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MARA Universal Face Oil
MARA

MARA Universal Face Oil

Efficacy25/100IrritancyMedium
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Works for

1 of 3 advertised claims delivered

Moisturizing
9 ingredients credited for this claim
Good support
What the product description says
“Rich in essential fatty acids, MARA’s proprietary algae-plankton blend plumps up the skin and fights free radicals while improving the appearance of tone and texture.”
Source: Cultbeauty

This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: caprylic/capric triglyceride, helianthus annuus seed oil.

Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).

Vitis vinifera seed oilKey active· EmollientEffect: HighA great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties~9.4–14.2%
Helianthus annuus seed oilKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function~5.3–8%
Caprylic/capric triglycerideKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~2.4–3.6%
Alaria esculenta extractKey active· HumectantEffect: MediumWorks as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.~1.5–2.2%
Plankton extractKey activeEffect: MediumCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skin~1.2–1.8%
Adansonia digitata seed oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~1.2–1.8%
Moringa oleifera seed oil· EmollientEffect: LowA plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid~23–34%
Linum usitatissimum seed oilEffect: Low~3.8–5.7%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.05–0.25%
Anti-aging
2 ingredients credited for this claim
Weak support
What the product description says
“Nutrient-rich plane oils – moringa, bilberry, baobab and Kalahari melon – soak your complexion with phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins A, B, C, D, E and F and minerals to quench and nourish thirsty skin and visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles.”
Source: Cultbeauty

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

Alaria esculenta extractEffect: LowWorks as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.~1.5–2.2%
TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.05–0.25%
Evens skin tone
No ingredient credited for this claim
No support
What the product description says
“Rich in essential fatty acids, MARA’s proprietary algae-plankton blend plumps up the skin and fights free radicals while improving the appearance of tone and texture.”
Source: Cultbeauty

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
Medium risk
We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oilA plant oil with a high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin and lead to allergic reactions. Can lead to photosensitivityHigh~0.15–0.65%est.
Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oilAn essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.3%est.
Moringa oleifera seed oilA plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acidMedium~23–34%est.
Vitis vinifera seed oilA great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant propertiesMedium~9.4–14.2%est.
Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~2.4–3.6%est.
Plankton extractCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skinMedium~1.2–1.8%est.
Adansonia digitata seed oilHelps soften the upper layer of the skinMedium~1.2–1.8%est.
Citrullus lanatus fruit extractA plant extract that can contain an antioxidant compoundMedium~0.55–1.25%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Plankton extractCan help attract water to the upper layer of the skin3/5~1.2–1.8%est.
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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Moringa oleifera seed oil~23–34%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Is unlikely to be helpful in restoring skin barrier function due to the low content of linoleic acid

More about Moringa oleifera seed oil
Vitis vinifera seed oil~9.4–14.2%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties

More about Vitis vinifera seed oil
Helianthus annuus seed oil~5.3–8%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Linum usitatissimum seed oil~3.8–5.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing
More about Linum usitatissimum seed oil
Vaccinium myrtillus seed oil~2.8–4.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Vaccinium myrtillus seed oil
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~2.4–3.6%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Alaria esculenta extract~1.5–2.2%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.

More about Alaria esculenta extract
Plankton extract~1.2–1.8%
Key activeComedogenic 3/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Plankton extract
Adansonia digitata seed oil~1.2–1.8%
Key activeIrritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Adansonia digitata seed oil
Citrullus lanatus fruit extract~0.55–1.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

A plant extract that can contain an antioxidant compound

More about Citrullus lanatus fruit extract
Citrullus lanatus seed oil~0.45–1.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Citrullus lanatus seed oil
Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil~0.15–0.65%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A plant oil with a high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin and lead to allergic reactions. Can lead to photosensitivity

More about Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil
Citrus aurantium amara bitter
Not recognized
Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil~0.1–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritating

More about Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
Tocopherol~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-inflammatory

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Ingredient list view

Moringa oleifera seed oil, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Linum usitatissimum seed oil, Vaccinium myrtillus seed oil, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Alaria esculenta extract, Plankton extract, Adansonia digitata seed oil, Citrullus lanatus fruit extract, Citrullus lanatus seed oil, Citrus aurantium bergamia fruit oil, Unknown, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil, Tocopherol

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Amazon USPrice as of 10/16/2026 00:20 GMT
$72.00
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 12 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Moringa oleifera seed oil: Composition, nutritional aspects and health attributesresearchgate.net
  2. 2
    Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Healthncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Careonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  4. 4
    Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egyptjournals.lww.com
  5. 5
    Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countriesonlinelibrary.wiley.com
MARA Universal Face Oil
MARAUniversal Face Oil
Buy on Amazon$72.00 · as of 10/16 00:20 GMT

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy on Amazon$72.00 · as of 10/16 00:20 GMT

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.