Ancestral Wisdom for Modern Rituals: The African Botanicals To Take Note Of

In Yoruba culture, beauty has always been more than appearance; it is devotion, rhythm, and ritual. Every act of care is sacred — the slow rub of oil into skin after bathing, the scent of botanicals carried on the evening air, the way texture and touch awaken memory. These gestures, seemingly small, are how we stay connected to lineage.

As the Yoruba proverb reminds us, “however far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.” While modern life often demands speed and efficiency, choosing to make ritual of our care — melting shea butter after a bath, massaging Idan Oil into the scalp, or cleansing with moringa balm — allows us to create moments of peace that echo ancestral ceremony. Through these botanicals, we reconnect with the wisdom of the earth, and with the versions of ourselves who know how to move slowly, softly, and with grace.

Within A-beauty (African beauty, a term now gaining recognition), you’ll often find products working with and honouring this quiet power — creating a bridge between ancestral wisdom and modern wellbeing. At LIHA Beauty, where I act as CEO, these traditions sit at the heart of our brand, blending time-honoured African botanicals with British aromatherapy to create a slower, more intentional form of luxury. And if you’re wondering which A-beauty ingredients to look out for, allow me to share three favourites — each embodying the essence of Yoruba ritual: grounding, restorative, and eternal.

Shea Butter: The Essence of Resilience 

In Yoruba, ori means both “head” and “spirit.” It is also the word for shea butter — a reflection of how physical nourishment and spiritual alignment are the same. For centuries, women across West Africa have gathered to handcraft this butter from the nuts of the shea tree, a process that mirrors patience, community, and care. To find an authentic shea butter, look for options that are cold-pressed and unrefined. This retains the natural nutty scent and velvety texture that make ori so cherished. It melts between palms into a satin oil that soothes dry skin, restores elasticity, and provides deep protection against the elements.

For those who crave indulgence, seek out blends that pair shea butter with another nourishing oil, such as coconut. The result is a softer texture and a faint, sun-warmed glow on the skin. Used daily, these butters invite you to return to yourself — to slow down, breathe deeply, and anoint the body with intention.

Moringa: The Tree That Never Dies 

Known across West Africa as the “miracle tree,” moringa thrives even in the driest landscapes. Every part — leaves, seeds, bark — is abundant with nutrients and life. Yoruba herbalists have long turned to moringa for its purifying and strengthening properties, using it to restore balance and vitality to the body. Within this one tree, you’ll find vitamins A, C, E, and B3 — nutrients that help increase cell turnover, boost skin elasticity, reduce visible stress on the skin, and strengthen the skin barrier.

At LIHA Beauty, we use moringa in our cleansing products, thanks to its ability to cleanse without disrupting the skin barrier, where we pair it with mineral-rich Moroccan lava clay or nutrient-dense butters like mango and cocoa. You’ll also find moringa elsewhere — from hand creams to shower gels — for its deeply nourishing, balancing effect.

Coconut Oil: The Bridge Between Lands

Coconut oil, long used across Africa for cooking, healing, and hair care, represents connection. Its story stretches from Yoruba communities to the Caribbean and beyond — carried by those who never forgot the wisdom of home. Rich in fatty acids, coconut oil provides deep hydration to the skin, leaving it soft and supple while reducing inflammation, soothing irritation, and supporting wound healing. Even those with sensitive or eczema-prone skin often find comfort in its gentle nourishment.

While pure coconut oil is widely available — with unrefined, cold-pressed versions offering the most potent nutrients — many formulations blend it with other ingredients for multi-use appeal. At LIHA Beauty, we steep our pure coconut oil for weeks with a single tuberose flower, infusing it with a subtle, floral perfume that transforms a daily ritual into a sensory ceremony.

Returning to Ritual 

Botanicals are not new inventions; they are ancient teachings passed through generations. To use them is to slow down and listen to what your body remembers — warmth, rhythm, stillness. These botanicals are our source. Through them, we reconnect with the wisdom of the earth and the versions of ourselves that know how to move slowly, softly, and with grace — while nourishing the skin with ingredients that have stood the test of time.