Stuff My Stocking 2017, Stuffer 7: Just a Little Green Holiday

By Gigi Anders

We recently wrote about a skincare brand we met and fell in love with at first touch: Nyakio. Its Nubian heritage and anciently derived yet modernly and ethically sourced formulations rocked our world.

Now we have Maracuja & Yangu Soothing Oil Restore ($42) for all skin types. It is green, literally and figuratively – no sulfates, phthalates, parabens, mineral oil, petroleum, formaldehyde, butylene glycol, or animal testing. It is precious and light as water. It is a beauty breakthrough whom anyone on your holiday list will want, love, and refuse to share.

Yes.

It really is that good. (Note to self: Hide it away before Mama Cubana comes for the holidays.)

My skin is on the oily side, so I’m a bit skittish about facial oils. At the same time, however, I am sensitive and have redness around my right cheek, my mouth, and on my chin. What happens when you cover red with green? Neutrality. What happens when you mix a few drops of this oil into your daily oil-free SPF moisturizer? Skin as happy, velvety, and glowy as a toddler’s.

But because this conditioning oil is the perfect gentle barrier for all skin types, you don’t have to have my exact type to benefit. If you’re dry, you’ll die. If you’re normal, you’ll blossom. Just a few drops after cleansing, morning and night, on its own or combined with your regular moisturizer, soothes, nourishes, and calms whatever’s going on.

That’s all thanks to cold-pressed safflower seed oil, cape chestnut oil, shea butter, coffee seed oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, olive fruit oil, flower and leaf extracts, eggplant fruit extract, jojoba seed oil, turmeric root extract, and a bunch of other good-for-you ingredients.

As the kids say, Church. As I say, Trust. As Nyakio says, Beautiful. And as Mama Cubana will say, “I want that damn oil. I saw eet on joor Web site. Now where ees eet?”