Yangu: The African Oil with a Dry Touch
Cold-pressed from the seeds of the Cape Chestnut, this East African vegetable oil has a fluid texture that absorbs quickly and leaves almost no residue on the skin. Suitable for both face and hair lengths.
- A virgin oil, first cold pressed, from Cape Chestnut seeds.
- Profile dominated by unsaturated fatty acids, hence the dry touch.
- Band A in our in-house test: matte finish in less than 5 minutes.
- Guidelines: 2 to 3 drops on the face, 4 to 6 on the hair lengths.
- Antioxidant support, never a filter: does not replace sun protection.
Yangu in pictures
Identity Card
Where this oil comes from
Calodendrum capense belongs to the Rutaceae family — the citrus family — and grows from the Cape to the high-altitude forests of Kenya. Its spiny capsules resemble chestnut burs, hence the English name Cape Chestnut; the term yangu refers to the oil derived from the seeds. Shelled and dried, these are cold-pressed, without solvents: this preserves the unsaponifiable fraction. The result is a fluid, pale yellow product, with such a subtle odor that it can be incorporated into a treatment without imposing its scent.
The 3-drop test, our in-house benchmark
A reproducible method to classify any fatty substance. A stopwatch is all you need.
- Clean and dry hands, room at 20 °C.
- Place 3 drops on the back of the hand.
- Spread for 10 seconds, then start the stopwatch.
- Note when the finish becomes matte again: this is the band.
| Band | Observed time | What it implies, and when to apply it |
|---|---|---|
| A — dry touch | less than 5 min | Does not leave a mark, can be layered over cream · morning or evening |
| B — intermediate | 5 to 10 min | Light residual film, to be dosed · preferably in the evening |
| C — rich | more than 10 min | Clear, comforting film on dry skin · night and body |
Yangu is ranked in band A, alongside jojoba: a classification that anyone can redo at home in five minutes, with no equipment other than a stopwatch.
Five vegetable oils compared
| Oil | INCI Name | Dominant | Band | Face dose (drops) | Playing field |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yangu | Calodendrum Capense Seed Oil | Oleic + linoleic | A | 2 to 3 | Exposed areas, ends |
| Argan | Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil | Oleic + linoleic | B | 2 to 3 | Evening, nails |
| Prickly Pear | Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil | Mainly linoleic | A | 2 to 3 | Night care, eye contour |
| Jojoba | Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil | Wax esters | A | 2 | Combination skin, scalp |
| Macadamia | Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil | Oleic + palmitoleic | C | 1 to 2 | Body, dry skin |
How to read this table: on combination skin, jojoba and yangu are mainly distinguished by the dose — 2 drops vs. 2 to 3, for a matte finish in less than 5 minutes in both cases. Macadamia, alone in band C, is reserved for the body and colder months. Prickly pear shares the same band A with a more distinctly linoleic dominance, while argan, in band B, leaves a light film that makes it more suitable for evening use.
What its fatty acids change in use
Oleic acid provides glide and immediate suppleness; linoleic acid lightens the texture, hence the good tolerance for combination and oily skin; the unsaponifiable fraction, rich in tocopherols and sterols, is known for its antioxidant role — the most fragile part to heat. In short: it nourishes without thickening the complexion.
Our interpretation
Our benchmark raw material remains prickly pear. Yangu interests us for a precise reason: same band A in the 3-drop test, but a different signature in use. Prickly pear, being more linoleic, is best used at night on the face; yangu, being more oleic and therefore more slippery, spreads better on lengths and larger areas.
Discover our anti-aging skincareThe 28-day protocol
Evening only
2 drops as a finish, 3 times a week.
Add in the morning
2 drops morning and evening, daily, before cream · 3 minutes waiting time before makeup.
Hair appointment
A 20-minute mask before shampoo.
The assessment
Two photos, same light, D1 and D28. Then we decide.
Before day 1: one drop on 2 cm² in the crook of the elbow, 48 hours waiting.
How much, on which body area
| Area | Quantity (drops) | Frequency | Right gesture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entire face | 2 to 3 | 1 to 2 times a day | Warm between palms, press outwards |
| Eye contour | 1 | Evening | Tapping with the ring finger on the orbital bone |
| Neck and décolleté | 3 | Evening | Upward movements towards the jaw |
| Lengths and ends | 4 to 6 | Once a week | 20-minute mask before shampoo |
| Scalp | 6 to 8 | Every 15 days | 4 minutes of circular massage |
A standard drop is approximately 0.04 ml: three are enough, much less than what is instinctively poured.
NOPAL LIFE synergistic skincare
How to choose it well, how not to waste it
When buying. Look for "virgin, cold-pressed", full INCI name, amber glass. An odor of paint or cold frying indicates oxidized material.
Daily use. Double the product does not nourish twice as well: the film takes twice as long to disappear. Heat and light shorten its shelf life: closed cupboard, 20°C, opening date noted on the back.
Three successful pairings
With argan
Similar profiles, different uses: one in the morning, argan in the evening.
Discover arganWith prickly pear
The home duo: one on the face at night, the other on the hair lengths.
Discover prickly pearNOPAL LIFE Skin Intelligence™
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Your most frequently asked questions
What does yangu oil provide for the skin?
Light nutrition and antioxidant support: 2 to 3 drops as a finish provide suppleness, without a noticeable film after five minutes. Nothing spectacular: just sustained comfort.
For which skin types?
All, with particular interest for combination skin and those exposed to sun and wind. In winter, it is layered over a richer treatment; oily skin tolerates it in small doses.
Does it replace sun protection?
No. It is an antioxidant supplement, not a filter: nothing replaces sun protection.
Can it be used on hair?
This is its traditional use. Pre-shampoo mask: 4 to 6 drops on the lengths, leave for 20 minutes. Finish on towel-dried curls: 1 to 2. Scalp massage: 6 to 8 drops, every two weeks.
How do I know if it's right for me?
48-hour test on 2 cm² in the crook of the elbow, then the 28-day protocol detailed above.
INCI nomenclature verified in CosIng, the European Commission's cosmetic ingredient database. The durations cited are from our in-house observation protocol, not a laboratory measurement.
Read more in the Skin Guide
Information provided for cosmetic and educational purposes; it does not constitute medical advice.
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