Kalahari melons from Namibia

December 4, 2020

The Kalahari melon is exceptional. The oil pressed from their kernels has a unique composition of fatty acids. Combined with one of the strongest antioxidants known and high-quality vitamins, Kalahari Melon Oil is a valuable, yet unknown treasure for natural cosmetics and skin care products.

Wild watermelon or tsamma

The Kalahari melon is also called "wild watermelon" or "Tsamma" by the locals. It grows primarily on the dry ground of the Kalahari Desert in Namibia and Botswana, from where it gets its name. It climbs over the desert floor and bears yellow Flowers: The ripe flesh is light and slightly bitter in taste.

For the indigenous people of the Kalahari Desert, the Tsamma is an important source of water and food. The seeds of the Kalahari melon are often dried, roasted and ground into flour or the oil is extracted from the seeds.

Kalahari melon oil for PHYSTINE

The Kalahari melons for PHYSTINE are harvested by women from the Sivara village community in northern Namibia. The cores are then cleaned by Olli Rust and His team gently cold-presses it for us. The golden yellow oil is filtered several times until there is no more dust from the pressing process. The crushed shells of the kernels, the so-called press cake, which is left over during oil extraction, is used, among other things, in baking bread.

Olli and his team in front of the Okavango River — Olli with his team in front of the Okawango River

Special features of pumpkin seed oil

The Kalahari Melon Oil (Citrullus Lantus Seed Oil) impresses with its extraordinary spectrum of fatty acids. It contains a very high proportion of linoleic acid, an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. This is particularly important for the human body for two reasons: On the one hand, the body cannot produce linoleic acid itself. On the other hand, ceramide I, an important component of the top layer of skin (stratum corneum), which represents the skin's natural barrier, is formed from linoleic acid. If too little of the essential omega-6 fatty acid is consumed, this often leads to disruption of the skin barrier, dry and flaky skin or other skin problems.

It is not only the high proportion of linoleic acid in Kalahari melon oil, but also the presence of the carotenoid called lycopene that makes the golden-colored oil so effective. Lycopene is one of the most powerful antioxidants known, capable of scavenging free radicals in the body and skin. This means it counteracts the signs of skin aging and is ideal in anti-aging care products.

In addition to the special features already mentioned, the Kalahari melon seed oil also contains high-quality vitamins such as vitamins A, C, E and various B vitamins - a true elixir for the skin!

So that Kalahari Melon Oil can develop its unique effect, we always combine it with other specifically selected oils or substances, depending on the effect we want to achieve with our care product.

The appropriate mixture of oils and ingredients is our key to transporting the highly effective active ingredients exactly where they are supposed to work.

The Kalahari melon oil is non-comedogenic due to the low proportion of oleic acid, which means that it does not clog the pores of the skin and is quickly absorbed.