KALAHARI MELON KALAHARI MELON Oil (seeds) — Origin: Namibia
Citrullus lanatus
THE WILD WATERMELON
Even though the shape of the famed Kalahari melon is reminiscent of our sweet watermelon, its pale yellow or green pulp is very bitter. The only connections it has to its distant cousin are its appearance and botanical proximity. Its cultivation reportedly started in the Nile Valley in the centuries predating the start of history; today there are four species of this melon in tropical and subtropical Africa, including one that thrives in the scrubby desert plains of the Kalahari, a very dry savanna that stretches from Botswana and Namibia all the way down to South Africa.
TEACHINGS FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL
Kalahari melon is one of the staples in the diet of the San people, magnificent hunter-gatherers who were the first inhabitants of Southern Africa. In 1849, while traveling through the region, explorer David Livingstone documented the cultivation of Cucurbitaceae. The water contained in the tsamma melo enabled locals to survive in the desert for weeks at a time, while its seeds, roasted under hot cinders and sometimes ground to a paste, were enjoyed for their high protein content. Crushed and moistened with saliva, they were spread and rubbed on the body to nourish the skin and give it a protective reddish tint.
ON COLLECTING KALAHARI MELON OIL
Harvesting the melons and turning their seeds into oil is traditionally a woman’s job. Kalahari melon seed oil is extracted through cold-pressing. It is clear and light, and exudes a nutty aroma.
THE BENEFITS
Kalahari melon seed oil is made up of more than 50% linoleic acid (omega-6), which minimizes the skin’s water loss while nourishing and softening it. Oleic acid (omega-9) reinforces the naturally present and protective acid mantle. Palmitic acid is a natural emollient and cleansing component of the cutaneous barrier and the epidermis.
A FEW DROPS
Kalahari melon seed oil works wonders on oily and combination skin. Two or three drops, massaged each night directly onto the face after a gentle yet meticulous cleansing, will be absorbed immediately. In the morning, apply some floral water to facilitate waking up, and there you are—ready for a new day, armed with an even, smooth complexion.
KALAHARI MELON–BASED RECIPES
from Officine Universelle
BALANCE-RESTORING FACIAL FLUID
Your skin has stayed young and is refusing to take sides, switching from dried-out to shiny with no warning. Regular use of this treatment will make it fall in line.
In a small two-ounce jar with a dropper, mix one part Kalahari melon seed oil and one part jojoba oil with ten drops of grapefruit essential oil. Apply a few drops of this detoxifying mixture every night after thorough facial cleansing.
EXTRA-PURIFYING SCRUB
Stimulate your cells with this exfoliating treatment, without overdoing it! Weekly use will suffice to leave your skin silky-smooth.
In a small bowl, mix two tablespoons of Kalahari melon seed oil and one tablespoon of lavender powder with two tablespoons of geranium hydrolate. Use this mixture to gently scrub your face, your neckline area, and even your back, if a soul mate is lending you a hand. Rinse with warm, clear water and pat dry with an immaculately clean cloth.
“The seed is in the fruit and the fruit is in the seed.”
ENGLISH PROVERB