Paradise Nut Oil, the ultimate skin food. The oil from the “River of Life”.

When I first heard the name of this unusual and fantastic oil, I immediately wanted to learn more about it. Have you ever heard of Paradise oil or Monkey Pot? Not only the name itself sounds so alluring but you really would want to find out more about it and test it out of course.That's what I did, and fell in love.

There are many oils out there and they all have special characteristics, scents, colors and beauty purposes. And when you think that you know pretty much everything about them and it's hard to get surprised - this happens.

Please meet - the oil from the “River of Life”.

Paradise Nut Oil is the latest discovery in cosmetics, and definitely offers our upcoming new product a distinctive and innovative edge. 

Paradise Nut Oil is made from the capsule fruit of wild Lecythis minor trees, a member of the (Lecythidaceae) family. The common name for a range of tropical trees of the Lecythis genus is “monkey pot”. The name refers to the pot-shaped capsules, which contain the oil-rich seeds; and to the fact that the seeds are favoured by indigenous monkeys. The tree is endemic to the northern section of South America along the Magdalena River and thrives in intact ecosystems.

On the north side of South America with a length of 1,500 km the Magdalena River runs across Colombia, allowing a unique biodiversity in the world. Discovered in 1501 by Rodrigo de Bastidas, this river is named in honor of Saint Mary Magdalene. From ancestral times, this river, the most important in Colombia, allowed it to settle down to the indigenous peoples. It was revered for its capacity to allow life around it, which is why it is known as “El rio de la Vida” – The River of Life.

The Lecythis minor tree grows wild along the banks of the Río Magdalena. It is a potted fruit tree, also known as the “monkey-pot tree”. The oil is extracted from its wood-like capsules. Around one liter of oil can be produced from 2 kg of these “nuts”, but only in limited quantities as the trees grow in the wild. This tree is particularly special in that it can thrive in the selenium-rich soil of the river basin, which is not otherwise suitable for agricultural use.

Local people in this geographically isolated and remote area can therefore earn an income by harvesting the nuts. In this way, the tree population is maintained through its utilization as a source of income: this preserves biodiversity in the local area, which would otherwise be endangered by the deforestation of the tree population.

The Paradise Nut Oil project provides local people, in particular single moms, with better prospects for the future as it enables them to earn an income by collecting paradise nuts. The project has opened up three geographical regions in the northern region of Colombia and been able to reach a large number of people.Ccurrently there are five communities with more than 100 families involved in the project.

Once the nuts have been collected, they are then classified, purified and peeled by hand. The nuts are subsequently weighed, sold and packaged for transport to an oil production facility. Local communities work closely with each other during the harvest, which strengthens the social fabric of the area.

In October 2020, Paradise Nut Oil won the in-cosmetics® global Green Ingredient Award in gold for its ethical sourcing.

Paradise nut oil - for skin as beautiful as Paradise itself.

It features excellent antioxidant and humectant properties due to its high content of Selenium, Vitamin E and Omegas 3, 6 & 9 that comprise more than 70% of the oil's total composition. Light and sensorial, it absorbs quickly upon skin contact and leaves a velvety, elegant silky after-feel. Additionally, is an excellent emollient and forms a protective film on the epidermal layer which prevents moisture evaporation, promotes and maintains long-lasting hydration and reduces TransEpidermal Water Loss (TEWL).

Clinical studies have proven and documented its effectiveness in combating wrinkles and visible signs of ageing. Of those volunteers studied, 90% observed a reduction in the depth of wrinkles within just 4 weeks.

Dermatologically-tested and ideal for  normal and sensitive skin.

Stay connected to learn about our new launch - SELENIYA Nourishing Skin Barrier Concentrate. This wonderful super concentrated potion is created specifically for dry, sensitive, reactive and damaged skin as well as rosacea. Featuring 25% of Paradise Nut Oil in it and boosted with other actives. More details in our next post.