a lighter dry oil of your choice, and 3 ml of Aloe Vera gel. Whisk the mixture together, then transfer it into a pump bottle. Apply to all areas affected by cellulite, particularly the legs, knees, thighs and buttocks.
3- With a plant butter
If you prefer balm-like textures, calophyllum oil is perfect for making body butters, as it solidifies easily (below 20–25o). It therefore makes an excellent ingredient for a homemade anti-cellulite balm. Simply melt 10 g of calophyllum oil and 30 g of shea butter in a bain-marie. Once the mixture is liquid, add 15 g of a neutral dry plant oil and a few drops of grapefruit essential oil (with its lipolytic properties and exquisite scent!). Once the mixture is smooth and homogeneous, pour it into an airtight jar and leave it to set.
4- Combined with essential oils
Of course, you can boost your homemade calophyllum oil-based treatments with essential oils. Their effectiveness on cellulite is well established, and calophyllum oil makes an excellent carrier for diffusing essential oils. Which essential oils should you use to create an effective anti-cellulite treatment?
- Italian helichrysum (or immortelle), an excellent vascular tonic.
- Grapefruit and Himalayan cedar, which encourage adipocyte drainage.
- Rock samphire, highly firming and regenerating.
- Juniper and cypress, which will enhance the water retention-fighting effect of calophyllum inophyllum oil.
5- As a compress
The traditional compress method can also be considered for treating cellulite. Simply soak a cloth in calophyllum oil and apply it to the affected area. The compress can be left on for several hours, giving the active ingredients time to penetrate the skin deeply and stimulate lymphatic circulation. Detoxification is all the more effective, and the dermis is left decongested.
What else can complement calophyllum oil in a complete anti-cellulite routine?
You can absolutely combine different products to tackle your cellulite effectively. For example:
- Use our Anti-Cellulite Scrub two to three times a week to prepare your skin. The mechanical action of exfoliation boosts microcirculation while removing dead skin cells, making the skin far more receptive to other treatments. Our scrub is also enriched with caffeine, one of the most effective natural actives against cellulite.
- Our Cupping Cup will be the perfect companion to your homemade calophyllum oil-based anti-cellulite treatment. It allows you to perform, with a simplified technique, the pinch-and-roll massage — the go-to anti-cellulite massage method.
These are just some of the products that will work positively alongside calophyllum oil to improve the quality of your skin.