Get to Know: Kokum Butter

What is Kokum Butter?

The kokum tree (Garcinia indica) grows in areas of Asia and Africa. It is also known as wild mangosteen or red mangosteen. Kokum butter refers to the kokum fruit’s seed oil, which is solid at room temperature, as well as pale and gray or yellow in color.

Kokum butter is most often used topically as an ingredient in skincare products. Much like shea butter, it has moisturizing properties and is less likely to clog the pores than something like cocoa butter. It has a high melting point and melts slightly when it comes into contact with skin. This makes it a desirable ingredient for lip balms, soaps, and moisturizers.

Benefits of Kokum Butter

• Helps prevent drying of the skin
• Helps heal ulcers, heal fissures & cracks of the lips, hands and soles of feet
• Helps regenerates skin cells & reduces degeneration of skin cells
• Non-pore clogging (non-comodegenic)
• Contains 80% stearic-oleic-stearic triglycerides
• Contains antioxidant properties (Vitamin E galore!!)
• Helps stabilize emulsions
• High oxidative stability
• Softens the skin and restores skin flexibility & elasticity

Kokum Nutrition Facts

• Fatty Acids: Kokum butter is high in essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 help your body sustain healthy skin cell membranes to prevent damage. Polyunsaturated fats also contribute to a healthier and more balanced moisture barrier. A healthy natural barrier is a key component of keeping your skin plump and hydrated.

• Emollient properties: Kokum butter is easily absorbed by the skin. So it’s healing properties can penetrate deep into the layers of the dermis. It can help heal ulcers as well as cracks in the lips, hands, and the soles of your feet.

• Vitamin E: Kokum butter is rich in vitamin E. This fat-soluble, essential nutrient is a powerful antioxidant. It not only benefits the immune system, skin health, and cell functioning, it also protects the skin against free radicals. Your skin is exposed to these environmental toxins every time you step outside.