The recent trend of using toxin-free skincare products may seem like a new trend, but it truly isn’t. People have been using natural substances for skin nourishment for years, especially in the Indian subcontinent. One of these natural substances is Kokum butter and although it is edible, it is better used for cosmetic and beauty products. It offers multiple positives for home-based skincare routines and is quite safe even if used every day.

Trivia

What is Kokum Butter?

Kokum butter is oil taken out from the fruit kernels of the kokum tree. Also known as Garcinia indica, this tree is mostly seen in the Western Ghats region in India. It’s part of the Guttiferaw family of trees and is sometimes called the wild mangosteen tree or the red mangosteen tree. The fruits and seeds of the tree offer a host of culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic benefits. 

To extract Kokum butter, kokum oil is taken out from the seeds and processed with the help of vegetable butter. The seeds are firmer but they often crumble if pressed with force. They have a light gray or pale yellow tint. It also has a soft and lightweight texture.

The chemical structure of its fatty content makes it solid at room temperature, hence called butter. It melts at 90-104 degrees Fahrenheit, so when it is placed or applied to the skin, it also melts at the slightest touch. This results in a non-greasy and lightweight moisturizing ingredient saturated with tons of vitamins and minerals. 

Due to its edible nature, it is also used in confectionaries to make chocolates and other edible products loved by people. It is mostly used in making good-quality skin care products like makeup bases, lotions, soaps, and lip balms. As it has triglyceride and 80% stearic-oleic-stearic (SOS), this skincare ingredient is one of the most trustworthy skincare ingredients.

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Benefits of Kokum Butter for Skin and Hair

Kokum seeds contain vitamin E and many powerful antioxidants. These nutrients strengthen the immune system and cell function, and help reverse the damage caused by free radicals. Using this buttered skin care product helps protect your skin too. 

The following pointers list why else you should consider including it in your regular skincare and haircare routines:

  1. Skin

It’s no surprise that kokum butter is the ingredient makeup artists often use. This ingredient is loved for its highly nourishing properties. It helps create a smooth texture on the skin. This omega-rich butter can be applied directly on lips, hands, knees, and elbows. So if you are wondering if kokum butter offers any benefits, yes, it does, and here are some of them:-

  • Improves skin cell regeneration

This ingredient is also known for regenerating skin cells. At the same time, it effectively reverses skin cell degeneration, and thus prevents damage even before it occurs. It is a natural emollient, and can thus go to the deepest layers of the epidermis. This helps it heal wounds and chapped skin.

  • Reduces visible signs of aging

It is also believed that this buttery ingredient helps address and prevent multiple skin aging signs. These include hyperpigmentation, increased fragility, thinning of the skin, reduced elasticity, dehydration, and dark spots. It also helps create a protective moisture barrier against pollution and seasonal changes. To reap these skin benefits, you may apply this butter after washing your face- it will help hydrate your skin for a long time. 

  • Deeply Moisturizes dry skin

It is best known for its ability to be a well-moisturized agent. It can be used to restore the skin’s moisture content, including your lips, feet, hands, etc. Unlike other kinds of butter used in skin care, kokum oil or butter is not sticky. 

It is lightweight, gets easily absorbed, and leaves no signs of greasiness after application. This is why most skincare experts advise it for people with sensitive skin. However, you should start with a patch test to know how well your skin can accept it.

  • Treats acne

There’s still little evidence about the ability of kokum oil or butter to treat existing acne. However, many skincare experts still use it as a topical treatment for acne and pimples. This butter has a strong moisturizing ability and is considered comedogenic, which means it does not clog pores. 

It may also restore moisture content to dry or irritated skin. However, it all depends on what is causing it. If your acne is related to genetics, hormonal imbalance, or consuming too oily or junk food, it probably won’t help. 

  • Reduces skin inflammation

If you have inflammation, this butter also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. It can help ward off signs of inflammation on the skin regardless of the cause. It also prevents the risk of future inflammation by safeguarding the skin against skin aggressors. 

  • Best for sensitive skin 

Known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties, this naturally-occurring emollient makes the best alternative for sensitive skin. If your skin is sensitive to most skin care products, this ingredient is gentler and easily tolerated by the skin. So, even people with sensitive skin can use kokum butter for skin lightening and brightening.

kokum butter for skin
  1. Hair

Surprisingly, this nourishing butter is equally helpful in hair care too. We are mentioning some of the most important ways in which this natural butter helps with hair care plans:

  • Anti-dandruff solution

There are common hair care issues like itchy or flaky scalp, hair loss, and other concerns. Should you suffer from any of them, you could opt for kokum’s butter. Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce infection and inflammation on the scalp. 

It also keeps the scalp moisturized. This is crucial while preventing dandruff and seasonal dryness, and thus creating a healthy scalp environment. You can also add castor oil and almond oil to it, apply it to your scalp, and then rinse it off with sulfate free hair shampoo

  • Natural hair conditioner

Kokum butter is saturated with omega-3 fatty acids and other vital moisturizing agents that give the hair the right amount of hydration. It moisturizes the scalp and prevents oxidative stress in the hair cuticles. This skincare ingredient should also work well if you have dry or coarse hair due to excessive chemical use.

