There is an oil to soothe every inch of your body these days but only one promises to heal almost any skin ailment. Editor Trudi Brewer shares the benefits of dilo oil.
Pure Fiji Dilo Oil Anti-Aging Booster, $65
“As my go-to skin oil on those days my skin needs some extra TLC, Dilo oil lives up to its reputation of being nature’s first aid kit.”
For centuries, dilo oil has been used in traditional health and wellbeing practices in Fiji, where it is renowned for its healing properties. Here’s what this humble oil can do for your skin.
What is it?
Dilo oil comes from the dilo tree, which is known as ‘the tree of a thousand virtues’ in its native Fiji. When ripe, the apricot-sized dilo nuts fall to the ground where they are harvested by islanders and cold-pressed to extract the rich, dark green oil. Also known as tamanu oil, dilo oil has come to be known as nature’s first aid kit, thanks to its healing properties, and is used to replenish, calm and correct an array of skin ailments.
What's in it?
The dilo tree draws its sustenance directly from the nutrient-rich waters of the Pacific Ocean, and its oil is rich in skin-loving essential fatty acids. The unique calophyllic acids unique to dilo oil have potent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it ideal for soothing sensitive, irritated and acne prone skin.
How does it work?
It’s an anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial it’s also a powerful antioxidant that you can use directly on the skin to soothe insect bites, sunburn, and acne and eczema, in fact just about any skin irritation. Or add a few drops to your daily moisturiser to deliver a healing boost to stressed or irritated skin. I have also been known to use it as a hair serum to calm those frizzy, flyaway strands.
Why do we rate it?
It’s the natural cure-all skin oil. As with lots of organic products, you can expect an earthy aroma, that in time grows on you. As my go-to skin oil on those days my skin needs some extra TLC it lives up to its reputation of being nature’s first aid kit.