Desert dates play a starring role in many of Tooggas soaps, lotions, and (of course) our bestseller: 100% pure, wild-harvested desert date oil. The name of our company, Toogga, is even the word for the desert date in the local language of Mauritania. But what exactly is a desert date? And why do we use it in our products?

The desert date tree (Balanites aegyptiaca), grows across many parts of Africa and the Middle East. While desert dates have been used for food and medicinal purposes for more than 4000 years, their cosmetic uses have only been discovered more recently. The oil we cold-press from desert date kernels can help heal scars and other skin imperfections, alleviate acne, and even provide sunburn relief.

But the desert date is more than just a fantastic beauty product. It’s also helping to restore and maintain the health of the Sahel.
While other plants might wither in the hot, dry climate of the region, the desert date can withstand high temperatures and long periods of drought while still producing yields up to 10,000 fruits each year. Our work with trained harvesting and reforestation professionals, like the members of the Badely Cooperative, ensures that the fruits are picked sustainably—and that more trees are planted each year to keep the land healthy for generations to come.

Read more about the desert date in this blog from Nauki - Responsible Sourcing.