After living in Thailand for one year, I have grown accustomed to several personal care products from Thailand that I can no longer live without. Coming from Hong Kong where there is no import duty, at first I found imported skincare and body care products to be pricey. I also made the mistake of ordering them online and ended up paying import duties after completing complicated paperwork and overcoming logistics barriers. A couple of months later, I began to search for locally-produced Thai skincare products. There had been some trials and errors, but luckily, due to the fact that Thailand is the kingdom of abundant natural ingredients, I soon found local produce of superb quality and at very reasonable price points.
Remember Kate Middleton’s love for rose hip oil started a frenzy on facial oil? Well, I tried it but was not too impressed by it. I think for people who have combination skin and live in hot, humid climate, rose hip oil is simply too rich. Since then, I had not touched another facial oil to avoid breakouts. Well, until someone recommended moringa oil to me and assured that was really good for calming sensitive skin and prevent blocking the pores. Not convinced but as I entered my 40s, I wanted to pay more attention to the anti-aging aspect of my skincare routine, I gave it a go.
What is Moringa?
According to Moringa Project Thailand, (my favourite moringa oil brand), moringa is commonly referred to as “Drumstick Tree” for its long pods that contain the oil-bearing seeds. Due to the high levels of Berenice acid in moringa oil, it has also earned the nicknames Ben Oil and Behen Oil. With a high amount of oleic acid, moringa oil penetrates very deep into the skin, bringing the necessary nutrients to the skin and helping it replenish. Moringa’s plant hormones called cytokinins, help to promote cell growth and delay damage of skin.
Marika Nanni, Co-Founder of Moringa Project Thailand
The Oil that Increases Libido
For years my husband and I were using coconut oil as lubricant. One day, I ran out of coconut oil. In a passionate rush, I grabbed what I had in my bathroom, the moringa oil! I found out with delightful surprise that THE oil enhanced libido! I began to look up on the 360 benefits of this oil for both men and women. Turned out moringa oil balances both men’s and women’s hormones, increases fertility, enhances libido, and also helps men to prevent prostate cancer. For us ladies, it solves the common dryness headache that women— especially after pregnancy and breast-feeding— encounter.
And that’s not all! Moringa oil contains 46 antioxidants, 36 anti-inflammatory compounds, Omega 3 fatty acids, 18 amino acids (which includes all 9 essential amino acids), Vitamins A, B, C, E &K, and minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, Phosphorous and Zinc). That is unheard of. In fact, after witnessing that the oil’s done to my skin after a few months using it, I am converted. I even started to take moringa oil capsules (also available from Moringa Project Thailand) as a supplement to boost my health, energy level and immunity.
What I really love about Moringa Project Thailand is the fact that it is a family-owned business and its farm to face concept. The family grows their own moringa trees to ensure the best quality and effectiveness of its Thai skincare products. It means my purchase does good both to my skin and planet, while providing employment to local community. I was able to start a conversation with its co-founder Marika Nanni, to understand their products and the brand’s core values. What also impressed me is all the details that have gone into the brand, from packaging to the instruction postcard, handwritten note the team prepared for the customers. You can feel how their passion and hearts have poured into the project and Thai skincare products that they should be really proud of.
The Very Green Moringa Clay Mask
When I first looked over the Moringa Project’s website, I was most intrigued by their Clay Mask. The mask content looked so green which reminded me one of my son’s favourite superheroes: The Hulk! I had not had a facial ever since I relocated to Thailand. Hence, I was super excited to try the Moringa Clay Mask as it said it would purify and detox my skin, just what I needed. First, I had to check which active ingredients were there to do the job. The answers were spirulina and green tea extract, which was not a surprise. Yet, I was curious what would be like to mix these very purifying and detoxing ingredients with moringa oil.
I applied about one squeeze from the 80ml tube. The texture is thick, so it’s very manageable to squeeze out only the desirable amount. One squeeze is about the size of a peanut M&M, which I believed would be enough. But for the first time I wanted to make the mask layer thick, hence the 1.5 squeeze! I could tell that one tube could go a long way, hence made this product such great value.
Despite being thick, the mask was very easy to apply and spread. During the 15 minutes wait as instructed by the handy postcard that came with the product, it did not feel dry at all. I guess that’s the moringa oil doing! After 15 minutes, I rinsed the mask off with a wet cloth, and applied moringa oil, again as suggested by the instructions. How did my skin feel? It felt amazing! The skin felt cleaned, purified but at the same time moisturised. I did the mask at 6am and at 6pm when I washed my face at the end of day, my skin still felt plumped, which was the best testament to the product!
Moringa Project’s star products: Moringa Facial Oil and Clay Mask
Success Beyond Thailand
Moringa oil by Moringa Project Thailand received amazing feedbacks from their users, hence their success did not limit to main Thai cities Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, but ventured out to Hong Kong, Singapore, United States, Laos and Taiwan. Check out all the retailers, hotels and spas Thailand has to offer that carry the beautiful and effective products from their website. Indeed, many raved about how their Moringa Oil has helped their kids and teenagers to solve their eczema issues and headaches with constant breakouts. Personally, I can attest to the fact that for sensitive skin, it’s absolutely moisturising, nourishing and calming!
All their goodies can be ordered online. To give you an idea about the prices, their most expensive item is the Glow Inside and Out set, retailed at 2,950 baht, which includes facial oil, body oil, face & body soap and the Moringa capsules, the supplement that I began taking and feeling great from. Their least expensive item is Face and Body Bar, retailed 250 THB, which makes it a cheap and desirable souvenir from Thailand that can be easily given as a gift. I got it for my husband who loves the convenience of being able to use it for both face and body. His favourite is the Detoxing Moringa Oil plus Charcoal Face and Body Bar as it gives him the nourishing his skin needs, while at the same time cleansing it thoroughly.
Dusk-til-Dawn Body Oil
My next want-to-try product is their body oil. I grew up with eczema, and I realised the trick to keep it away was to apply body oil right after showering. Hence body oil is very important to me. As years went by, it became an important ritual for me to pamper myself with different senses through the body oil. They must be easy to apply, without any chemicals, natural fragrances that soothes my nerves. I will give it bonus points if it firms my skin and keeps the cellulite at bay!
I recently purchased the brand’s Dusk and Dawn Body Oil duo, which are both infused with precious ingredients such as vetiver and frankincense. Curious to find out the results? Stay tuned to my Instagram @taitaitanthai_life for the reviews!
