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Noni Seed Oil
What Is Noni Seed Oil in Skincare?
Noni seed oil is a light, golden plant oil pressed from the small seeds of the noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia), a tropical tree grown across Polynesia and Southeast Asia. Its main fatty acid is linoleic acid, measured at roughly 68 to 72% of the oil in laboratory analyses. In skincare it is used as an emollient for skin that looks and feels softer, smoother, and more comfortable.
EWG Skin Deep rating for Noni
The seeds are a by-product of the noni juice industry, so the oil is a good example of an ingredient made from what would otherwise be waste.
Noni Seed Oil Quick Facts
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Morinda Citrifolia Seed Oil |
| Common names | Noni oil, Indian mulberry seed oil, great morinda, beach mulberry, cheese fruit |
| Source | Seeds of the noni fruit, usually cold pressed |
| Form | Liquid oil, gold to yellow |
| Solubility | Oil soluble; goes in the oil phase |
| Fatty acids (lab data) | Linoleic about 68 to 72%, oleic about 16%, palmitic about 9%, stearic about 4% |
| Oil yield | About 10 to 12 g of oil per 100 g of dried seed |
| Typical usage rate | No published supplier maximum was found; as a carrier oil it can be used up to 100% of a face oil. Check your supplier's data sheet. |
| Shelf life | Short compared to oleic oils because of the high linoleic content; store cool and dark |
| Skin types | Normal, combination, oily, and dry skin; sensitive skin with a patch test |
How Noni Seed Oil Works on the Skin
A linoleic-rich emollient
Two independent analyses agree on what makes this oil distinctive. In a 2011 study by Pazos and colleagues, linoleic acid made up 67.8% of the fatty acids in noni seed oil, followed by oleic acid at 15.9%. A 2022 analysis of noni seeds grown in Sabah, Malaysia, measured linoleic acid at 71.74%. That places noni seed oil with other light, fast-absorbing oils such as evening primrose oil rather than with heavier, oleic-rich oils like olive oil.
Why linoleic acid matters for the look of skin
Linoleic acid is one of the fatty acids skin uses to build the lipids in its outer layer. There is no published human study on noni seed oil applied to skin, so the best guide comes from other linoleic-rich oils. In a 2013 study by Danby and colleagues, 19 adults applied sunflower seed oil or olive oil to their forearms twice a day for 4 weeks. Sunflower seed oil kept the outer layer of skin intact and improved skin hydration, while olive oil reduced the integrity of the outer layer. That is a useful reason to choose linoleic-rich oils for a face oil.
Antioxidant compounds
The 2022 Malaysian study measured a total phenolic content of 48.85 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram in the oil. Phenolics are plant antioxidants. No published study has tested the antioxidant effect of the pressed oil on people.
How to Use Noni Seed Oil
- Neat: Press 2 to 3 drops into damp skin after your water-based serum, at night or under sunscreen in the morning.
- In a face oil: Blend with a stable oil such as jojoba to slow oxidation and balance the slip.
- In creams and lotions: Add to the oil phase. Because the oil is high in polyunsaturated fat (the 2022 study measured an iodine value of 125.9), keep heating short and add it as late in the heated phase as your process allows.
- Antioxidant: Add vitamin E (tocopherol) at the rate on your supplier's data sheet to protect the oil from going rancid.
- Storage: Keep tightly closed in a dark bottle in a cool place or the refrigerator. If the smell turns sharp or stale, the oil has oxidized and should be thrown out.
Noni seed oil is not the same as noni fruit juice, noni fruit extract, or noni leaf extract. Labels list those as Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Juice, Fruit Extract, or Leaf Extract, and they are water-based ingredients with different chemistry.
Who Noni Seed Oil Suits
Its light texture makes it a good fit for normal, combination, and oily skin that wants comfort without a heavy film, and for dry skin as one oil in a richer blend. No verified comedogenic rating for noni seed oil was found, so if you are prone to clogged pores, introduce it slowly on one area first.
Sensitive skin: patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours and start with a small amount, such as 10% of a face oil blend, before working up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is noni seed oil good for?
Noni seed oil is used as a light emollient for skin that looks softer and smoother and feels more comfortable. Lab analyses show it is about 68 to 72% linoleic acid, a fatty acid skin uses in its outer layer lipids. It also contains plant phenolics, which are antioxidants.
Is noni seed oil good for oily or combination skin?
It can be a good oil to try for oily and combination skin because it is light and high in linoleic acid rather than heavier oleic acid. No verified comedogenic rating exists, so start on a small area if you are prone to clogged pores.
Does noni seed oil smell?
Suppliers describe fresh cold-pressed noni seed oil as having a mild, fruity smell. A sharp or stale smell means the oil has oxidized and should be replaced.
Is noni seed oil the same as noni juice or noni extract?
No. Noni seed oil is pressed from the seeds and is oil soluble. Noni juice and fruit or leaf extracts come from other parts of the plant, are water based, and have different compounds and different labels.
How do you use noni seed oil on your face?
Press 2 to 3 drops into damp skin after your serum, or add it to the oil phase of a cream or face oil blend. Pair it with a more stable oil such as jojoba and a little vitamin E to help it last.
How long does noni seed oil last?
Plan on a shorter shelf life than most oils, because its high polyunsaturated fat content makes it oxidize faster. Store it in a dark bottle in a cool place or the refrigerator and replace it if the smell changes.
Shop Related Oils
Skin Perfection does not currently sell noni seed oil. For a ready-made blend of light plant oils, the Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Serum Base is made with evening primrose, rosehip, borage, and jojoba oils. Compare other oils in our evening primrose oil and jojoba oil glossary entries, see our combination skin routine, or read our guide to hydrating with facial oils.
Sources
- Pazos DC, Jiménez FE, Garduño L, López VE, Cruz MC. Hypolipidemic Effect of Seed Oil of Noni (Morinda citrifolia). Natural Product Communications. 2011;6(7):1005-1008. (fatty acid analysis; the main study was in mice)
- Physicochemical and antioxidant properties, total phenolic and nutritional contents of noni (Morinda citrifolia) seed and its oil cultivated in Sabah, Malaysia. Food Chemistry Advances. October 2022. DOAJ record (laboratory analysis)
- Akanda MJH, Matanjun P, Awal MS, et al. A review on functional and nutritional properties of noni fruit seed (Morinda citrifolia L.) and its oil. Food Bioscience. 2021;41. (review)
- Danby SG, Alenezi T, Sultan A, et al. Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatric Dermatology. 2013;30(1):42-50. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1470.2012.01865.x (19 adults, 4 weeks)
- O&3, Noni Fruit Seed Oil Cold Pressed product information: INCI, color, odor (supplier data)
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.