Emu Oil for Skin, Hair and Stretch Marks

emu oil for skin and hair

Should you include Emu Oil in your Daily Routine?

For thousands of years, Aboriginal Australians have known about the benefits of using Emu Oil, but it is only recently that research has shown how good it is for our health and well-being. Emu Oil is a wonderful moisturizer and emollient and is rich in Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9, as well as vitamins A, D, E, F and K2 MK4. 

Research by Craig-Schmidt, Brown & Smith has shown that Emu Oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, specifically Oleic acid (an Omega 9 fatty acid) that easily penetrates and is absorbed by the skin, and doesn’t clog or irritate the skin.

Other good sources of Oleic acid include olive oil, rapeseed oil, almond oil, peanut oil, rice bran oil, sesame oil and sunflower oil. As you will soon realise, Emu Oil can offer a range of health benefits for everyone – regardless of your age, making it the ideal supplement for a healthy diet.

Benefits of Oleic Acid 

Assists skin, hair and nails to retain moisture

Reduces cholesterol and protects the heart

Promotes healthy blood vessels and reduces blood pressure

Stabilises blood sugars

Assists in weight loss

Aids healing due to its anti-inflammatory properties

Reduces and heals scars

Reduces damage caused by free radicals

Assists in the formation of healthy nerve growth and repair

Emu Oil has also been shown to be high in vitamin K2

Studies have found that emu oil is high in a compound called K2 MK4 — one that many medical scientists regard as extremely beneficial to human health. Vitamin K2 works alongside calcium, magnesium and vitamin D to prevent heart disease and degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin K2 has also been shown to protect against dementia, lowering the risk of heart disease and mortality, supporting the immune system, preventing infectious diseases and even cancer.  

Where does Emu Oil come from?

I hate to say this, but Emu Oil comes from Emus! Emus are native to Australia and are farmed in the outback, but they can also be found wild anywhere from the Australian coastal areas to the Snowy Mountains. They are also farmed in the USA and other countries around the world.

Emus need to survive in some of the harshest, driest and hottest environments on the planet (think of the Australian outback!), so they have developed oils that help to keep their skin healthy, regardless of the climate.  This is why Emu Oil is so wonderful for your skin!

How is Emu Oil made?

Emu Oil comes from the thick pad of fat along the backs of the Emus, but it can also be taken from other thickly padded areas of their body. Once the fat has been removed from the Emu, it is washed in water to remove any contaminants and kept refrigerated until the oils can be extracted.

How is Emu Oil extracted?

The Emu fat needs to be heated to remove the oils and there are two different processes that can be used. One process heats the Emu fat in water until the oil is released and rises to the surface of the water. The other method dehydrates the fat, slowly releasing the oils as the fat dehydrates.

Whichever method of extraction is used, the accumulated oil needs to be filtered and sterilized to remove any impurities, before being prepared for sale.

Emu Oil for Hair

Does Emu Oil stimulate the growth of hair in people who are suffering from hair loss? To be honest, a lot of websites promote the use of this oil for hair regrowth, but there isn’t really any firm evidence that it works.

There doesn’t appear to be any research to support these claims, except for an elusive study in the US by Dr. Michael Hollick. Using mice as his test subjects, he found that the thickness of the skin had increased and the follicles appeared more ‘robust’ after applying Emu Oil compared to Corn Oil.

That’s the only mention of any actual research into using this oil for hair regrowth and no-one seems to be able to find the original research. On the flip side however, Emu Oil does contain a high percentage of essential fatty acids that helps to keep the hair healthy (Omega 3, 6 and 9) and it does have anti-inflammatory properties. 

It also easily penetrates and is absorbed by the skin, so it will relieve a dry, itchy scalp, particularly if you massage it into the skin on your scalp. Whilst Emu Oil might not be a proven solution for baldness, it does have other beneficial effects that will make your hair healthier.

Emu Oil for Scars 

The anti-inflammatory and healing effects of Emu Oil are undisputed, but is Emu Oil any good for healing scars?

Well, Emu Oil has been shown to be useful for treating skin irritations, wounds and burns. However, there is no significant research that demonstrates it can actively reduce scars, instead its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties can help speed up the body’s healing processes and reduce the redness of the scar. Not forgetting that the Oleic Acid in Emu Oil actually helps to regenerate cells, helping your skin to heal quickly and efficiently after an injury or burn. 

Emu Oil for Stretch Marks

For the same reasons as above, Emu Oil is most probably very helpful in healing stretch marks, particularly since it is a powerful moisturizer that easily penetrates your skin.  The fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6) are also essential for healthy skin, so whilst any evidence is still anecdotal, Emu Oil is likely to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks over time.

Emu Oil for Acne

Once again, there are no clear studies to indicate that Emu Oil prevents or heals acne. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and healing properties however, are very likely to reduce the swelling and redness of acne and to assist in healing your skin, maybe even reducing the acne scars as well.

What is the Best Emu Oil?

That’s a difficult question to answer, because you can buy soaps, shampoos, lip balms and supplements all made from Emu Oil. So here’s our pick of the best Emu Oil products on the market right now!

emu oil for fabulous skin


emu oil for awesome skin and hair


emu oil for better skin and health

Discover the remarkable secrets of hyaluronic acid serums for a younger looking complexion

Hyaluronic acid serums have become very popular in the skincare industry, simply because they have such a remarkable effect on your complexion. When an ingredient this good comes along, everyone wants to jump on the band-wagon!

autumn skin care

Summer to Autumn Skin Care: Five Must-Have Anti-Aging Products

The cooler autumn temperatures and lower humidity levels cause your skin to loose some of its moisture, so autumn is all about hydration and repairing any damage caused during summer. It’s also a good time to prepare your skin for the ravages of the cold winter months yet to arrive. 

boost collagen

How to boost collagen and maintain a youthful complexion

There are many factors that are essential to maintaining a youthful complexion, but collagen production is the key element! The problem is that as you age, the amount of collagen in your skin decreases, leading to fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. The solution is to increase the production of collagen in your skin.

skin care mistakes

Skincare Mistakes

How many skincare mistakes do you make each day? When we are young we tend to take our skin for granted, staying out all night, eating the wrong foods and not using the best products on our face. All of this can create unhealthy, acne prone skin that looks dull, tired, and far too old for our age. Find out the mistakes you are making!