The African Baobab, or Adansonia Digitata is the most well known of eight Baobab species, and has numerous virtues for the skin. Its name is derived from the Arabic word ‘Hibab’ which means “many seeded fruit’. Each of the fruits often contain many hundreds of seeds. With its crown of irregular branches and a lack of leaves for nine months of the year, it seems to have been turned up-side down, which gives it its common name, the “upside-down tree”.

This tree originates from Kenya. It is present in the Great Green Wall of Africa.

The oil of the baobab tree, obtained from the seeds, is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (omega 6 & 9). It nourishes the skin, revitalises it, promoting elasticity (excellent for treating stretch marks). This oil also has the capacity to prevent the appearance of wrinkles, and is reputed for being healing and regenerative (notably in the case of burns).