Searching for the best face oil? We think we may have found a contender in Maya Chia’s NEW NEW SUPER NAKED Face Oil. We’ve been testing it for more than a month, and we’ve got a full breakdown of our review + experience using the plum + chia seed oil blend. Let’s go!

By: Lisa Fennessy

IN THIS POST:

• Maya Chia SUPER NAKED review in 3 takes
• Our experience with Maya Chia SUPER NAKED Face Oil
• Maya Chia SUPER NAKED Plum + Chia Seed Oil pros and cons
• Maya Chia SUPER NAKED FAQs
• References

Ever since Le Prunier rocked the beauty world with the debut of their Plum Beauty Oil, I’ve been 100% obsessed with plum oil. Have you? Well, we are not the only ones. Users and brands alike have been honing in on plum oil and for good reason: it works. 

The latest? Maya Chia launches SUPER NAKED. A plum-chia-astaxanthin-squalane face oil that is *chef’s kiss* perfection. (Think plum oil but on skincare roids.)

If you want to know more…we’ve been testing this oil for the past few weeks and I think the best way to describe it is in three takes.

RELATED: 6 Plum oils to try!

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Maya Chia SUPER NAKED review in 3 takes

TAKE 1️⃣: The initial experience

👉The first thing you will notice straight out of the box is the SUPER NAKED branding / artwork is a departure from Maya Chia’s typical dark miron glass containers. It’s housed in a clear bottle with an outer designed by my friend Jessica Durrant (a fellow Atlantan and artist who has done work for Jimmy Choo, Spanx, Saks, Tiffany Co., Mrs. Maisel and so much more—follow her!).

👉Next you will notice the color. This oil is a bright orangey-red-pinky-coral thanks to the addition of astaxanthin. More on that in a min.

👉Next you will notice the scent—like sweet candied plums. 🤤

👉And then the consistency—a lightweight oil with a beautiful slip and a silky texture.

TAKE 2️⃣: How it makes my skin feel

Some moisturizers initially make my skin feel good, but as the day goes on, I’m left wanting more. SUPER NAKED is pretty much the opposite of that. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized all day long.

If I had to describe this all day feeling up in a few words it would be: plump, moisturized and glowing.

*I always layer my face oils over a serum for added hydration. Right now I’m using and loving True Botanicals’ Renew Chebula Active Serum.

TAKE 3️⃣: The long game (aka the stellar ingredients)

I’ve only been using this for a few weeks, but IMAGINE what these four ingredients could do in your daily routine. Let’s take a peek at what each of them bring to the table.

🏆Plum oil

• Plum oil protects from free radicals that can damage cells and lead to signs of aging (1).
• Plum oil stops the enzymes that break down skin following excessive UV exposure (something retinol also does) (2).
• Plum oil evens skin tone with its unique antioxidant and fatty acid profile including B-carotene, Omega 6 and octadecenedioic acid (3).
• Plum oil improves hyperpigmentation (4).
• Plum oil is rich in powerful polyphenols which can help reverse the signs of aging like sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles (5).
• Plum oil is a natural sunscreen booster as plum’s antioxidants rutin, B-carotene and vitamin E are photoprotective (6).
• This plum oil is certified organic and COSMOS approved (the French farm from where it comes is COSMOS approved).

🏆Astaxanthin

• Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that fights wrinkles and improves skin elasticity.
• Some accounts say astaxanthin is 65x stronger than vitamin C in combating free radicals.
• It increases skin moisture levels (7) and
• reduces visible signs of UV-aging (8).
• It also naturally protects against UV rays (9) and
• against hyperpigmentation.

🏆Supercritical Chia Seed Oil

• Chia seed oil is a very effective moisturizer and
• can help improve skin barrier function (10).
• It’s chock-full of omega fatty acids, antioxidants and essential minerals (11).
• The Nutritional Science Research Institute tested the nutritional value of chia seed and said it contains “the highest number of antioxidants we have ever measured,” which help protect against oxidative damage, UV radiation and pollution.
• While this ingredient isn’t certified organic, the farm where MC gets it doesn’t use pesticides.

