Treefoods Natural Skincare – 100% natural Moringa
Back to Journal + Musings
Treefoods Natural Skincare is a new ethical skin, beauty and wellness range centred around the rare Moringa plant and its transformative properties. However, rather than just another topical skincare brand, founders Angela Robson and Thomas Ojo are building a circular Moringa range (literally) from the ground up. BBC Journalist Angela first discovered the powers of the ‘Miracle Tree’ Moringa through a series of documentaries reporting from across Africa that connected the powerful relationship between indigenous communities and plants; she later met Nigerian native and Moringa farm owner, Thomas, together they came to form Treefoods with the aim to broaden the Moringa appeal, whilst also supporting local agroforestry and artisanal communities. I caught up with the founder duo in the UK to find out more about this incredible plant and its efficacy.
‘My journey with moringa began during a reporting trip to Burkina Faso in West Africa, where I was covering a food crisis. I was struck by the contrast between communities facing the same harsh conditions. Some were experiencing severe hunger, while others were managing to survive and even thrive. The difference often came down to their knowledge of the nutritional and practical value of indigenous tree foods such as moringa and baobab,’ Angela explains.
Her Guardian featured ‘Miracle Tree’ short film is a visceral way into the moringa story, the origins of Treefoods Natural skincare. The narrative offers an emotional insight into the power of one ancient plant; to sustain children from malnourishment, to restore and transform health longevity, and as a way for ancestral communities to make a living and pass down local harvesting, seeding techniques and medicinal wisdoms to new generations. ‘I have also lived alongside the Asháninka people in the Peruvian Amazon, learning about their relationship with the rainforest, and spent time with Tuvan shamans in southern Siberia exploring ancient spiritual traditions and their connection with the natural world. Again and again, I found myself returning to the same lesson: that indigenous knowledge, passed from one generation to the next, often holds insights that modern science is only beginning to understand,’ affirms Angela.
Having met Thomas, the two continued their deep research into the powers of Moringa (Thomas was already importing Moringa to the West for use in Tea) but they started to seize on its nourishing powers for skincare, haircare, nailcare and as a natural healer for conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and irritated skin. The first product created was the Treefoods Moringa Seed Oil (cold pressed) created from the purest form of the Moringa ingredient. The precise formulating techniques are exclusive to the artisans of the area; the seeds are carefully selected and dehulled before being introduced into a cold-press machine. The oil is extracted without the use of heat or chemical solvents to preserve the natural nutrients and beneficial properties of the oil. Once pressed, the oil is allowed to settle and naturally filter through sedimentation, allowing any remaining particles to separate before the final product is bottled.
Overwhelmed by the response from family, friends and testers, the founders began to expand the fully vegan, cruelty free range experimenting with incorporating the moringa oil into other handmade products; including soaps, cleansing face balm, bath oil, hair and scalp treatments. Noticing that ‘during the natural filtration process, the fine blend of oil and tiny moringa seed particles created a valuable by-product, we started to add in botanicals like lavender and tea tree to some formulations for added efficacy, so for example the cleansers also include botanicals that work harmoniously with the skin’s barrier and delicate microbiome system,’ they explain.
Suffering in the heatwave from a bad bout of eczema and hyper irritated skin from London’s harsh UV, the Treefoods Natural Moringa Oil (cold pressed) has become a hero product for me. The moringa oil is a light texture that glides deep into the skin layers nourishing and calming with a natural smell that soothes a stressed nervous system. I am also struck by its versatility; I have noticed efficacy when used on the thin skin on the hands and unusually its powers also work on my fine hair used both before shampoo-ing or just during the day on dull, dry ends. I have now taken to carrying it around in my bag as a quick way to hydrate during long days. Other products I have tried include the Cleansing Face Balm (Exfoliating Face Cleanser) and the Luxurious Moringa Soap both seeping deep into the skin layers soothing, cleansing and polishing.
As mainstream luxury brands are continuously greenwashing ingredient lists to market formulations as ‘natural’ to a Western consumer, the inherent transparency of the Treefoods Natural skincare story is appealing. Thomas explains, ‘For farmers, moringa offers the potential of a sustainable income source, with leaves harvested regularly and seeds collected annually for oil production. Its deep root system can also help support soil health and reduce erosion, making it a valuable crop within agroforestry systems.’ As the Oyo state located farm owner, he also can exercise full control of the supply chain: ‘at our farm, we plant moringa during the rainy season, when the increased moisture helps the seeds establish strong root systems and encourages vigorous growth. The combination of fertile soil, natural rainfall, careful planting practices and sustainable farming methods allows the moringa trees to develop strong, healthy leaves and seeds. These conditions contribute to producing high-quality moringa, while respecting the natural environment in which the plant has traditionally grown for generations.’
And the diverse benefits of the Moringa plant continue to be discovered: for instance, Angela is fascinated by the plant’s potential for water clarification. ‘Communities had long understood that crushed moringa seeds could help clarify water, and it has been exciting to see this traditional knowledge increasingly explored through scientific research, including studies investigating its potential to remove microplastics from water,’ she adds.
What are the future plans for Treefoods Natural skincare?
‘We are currently working towards bringing a natural deodorant to market. The formulation has been tested and approved. We are also developing a seed extract serum, created from the seed cake that remains after the moringa oil extraction process. This allows us to further utilise the different components of the seed while reducing waste. We hope to introduce this as a nourishing facial serum, while also exploring its potential as a natural active ingredient for haircare products such as shampoos.’
The scope for this 100% natural moringa range seems vast and one I will certainly be watching. As Angela concludes, ‘through my travels and immersion in different cultures, I have come to believe that some of the most valuable solutions to today’s environmental and health challenges are rooted in local knowledge, biodiversity and the careful stewardship of the natural world.’