How to choose the best monoi oil?

Monoï is the darling oil of summer. Perfectly fragrant and particularly moisturizing for skin and hair, it should be part of your beauty routine! But how do you choose the right monoi? Here are a few tips to guide you.

No, monoï is not a tanning oil

Contrary to popular belief, monoï is not a tanning oil at all! ! On the contrary, it's an effective after-sun treatment that protects and moisturizes skin and hair. With no UV filters, but rich in antioxidants, monoï is made from coprah oil (refined coconut oil), in which tiare flowers are macerated. This is an original recipe from the Pacific islands. Unfortunately, many copies are circulating on the market.

Also known as monoï, an uninformed consumer may make the mistake of believing that this is the natural and precious oil of Tahiti. Some monoi products also contain toxic substances. So be careful when buying monoï.

Tips for choosing the right monoï

As you may have gathered, monoï is an oil from the Pacific islands, and more specifically Tahiti. Like most products, it has been copied and sometimes even counterfeited. To stop you being fooled, here are our tips for choosing your monoï and making sure you're getting the real thing.

Look at the origin

Monoï de Tahiti is by definition made in Tahiti. Always check the origin of your monoï to avoid being fooled. Beware: your monoï may also come from other nearby islands! But it's generally a quality monoï!

Check the composition

Many monoi oils are marketed as such, even though they don't contain any tiare or coconut flowers. This is because perfume extracts or unnatural ingredients have been added. Genuine monoi will always contain a flower in the bottle!

On the other hand, if the list of ingredients seems too long, steer clear! Monoi oil is made exclusively from coconut oil and flowers, depending on the fragrance chosen. Not sesame, almond or kerosene oils. Similarly, components derived from palm oil, such as isopropyl palmitate, have no place in monoi. The same applies to other chemicals that can be hazardous to health.

The ingredients "coco nucifera" and "gardenia tahitiensis" should be the majority in your monoi oil.

The safest brands

To make sure you get the genuine Tahitian monoï, choose products containing at least 90% monoï. Certain brands, such as Tiki Tahiti or Hei Poa.

Similarly, if your oil doesn't set below 25°C, it contains liquefying agents and is therefore not a genuine monoï oil. Note that traditional monoi are not certified organic simply because coconut oil cannot be certified organic (it is refined). Not all organic products are therefore genuine traditional monoï. However, they are composed of natural ingredients that are not harmful to health, as recommended by current legislation. So it's a good compromise if you can't find traditional monoï.