Benefits Of Moringa For Your Skin

Below, you'll find five ways moringa can benefit your complexion:

1. It boosts your skin's natural collagen formation.

Moringa is remarkably high in vitamin C—having about seven times more than oranges, in fact. This is great news for your skin, which needs the vitamin to naturally produce collagen. "[Vitamin C] helps boost collagen production and cell turnover," shares Nicole Simpson, aesthetician, biochemist, and founder of Amethyst Skincare. This supports the skin's ability to self-repair and maintain its healthy youth, she notes. 

2. It can pump the brakes on early signs of aging.

"Every day, our skin is exposed to stressors such as pollution and UV radiation," says Simpson. Our body reacts by making cell-damaging free radicals, "which attack important parts of our skin cells, like the cell membrane and DNA," she adds. The result? Premature wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging.

But thanks to moringa's high level of antioxidants—including vitamin C, A and B—the remedy might be just what you need to get that youthful glow. According to Jessie C, a board-certified dermatologist, antioxidants like the ones in moringa neutralize those free radicals that damage our skin cells. Essentially, these compounds "help to 'put out the fires' in our skin that would otherwise lead to skin aging," she says.

3. It's ideal for both oily and dry skin.

Do you have greasy, oily skin? Moringa might be your new BFF. Its high-antioxidant content "allows our skin to switch from protection mode to repair mode," explains Cheung. "[This] decreases the stress and inflammation that also triggers oil production."

Simpson adds that moringa's antioxidant properties could also manage hormonal imbalances (at the skin's molecular level) caused by oxidative stress. These, imbalances can influence the skin —particular oil and inflammation—but the antioxidants in moringa help quell this effect. 

4. It might help manage acne.

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As moringa takes the reins on your sebaceous glands, it may also control breakouts. After all, excess sebum has a knack for mixing with dead skin cells and blocking the pores, resulting in pimples. To top it off, "oil is a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause acne," says Cheung.

Additionally, moringa's antioxidative properties can ease the biological processes behind breakouts and other skin conditions. "When skin is under oxidative stress—from lack of sleep, poor diet, stress, or living in a polluted city—it causes inflammation," says Simpson. This can prompt those hormonal imbalances mentioned above, causing "many different conditions to manifest, such as acne, redness, psoriasis, and eczema," she notes.

5. It could support wound healing (maybe).

From popped pimples to minor cuts, open wounds are like one-way tickets for infection-causing bacteria. And without proper healing, even the smallest wounds can increase the risk of infections, scarring, and other complications. There's some evidence, however, that moringa may aid the process.