🏆Squalane (derived from plant sugar)

• A natural antioxidant and moisturizer that can reduce scars, reverse UV damage, lighten freckles and erase skin pigmentation, all while fighting free radicals (12).
• This specific squalane is Ecocert / COSMOS approved, which has been clinically proven to reduce trans epidermal water loss and reduce the appearance of wrinkles by 51% during 28 days.

And that’s it but also THAT’S IT! This face oil only has four ingredients but as you can see it’s packed with plant power.

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Our experience with Maya Chia SUPER NAKED Face Oil

The bottom line on this new drop: plump, moisturized and glowing skin. But let us let you in on our complete experience…

Lisa | 44, normal / aging skin

I am personally OBSESSED with plum seed oil. My two favorite things about it are 👉the scent👈 and how plump it makes my skin feel. So you can imagine how I had to pick my chin up off the floor when I saw Maya Chia was releasing their own ethically sourced plum oil amplified with astaxanthin, chia seed oil and squalane??!!! YES PLEASE.  

(It’s like hiring Joey McIntyre for your private event but Jordan, Donnie and Danny show up too 😜.)

And it delivers. It’s lovely to use, makes my skin feel great and leaves me with that all day *healthy skin* glow. Freggin love it.

Nicolle | 35, sensitive skin

I haven’t had as much experience with plum oil as Lisa has and the OG plum oil was just fine for me (I didn’t feel like it was something to write home about). BUT, I’ve since changed my tune because this Maya Chia version is SO GOOD for sensitive skin.

I’m always shocked when a super active, gorgeously crafted, potent formula works for my reactive skin—and the latest from MC falls into the category of (also) picking my chin up off the floor. I’m in looooove with how soothing it is. I mean, chia seed oil is great for inflammation and irritation (10), and so is plum seed oil (13), so duh. Also, fewer ingredients usually means happier sensitive skin.

I’m officially a plum seed oil convert!

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Maya Chia SUPER NAKED Plum + Chia Seed Oil pros and cons

Here’s a quick peek at what we like and what we don’t…

PROS:

• You can use this as your morning and evening moisturizer
• Or use as a booster to amp up your fave moisturizer
• Contains four plant-powered ingredients only
• Smells insane
• Works
• Leaves skin feeling moisturized and silky all day
• Natural, organic and / or wildcrafted ingredients
• Fragrance and essential oil free
• Leaping Bunny Certified
• A good fit for all skin types…
• Even good for sensitive skin

CONS:

• Need to apply to damp skin to retain maximum hydration
• It’s $70, which is not cheap
• Only available at MayaChia.com

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Reader reviews for SUPER NAKED Face Oil

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Maya Chia SUPER NAKED FAQs

In true TNK reader fashion, you BROUGHT IT with the questions. Here are some FAQs that came through…

Q: How does it feel on your skin?

A: This is a light-weight oil serum. It has a nice slip to it so it’s very easy to spread. And it leaves skin feeling silky.

Q: What does it smell like?

A: It smells like plum oil—rich, sweet and decadent. 

Q: Are you using this at night before bed or morning before makeup?

A: You can use this morning or night. It’s great for the day because it helps protect skin against free radical damage and UV exposure. But it’s also great at night because it’s moisturizing and reparative too. 

Q: When do I use this in my skincare routine? 

A: Try using this as your moisturizer—or you can also play with adding a few drops as a booster to your favorite moisturizer. 

Q: How long does this bottle last?

A: If you use it once a day, two to three months. If you use it twice a day, about two months.

Q: Is there anything this best face oil CAN’T do?

We don’t know. You can use it on your hair too, lol.

Q: When does it expire?

A: 12 months once it’s opened; 18 months unopened.

Q: Is it good for any skin type?

A: Yes! This SUPER NAKED is good for any skin type including aging / mature skin, oily skin, combination skin and sensitive skin. 

Q: My skin is super dry, will it help with that?

A: Yes! chia seed oil and plum seed oil are wonderful moisturizers. However, this IS an oil serum meaning it does not contain any “hydration” or water-based ingredients so (like with all face oils) you will need to apply a hydrating serum first. Right now I am using True Botanicals’ Renew Chebula Active Serum which is so good too. 

