Tahitian for “scented oil,” monoi — pronounced “mah-noy” — is a fragrant elixir made from coconut oil and tiare flowers (also known as Tahitian gardenias). While only recently building buzz in beauty circles, this hot ingredient has been a South Pacific beauty staple for centuries. Eminence Organic Skin Care recognized the nourishing benefits of monoi, formulating part of its Age Corrective Collection with this unique oil. Read on to uncover three health and beauty benefits of monoi, the history of Tahitian monoi, as well as our tips for adding this unique ingredient to your skin care routine.
Key Takeaways
- Monoi (pronounced mah-noy) is a traditional Tahitian oil made by steeping tiare flowers in coconut oil.
- Used for over 2000 years, monoi holds cultural, medicinal and beauty significance across the South Pacific.
- Monoi oil hydrates skin and hair, delays visible signs of aging and soothes dryness or sensitivity.
- Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help protect against free radicals and environmental stressors.
- Our Age Corrective Collection features monoi to restore hydration, firmness and radiance
What Is Monoi?
Monoi oil is an ancient preparation made by steeping tiare flower buds or petals in coconut oil. This fragrant oil has roots in islands throughout the South Pacific, including Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Here’s how the Institut du Monoi describes the production process: “Coconuts of the Cocos nucifera variety must be grown on coral soil and harvested at a mature stage. Tiare flowers (Gardenia Taitensis), handpicked as buds, must be used within 24 hours of harvesting.
The Maceration Process
According to local tradition, the maceration must last a minimum of 10 days and requires at least ten Tiare flowers per liter of refined oil.” The process of making monoi oil has been passed down by generations of South Pacific healers. This oil is held to rigorous standards of production, designed to protect the cultural heritage of monoi blossoms.
The tiare plant thrives in a warm, tropical climate with partial-to-full sun and frequent watering. The beautiful buds bloom from March to November and are typically harvested at dusk. Each year, 110 million tiare flowers are harvested in French Polynesia alone. Similarly, coconut palms flourish in warm climates with an abundance of both sunlight and rainfall. These hardy plants also thrive in the sandy soils found along coastlines, meaning the islands of the South Pacific are ideal for their growth.
Monoi’s History
While its origins aren’t entirely clear, monoi has been used by Pacific Islanders for over 2000 years, giving it significant cultural meaning throughout the region. Traditionally, this lightweight, amber-colored oil liquid has been used in religious ceremonies to purify sacred objects, as a medicinal remedy to alleviate common ailments and as a multi-purpose beauty ingredient to soften skin and hair.
Monoi’s key ingredients play a vital role in various Polynesian cultures and the tiare flowers are seen throughout the region's mythology. According to Tahitian legend, this flower was created by Atea, the Oceanic God of Creation, and Tane, the God of Beauty. Additionally, these beautiful blossoms are considered to be a symbol of the region’s people and cultures.
Like the monoi blossom, coconut plays a significant role in South Pacific culture and the people rely on it as a source of food, oil, wood and fiber. Coconut has also been a part of the region’s lore, notably in the legend of Sina and the eel, which explains the origin of the first coconut tree. Versions of this legend are told through Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and by the Māori in New Zealand.
Health & Beauty Benefits Of Monoi Oil
What makes this ingredient so unique? Here are three primary health and beauty benefits of monoi oil for your skin, hair and health:
1. Deeply Hydrates Your Skin & Hair
Monoi is a soothing and protective oil that deeply hydrates skin without stripping it of its natural oils. The people of the South Pacific have long used monoi oil as a full-body moisturizer to protect their skin against harsh environmental stressors like the intense tropical sun and drying salt water of their environment.
Thanks to vitamin E, Monoi helps stop protein loss in the hair, preventing breakage and reducing split ends Dr. Whitney Bowe tells Huffington Post Style: “Monoi oil contains coconut oil, which has been shown to have tremendous moisturizing benefits for the skin and hair. The essential fatty acids in coconut oil, like lauric acid, may repair hair damage and increase shine.”
2. Delays Signs of Aging
There’s a reason that South Pacific cultures have passed on their monoi beauty secrets from generation to generation. Monoi not only adds luster to your locks, it also nurtures your skin to minimize the visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. As monoi’s base is coconut oil, this incredible superfood is packed with antioxidants like vitamin E and ferulic acid. In fact, vitamin E and ferulic acid help to neutralize the effects of free radical damage. Many environmental stressors like UV rays, heat and sunlight, expose your skin to free radicals, which cause fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Soothes & Repairs Dry Skin
One of the major benefits of monoi oil is the soothing effect it has on reactive and chronically dry skin. This multi-purpose oil has been traditionally used in Polynesian medicine to soothe dry, flaky skin linked to sensitivity and specific conditions. It's more typically used as a full-body moisturizer to protect skin against the drying effects of intense tropical sun, harsh winds and saltwater. According to Healthline.com, “Monoi oil can also act as an anti-inflammatory that can reduce symptoms from known skin conditions, including eczema and contact dermatitis.” The tiare flowers used in monoi contain high levels of methyl salicylate and lauric acid, ingredients known for soothing and restorative properties.
At Eminence Organics, we use monoi in our Age Corrective Collection to deeply hydrate skin, improve the look of firmness and delay the visible signs of aging. This exotic ingredient is essential to our Monoi Age Corrective products as it helps nourish a dry complexion and return much-needed moisture to mature skin.
Brian Goodwin, International Educator at Eminence Organic Skin Care, suggests using the monoi products in our Age Corrective Collection in your nighttime regimen: “The skin is more receptive to absorbing ingredients at night, when the epidermis becomes more penetrable. This factor makes it even more paramount to incorporate hydrating ingredients and protective oils into nighttime routines.”
Here are a few skin care products that incorporate this luxurious ingredient:
- Monoi Age Corrective Exfoliating Cleanser: Gentle, multi-action exfoliating cleanser that washes away impurities, removes surface debris and smooths skin.
- Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream For Face & Neck: Ultra-rich night cream that replenishes moisture and leaves skin with a smooth, youthful appearance. This moisturizer helps minimize the look of saggy skin around your neck and jawline.
- Monoi Age Corrective Night Body Cream: Moisturizing body cream that leaves skin looking denser, firmer and smoother by morning.
All Your Questions Answered About Monoi Oil
How do I use monoi oil on hair?
You can incorporate monoi oil as a pre-shampoo mask, add a few drops to a conditioner, use it on damp hair as a leave-in for shine or frizz control or apply to ends to help with split ends.
How should monoi oil be stored?
Keep it sealed in a cool, dry place. It may solidify below room temperature but will liquefy again when warmed gently between your hands
Does monoi oil have antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties?
Yes. Monoi oil inherits many properties from its coconut oil base (antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory), which help with soothing irritated skin.
Have you tried skin care products with monoi? If not, experience these ultra-hydrating monoi-infused products and different treatments at an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you. We’d love to hear from you! Ask us your questions about this ingredient in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.
