Kokum Butter Benefits for Skin: How to Use, Where to Buy + DIY Recipes!

ByMindy Benkert

Kokum Butter is a versatile butter that can help your skin in a variety of ways. It is often used as a replacement for heavier butters such as cocoa butter or shea butter.

It does not clog pores or cause added irritation if you have sensitive skin.

It can also be used on acne-prone skin, it fights inflammation and helps heal and protect skin.

Kokum Butter has many benefits for skin and can be used in a variety of ways including in lotions and balms.

Kokum Butter Skincare Benefits

Kokum Butter for Skin Quick Facts

Kokum Butter Scientific Name:
The scientific name for Kokum Butter is Garcinia indica
Kokum Butter Comedogenic Rating:
Kokum Butter is non-comedogenic and is not likely to clog your pores.
Kokum Butter Extraction Method:
Kokum Butter is extracted from the seeds of the kokum tree. The seeds are processed and the oil is turned into a vegetable butter similar to shea butter.
Kokum Butter INCI Name:
Garcinia Indica Seed Butter
Kokum Butter COSING Number:
56317
Kokum Butter Skincare Recommendations:
Kokum Butter is often described as non-comedogenic and is a harder butter with a smooth texture. However, pore-clogging potential and skin tolerance vary from person to person, so a non-comedogenic rating is not a guarantee that it will suit your skin. Patch test first, especially if you have acne-prone or sensitive skin (see the Warnings section below).
Kokum Butter Absorption:
Kokum Butter is easily absorbed by skin and leaves skin feeling soft and satiny.
Kokum Butter Melting Point:
The melting point of Kokum Butter is 32.2-40°C (90-104°F) which means it can melt at skin temperature.

Kokum Butter Composition: Fatty Acids

Palmitic Acid (C16:0) 4.0%
Stearic Acid (C18:0) 54%
Oleic Acid (C18:1, ⍵-9) 40%
Linoleic Acid (C18:2 ⍵-6) 2.0%
*Fatty acid breakdown is shared from Modern Cosmetics Volume 1.
Kokum Butter Skincare Benefits

What is Kokum Butter?

Kokum Butter is a more solid butter that is extracted from the seeds of the kokum tree. It is often used in cosmetics because it is non-comedogenic and is very lightweight.

It is not heavy or greasy and is actually solid at room temperature before being mixed with other ingredients.

This butter has many benefits and is often used as a replacement for shea or cocoa butter since it is lighter and less likely to cause breakouts or clog pores.

Kokum Butter Benefits for Skin

Kokum Butter is a very balanced botanical butter, it is very stable and easy to use in a variety of ways which makes it very popular in cosmetics and skincare products.

As the composition table above shows, Kokum Butter is primarily stearic acid (54%) and oleic acid (40%), with relatively little linoleic acid (omega-6) at 2%.

It also protects the skin from damage by creating a natural barrier.

Because it is an emollient it also helps keep the moisture on skin to keep it plump and hydrated all day long.

Kokum Butter's emollient and antioxidant properties help support your skin's natural barrier and renewal process.

This means that combined with its emollient properties it can provide excellent healing from cracks, chapping, and windburn.

This butter also has anti-inflammatory properties. If your skin is on the sensitive side or you have acne-prone skin, this could be a moisturizer that works for you and your skin!

Popular Kokum Butter Uses for Skin

Kokum Butter Skincare Benefits

Because Kokum Butter is also full of fatty acids, it is great to mix with other ingredients to thicken up a recipe. It is also a stiff butter that remains solid at room temperature which makes it great for creating solid recipes like balms or lotion bars! It is particularly useful in recipes that are meant to help heal skin such as aftershave balms!

Kokum Butter is also a popular ingredient in anti-aging skincare products, where its moisturizing properties help skin feel softer, smoother, and more supple. It is also great for keeping skin plump and young. The high concentration of fatty acids and Vitamin E helps keep your skin feeling hydrated, young, and refreshed.

Kokum Butter is also non-comedogenic; this means that it won’t clog pores or contribute to creating acne or blemishes.

It is often used in moisturizers for those who have sensitive or acne-prone skin; it also helps fight inflammation which makes it great for those with tough to manage skin conditions.

Kokum butter also has a long shelf-life; about 2 years. This means it will last a long time and is a great moisturizer to keep on your shelf! It can also be used to help stabilize other recipes and reduce product waste by delivering longer shelf lives to your favorite skincare products.

This versatile butter has a lot of uses in the world of skin care including balms, lotions, creams, conditioners, and scrubs. No matter what your needs are, Kokum Butter would be an excellent ingredient to add to your own DIY recipe.

Warnings/Contraindications for Kokum Butter

Before trying Kokum Butter on your face, it's always a good idea to patch test a small amount on a less sensitive area of skin first to see how your skin responds.

If your skin shows no irritation after 48 hours, you can consider trying Kokum Butter products on your face. If you notice redness, itching, or irritation, stop using the ingredient and do not apply it to your face. Check with a dermatologist if irritation continues or before trying again.

Where to Buy Kokum Butter

Kokum Butter Skincare Recipes

Kokum butter can be used in place of butters like cocoa butter, mango butter, murumuru butter and shea butter.

Just keep in mind that it's a harder butter, so it may change the consistency of the recipe.

Also, remember that Kokum butter's comedogenic rating is 0-1 so it can be safely used on the face. You wouldn't want to use cocoa butter on your face because it has a comedogenic rating of 4 and is likely to clog pores.

Check out the recipes below that use butters as a base!

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Kokum Butter Skincare Benefits

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