Q: Should I wear a serum or anything underneath?

A: Yes! For best results, I recommend: 

1. Cleanse skin
2. Apply a mist
3. Apply a serum
4. Apply SUPER NAKED 
5. Sunscreen* (optional) 

Q: Can I return it if I don’t like it? 

A: Always! Maya Chia takes returns up to 30 days after purchase. 

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Happy to answer any more questions! Have you tried this NEW NEW yet?

TNK Team Note: This article contains affiliate links. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.

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References

1. Khallouki F, Haubner R, Erben G, Ulrich CM, Owen RW. Phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of various botanical parts of the fruits of Prunus× domestica L. from the Lorraine region of Europe. Food Chemistry. 2012 Aug 1;133(3):697-706.

2. Plainfossé H, Burger P, Verger-Dubois G, Azoulay S, Fernandez X. Design Methodology for the Development of a New Cosmetic Active Based on Prunus domestica L. Leaves Extract. Cosmetics. 2019 Mar;6(1):8.

3. Zhu W, Gao J. The use of botanical extracts as topical skin-lightening agents for the improvement of skin pigmentation disorders. In Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings 2008 Apr 1 (Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 20-24). Elsevier.

4. Rabasseda X. A report from the 69th annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (February 4-8, 2011 – New Orleans, Louisiana, USA). Drugs Today (Barc). 2011 Mar;47(3):233-47. doi: 10.1358/dot.2011.47.3.1616838. PMID: 21494701.

5. Jaiswal R, Karaköse H, Rühmann S, Goldner K, Neumüller M, Treutter D, Kuhnert N. Identification of phenolic compounds in plum fruits (Prunus salicina L. and Prunus domestica L.) by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and characterization of varieties by quantitative phenolic fingerprints. J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Dec 11;61(49):12020-31. doi: 10.1021/jf402288j. Epub 2013 Dec 2. PMID: 24152059.

6. Peres, D.A., de Oliveira, C.A., da Costa, M.S., Tokunaga, V.K., Mota, J.P., Rosado, C., Consiglieri, V.O., Kaneko, T.M., Velasco, M.V. and Baby, A.R. (2016) Rutin Increases Critical Wavelength of Systems Containing a Single UV Filter and with Good Skin Compatibility. Skin Research and Technology, 22, 325-333.

7. Astaxanthin—the Ultimate Anti-Aging Nutrient. White Paper on Astaxanthin’s diverse anti-aging properties is brought to you by AlgaeHealth, a division of BGG.

8. Tominaga K, Hongo N, Karato M, Yamashita E. Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects. Acta Biochim Pol. 2012;59(1):43-7. Epub 2012 Mar 17.

9. Ito N, Seki S, Ueda F. The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2018; 10(7):817.

10. Jeong SK, Park HJ, Park BD, Kim IH. Effectiveness of Topical Chia Seed Oil on Pruritus of End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Patients and Healthy Volunteers. Ann Dermatol. 2010 May;22(2):143-8. doi: 10.5021/ad.2010.22.2.143. Epub 2010 May 17. PMID: 20548903; PMCID: PMC2883415.

11. Hrnčič, Maša, Knez; Ivanovski, Maja; Cör, Darija; Knez, Želijko; Chia Seeds (Salvia Hispanica L.): An Overview—Phytochemical Profile, Isolation Methods, and Application; MDPI, Molecules, December 18th, 2019. 

12. Huang Z-R, Lin Y-K, Fang J-Y. Biological and Pharmacological Activities of Squalene and Related Compounds: Potential Uses in Cosmetic Dermatology. Molecules. 2009; 14(1):540-554.

13. Fratianni F, d’Acierno A, Ombra MN, Amato G, De Feo V, Ayala-Zavala JF, Coppola R, Nazzaro F. Fatty Acid Composition, Antioxidant, and in vitro Anti-inflammatory Activity of Five Cold-Pressed Prunus Seed Oils, and Their Anti-biofilm Effect Against Pathogenic Bacteria. Front Nutr. 2021 Nov 16;8:775751. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.775751. PMID: 34869542; PMCID: PMC8636901.