Clean Beauty Expert Series: Kristin Collins Jackson's Moringa Magic for Sensitive Skin and Afro-Textured Hair

Kristin Collins Jackson is a certified Aromatherapist with a growing education in clinical herbalism. A passion for natural beauty excluding the use of harmful chemicals and belief of restoring the body's ability to self-heal lead Kristin to start her own business of custom-made beauty products and holistic treatments. Her published articles can also be found on the Bustle, Extra Crispy, Beauty Lies Truth, the Frisky, and the New York Times.

Skin type: Oily

Hair Type: Type 4C  

FOR SKIN

Moringa oil is one of the few oils I use that has proven to be as versatile for a client with dry skin as it is for my own oily, acne-prone skin. The ways I use moringa oil range from body scrubs, using it as a hair restoring serum, and putting it in my daily moisturizer. Like I said, moringa oil is pretty versatile and its ability to heal never disappoints. 

My preferred oil has to be hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial to help prevent breakouts and lower the potential of clogged pores. Heavy oils that may be great for my body are often amazing for my face as well. However, my face is exposed to pollutants, wind, and the sun more often than the rest of my body which makes it susceptible to dry skin and more oily build-up. That means, a light-weight oil packed with vitamins is going to keep me moisturized and blemish-free. 

Fortunately, moringa oil contains vitamins A, B, and C which help with skin tone, puffiness, and the process of healing skin cells. I'm all about antioxidants in my skincare, so moringa oil gives me a healthy dose when I'm applying moisturizer after cleansing. 

Speaking of after cleansing, one of my favorite night time facial serum is a combination of moringa oil and tamanu oil. Using facial serums at night are a great way to restore and stabilize the skin while you catch some zz's. Right after cleansing, I apply my night serum on damp skin because the oils are actually there to seal in the moisture from the water keeping your skin hydrating throughout the night. Applying oils on dry skin will not yield the same results because they do not contain water. Adding essential oils specific to your skin needs will only increase the effects of the night serum as long as you follow the safety instructions on your oil of choice. 

FOR HAIR

Moringa oil isn't just my defense against a hostile mood of my skin. It's one of my go-to ingredients for my homemade hair serum. Afro-textured hair is notoriously fragile. The strands are often very fine while the density is coarse and thick. The texture of the hair is the diameter of the curl strand and those fine strands make it prone to breakage. Needless to say, there have been times where I lived in hats to avoid having to have a detangling bender; this has caused breakage along my hairline that I frankly, refused to put up with. Enter Moringa oil. 

Moringa oil is great for afro-textured hair. The same qualities that make it a favorite in my skincare have made it a trusted oil for my hair by creating a healthy environment for hair growth and strengthening the damaged strands.  For my hair serum, I add a few drops of sage essential oil to moringa oil to stimulate my scalp and rid myself of hair breakage.