Cupuaçu and products made from it are becoming more commonplace in Western countries. The fruit and its butter are prized for their versatility in both food and beauty products. Cupuacu butter benefitsare rich in antioxidants, which help repair damage to the skin caused by free radicals. Free radicals can induce skin aging, dark patches, and dull skin. Protecting your skin from damage is a must if you want to keep your skin looking healthyand young. 3. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES

Cupuacu is a close cousin to the cacao plant, the trees and fruits are similar, cupuacu has a richer pulp and is more popular for straight consumption or in the making of ice creams and sweets in general. Chocolate can also be made from cupuacu - we call it "cupulate". Cupuacu butter is softer, therefore easier to use and offers more benefits than the cocoa butter. Shea has high contents of omega fatty acids, which help to moisturize as well as reduce the appearance of scars and fine lines, and enhance SPF protection to prevent damage from UV rays. But it really can’t compare to cupuaçu for antioxidizing and vitamin content.

Cucuacu Butter Fatty Acid Profile

Both the cupuaçu and argan products significantly restored hair hydration and curbed protein loss — a common result of dying hair ( 8). Rich in antioxidants and numerous nutrients

Extracted from the seeds of the Ucuuba Tree, Ucuuba butter ( Virola sebifera) originates from Central and South America. The seeds contain up to 70% fat. Ucuuba butter appears brown or caramel-like in color and offers a rich nutty/smoky scent.As I’ve provided this formulation in percentages as well as grams you can easily calculate it to any size using a simple spreadsheet as I’ve explained in this post. As written in grams this recipe will make 20g. If you scale this formulation up, you will need to use a different whipping method. Please read this to learn more. Extracted from the nuts of the Kukui Tree ( Aleurites moluccana), aka Candlenut Tree, this pale yellow butter offers little scent. The Kukui Tree is Hawaii’s official state tree. It has a rich cultural history with local people using every part of the tree. Phytosterols are compounds found in fruit, veg, nuts and oils. They have shown strong UV protection and anti-inflammatory actions. Phytosterols are also the skin’s natural moisturisers and protect it from dryness and dehydration. And can also add texture and gloss to cosmetics. Murumuru butter has a long shelf life and a higher melting point compared to coconut oil. High concentrations of lauric and myristic acid makes it an excellent butter for soap making. In addition to that, it is pre-destined for hair care because of its high lauric/myristic acid content.

The type of omega 3 in plant-based butters is an Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA). ALA improves skin’s durability, reduces inflammation, improves brightness of the skin, and even protects against UV damage.* The Omega 6 in plant-based butters is a Linoleic Acid which is vital to the growth and function of the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin. A deficiency of Linoleic Acid will result in damaged, weak, and dry skin. So applying Omega 6 topically protects and firms the skin. This Brazilian Fruit Makes Beer, Ice Cream, and Faux Chocolate". Atlas Obscura . Retrieved 28 October 2018. Stearic acid (C18:0) is a saturated fatty acid used in many cosmetics and skincare products. Although it mainly supports the scent and texture of the products, it also enhances the skin’s moisture content.Cupuacu butter is an excellent emollient that restores elasticity to the skin while providing anti-oxidants and hydration. 6,7 It is considered a “super-moisturizer” because of its hydrophilic (water-loving) properties. As it carries water to the skin it makes skin supple, soft and more elastic. 7,9 This deep hydration makes the skin smooth and soft to the touch. Nature could not have provided a better solution to dry, sunburned or aging skin. Though it's not recognized as a sun protection factor (SPF) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Monograph, cupuacu butter is well known for its ability to absorb damaging UVA/UVB rays for natural sun protection. 8,9 This is important to the skin and wound care realms in that one of the most important extrinsic factors in accelerated skin aging is solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Epidemiological and clinical studies have identified excessive sun exposure as a primary causal factor in various skin diseases including, premature aging, inflammatory conditions, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. 10,11 A series of deleterious biochemical reactions occur within the skin when it is exposed to excess UV radiation; this process is referred to as photoaging. Chronic sun exposure damages the dermal connective tissue and alters normal skin metabolism. In addition to depressing immunity, and stimulating oxidative stress and inflammation, UV radiation increases the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPS), enzymes that degrade collagen. 12 The destruction of collagen is a major contributor to the loss of skin suppleness and structure that occurs with advancing age. It’s a tree in the cocoa family and it’s delicious fruit is prized by birds, monkeys and humans. In Peru and Brazil the creamy pulp is used to make ice cream, juice and jam. Cupuaçu juice was even blessed by a shaman as part of the birth process. Like cocoa it contains ‘beans’. It is from these beans that a soft, creamy butter can be pressed. This is what we formulators use. What does Cupuaçu butter smell like?

As with anything given to us by Mother Nature, plant-based body butters come in all varieties from all over the world. Here are our favorite plant-based skin butters for you to try! 1 | Bacuri ButterOne of the softer plant butters, it absorbs easily into the skin giving high-intensity moisture. Olive Butter spreads easily, so it works great for an extra luxurious massage. It creates a protective barrier to prevent water-loss. It also firms the skin up, reducing signs of aging. Olive butter is best for those with sensitive and very dry skin. 11 | Sal Seed Butter The antioxidant benefits of cupuacu butter protect the skin from environmental and external pressures that can lead to irritation or damage to the skin.By reducing the extent of oxidativestress, cupuacu butter can helpto reduce thesigns of aging, especially wrinkles and dark patches. I have used cupuacu in skin balms and creams for dry and dehydrated skin as well as deep conditioning hair masks. Used at a high enough levels it will impart a chocolate-like scent and creamy colour. Use it in any product where you need to attract moisture to the skin and hair. References: High in lauric and myristic acid, the butter creates a nice foam in soap. Furthermore, due to its high concentration of lauric acid, tucuma butter is an excellent ingredient for hair care – particularly for damaged and split-end, as well as curly hair. I love it, and I’d say so, but you can get away with shea or mango butter in most formulations that call for cupuaçu butter. Everyone I’ve talked into purchasing cupuaçu butter has fallen in love with it!