WHAT IS PAPAYA OIL?
Also known as the Carica papaya seed, this essential oil is acquired from the seeds of the papaya fruit. Papaya is a plant is found in many tropical environments globally. Papaya oil is derived through a complex extraction process. However, the hard work is worth it – the oil is a wonderful moisturizer for the skin and can reduce the impact of the sun and aging. The oil contains fatty acids and works as an anti-inflammatory agent. It can also be used as both a hair and skin product. The oil itself is light and non-greasy.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF PAPAYA OIL?
The history of papaya seed oil is practically non-existent. Indeed, it is likely that the processing of papaya oil began thousands of years ago in Central and South America. Kindly refer to our piece on THE Business of Papaya to learn more about the history of this exotic fruit. The oil has been used for centuries in folk medicine.
WHERE IS PAPAYA OIL PRODUCED IN THE WORLD?
Papaya oil is produced in many countries around the world. The top producers of papaya are India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria. According to Transparency Market Research, the Asia-Pacific region is the leading manufacturer of this essential oil in the world due to Japan. The growth of this market in Asia has largely been attributed to the expanding demand for health and beauty products. Brazil is also a major producer of this oil – accounting for 12.7% of overall production worldwide. Interestingly enough, the demand for this essential oil is high, although supply is limited. The demand for this oil is expected to increase over the next few years.
HOW DO YOU MAKE/PROCESS PAPAYA OIL?
An oil press machine is the main piece of equipment that you will need, along with a cheesecloth, large spoon, a knife and lastly, your papaya. You will also need a glass container in which to store the oil. Begin with cutting open a ripe papaya. Gently scoop out only the seeds into a cheesecloth and thoroughly rinse the seeds to rid them of any papaya residue or juice. Using an oil press, gather the oil into a glass container for storage and preservation. The oil press should be set to roughly 48 degrees. While there are other methods to process this oil, the press is the most user friendly method.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH PAPAYA OIL?
Products made from papaya and its by products (papaya oils) are essentially rich in nutrients with some with high concentrations. Due to its exceptional nature and many benefits, papaya oils are used in many cosmetic, beauty, and hair products. This oil has been found to aid in wrinkle reduction as it is highly rich in antioxidants. It also aids in acne control with the presence of papain and chymopapain. Another aspect to which one can effectively apply papaya oil is with Melasma treatment, which can aid in reducing dark skin spots that occur during pregnancy. In addition, the oil can also be used to strength, nourish, and protect the hair follicles and aid in dandruff prevention. It can also be used as a massage oil. Did you know that papaya oil can be used to treat athlete’s foot? It’s anti-fungal properties makes it a highly versatile oil.
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS?
Papaya oil offers a multitude of health benefits. It contains fatty acids such as linoleic acid and oleic acid that serve as anti-inflammatory agents, that work towards reducing redness and skin irritation. In addition, papaya oil not only discourages acne and breakout, it is also non-comedogenic, meaning it cleanses and dissolves dead skin rather than clogging pores. The oil has a combination of anti-microbial, exfoliating and scar-reducing properties. It also contains an extremely powerful enzyme papain to help achieve skin rejuvenation by ridding the body of excess sebum and dead skin cells. It is also known for its high concentration of Vitamin C. On its own, this oil also serves as skin protection, slowing down signs of aging.
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