  • Stimulates hair growth

This seed-based butter is popularly known to stimulate hair growth. This natural plant butter is a perfect remedy for thick and long hair. It is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and lauric acid content. 

The fatty acids nourish the scalp and form a protective barrier against environmental or seasonal changes. You can also use kokum seeds, grind them, and massage the powder or butter on your scalp once a week.

Characteristics of Kokum Butter

  • No scent. While moisturizing agents like Cocoa and Shea butter are known for their distinctive fragrances, this buttery substance has no scent or fragrance. Using kokum oil or butter is the perfect option if you are sensitive to fragrances. 
  • Easily absorbed. Unlike other plant butter, kokum is remarkably lightweight and quickly gets absorbed into the skin. However, the same is not true for other nourishing ingredients like cocoa, shea, and coconut. 
  • Non-comedogenic. This plant butter won’t block your pores or acne. Instead, it might help reduce acne or breakouts. This is much against cocoa and coconut butter that are more likely to clog pores if topically applied to the skin. 
  • Has a stable molecular structure: This plant butter is the most structurally and chemically stable plant butter. It works as a natural emulsifier or hardening agent, but at the same time, its hard texture can make it tough to work with other ingredients. 

Bid adieu to dry and dehydrated skin 

Healthy skin is important to feeling at your best. Conversely, dry and withered skin can cause worry, which means your skin is not nourished and hydrated properly. You may do all good for your skin, eat right, stay hydrated, and do yoga or pranayama. Your skin may still look dull and unhealthy if you don’t have the right products in your beauty kit. 

Skin is the largest body organ and gets affected by the products you use on it. Besides, some skin types are extremely sensitive, and using chemically-enriched skincare products can cause multiple issues. So keeping in mind the diverse skin care needs, we offer a wide range of natural skin care products with no harmful chemicals or toxins. 

Our kokum-enriched Ubtan Body Lotion has many benefits for sensitive or acne-prone skin types. It is a must-have product if you want to have soft, supple, and dehydrated skin. The nourishing benefits of Kokum Butter, Turmeric, Shea Butter & Olive Oil replenish skin while revoking its natural glow. This rich body lotion penetrates the skin’s deepest layers and keeps it hydrated for a long time.

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This antioxidant-enriched and soothing body lotion does not slather your skin with greasiness or leave any sticky trail. It improves the appearance of fine lines, age spots, and marks on the skin by strengthening the skin’s natural protective barrier. Best suited for all skin types, our Ubtan Body Lotion has no harmful chemicals and is free of Parabens, toxins, and mineral oils.

Takeaway

Kokum butter is a plant-based butter extracted from the seeds of the kokum tree. This plant butter has gained popularity due to its extremely nourishing and moisturizing properties. It is frequently used in topical cosmetic and skin care products such as lotions, face creams, lip balms, bathing bars, etc. 

Unlike other plant butter, kokum oil has a comedogenic rating between zero and one, so it won’t clog pores or cause acne when used on the face. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help treat skin care issues like dryness, redness, and itching. However, more research still needs to be concluded on the benefits of this plant butter in treating any particular condition. 

Using kokum butter on the face offers a different experience than other plant butter like cocoa and shea because it is not greasier. It thus neither clogs the skin pores nor has any offensive odor. So, if you want to get the best out of this plant butter, we recommend you use Mamaearth Ubtan Body Lotion. It is surely health-giving for every skin type. 

FAQ

  1. How to use kokum butter for skin?

    Kokum butter is solid when it is at room temperature. Hence, make sure it is at room temperature when you apply it. First, wash your face before using it. Then, take a small amount of kokum butter in your palm and massage it well. We recommend that you do not slather in excess but make it cover your face. Because it liquefies at 90-104 degrees Fahrenheit, it melts when touched to the skin. 
    If you want to reap the goodness of Kokum butter in your daily skin care regimen, you can use Mamaearth Ubtan Body Lotion. Crafted with Turmeric and Olive Oil, it intensely moisturizes the dry and cracked skin on elbows, knees, and soles of the feet. Plus, it is best suited for all skin types because it has no harmful chemicals. 

  2. What does kokum butter do for skin?

    Kokum butter is a plant butter used in most cosmetic and skin care products for skin nourishment. It can be topically used to nourish dry skin deeply. Since it is comedogenic, it does not clog pores and is highly recommended for sensitive or acne-prone skin. It’s frequently used to treat various skin issues, including acne, minor inflammatory conditions, dry skin, etc.

  3. Is kokum butter good for all skin types?

    Yes. Kokum butter best suits all skin types, whether oily, dry, combination, sensitive or aging. In addition, this highly nourishing ingredient is found in many skin care products for sensitive or acne-prone skin since its comedogenic rating is between zero and one, so it can be safely used on the face.

  4. Does kokum butter have UV protection?

    Yes. Kokum butter has antioxidant properties, which protect skin from UV damage. In addition, it soothes inflamed and irritated skin from sun damage. But sunscreen or SPF is a must-have skin care product when stepping out.

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