Kokum Butter (Cosmetic Grade)  

Kokum butter (cosmetic grade) is a rich, non-greasy plant butter that’s highly prized in skincare and cosmetic formulations. It’s deeply nourishing yet lightweight, making it a favorite for creams, balms, and hair products.

What is Kokum Butter

• Extracted from the seeds of the kokum fruit tree (Garcinia indica), native to India.
• Cosmetic-grade kokum butter is refined, filtered, and purified for safe use in skincare and haircare products.
• Known as one of the hardest and most stable vegetable butters (long shelf life, resists rancidity).

Properties

• Color: Pale to off-white (refined) / darker with a slight purple tinge (unrefined).
• Texture: Hard and brittle at room temperature → melts at skin contact.
• Absorption: Non-greasy, fast-absorbing.
• Shelf Life: 1–2 years (very stable).
• Skin Feel: Lightweight, velvety, soothing.

Benefits & Uses

Skin Benefits

• Moisturizing → restores skin hydration without greasiness.
• Non-comedogenic → won’t clog pores (good for acne-prone skin).
• Soothing → helps calm dry, inflamed, or irritated skin.
• Anti-aging → rich in antioxidants (vitamin E, fatty acids) to reduce fine lines.
• Healing → supports cracked heels, chapped lips, and rough patches.

Hair Benefits

• Scalp nourishment → helps dryness and flakiness.
• Conditioning → adds softness and shine to hair without heaviness.
• Strengthening → protects strands from breakage.

Cosmetic Applications

• Body butters & lotions
• Lip balms & chapsticks
• Soap making (adds hardness and creaminess)
• Hair masks & conditioners
• Healing balms for cracked skin

How to Use

• Direct application → rub between palms and apply on dry areas.
• DIY body butter → whip with shea butter, cocoa butter, and oils.
• Lip care → blend with beeswax and oils for a rich lip balm.
• Hair mask → melt with coconut oil and apply as a pre-wash treatment.

Safety & Precautions

• Generally very safe and well-tolerated.
• Patch-test if you have extremely sensitive skin.
• Cosmetic grade = for external use only (not edible, unlike culinary kokum butter used in Indian cooking).

Quick DIY Recipe – Whipped Body Butter

• 50g kokum butter
• 25g shea butter
• 20ml sweet almond oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Whip until fluffy → a rich, non-greasy moisturizer for dry skin.