If you swear by coconut oil, you already know how important nourishing oils are for your skin. What you might not know is that an oil exists that’s even better than coconut oil for nourishing, hydrating and renewing your skin, all without weighing you down. Called babassu oil, this miracle product is taking over the natural health world.
Your search for a multipurpose moisturizing oil can end now. Babassu oil is the perfect product for taking care of your skin, hair, and nails, and you’ll soon be using it to replace every other product on your beauty shelves.
What is Babassu Oil?
Long used as a popular skin treatment in Brazil, babassu oil is a clear, light yellow vegetable oil that comes from the fatty seeds of the babassu palm, a tree that thrives in the Amazon rainforest. Once harvested, this oil can be used for food, cleaning products and skin care items.
Babassu oil is filled with vitamin E, antioxidants and fatty acids that make it naturally hydrating as well as anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. Comprised of lauric and myristic acids, this oil has a melting point close to the human body temperature, meaning that it usually melts on contact, just like coconut oil. Not only does this create a cooling sensation when you first use it, it also causes this oil to be an effective emollient.
15 Benefits of Babassu Oil
Like other natural oils, babassu oil is much better for your skin than conventional cosmetic products, but the benefits don’t end there!
1. Soaks in Fast
When your skin is rough and you’re reaching for a fast-acting solution, babassu oil will do the trick. The low melting point of this natural oil means that it dissolves directly into your skin, leaving it looking soft and smooth with the oily sheen that coconut oil often leaves instead. Unlike other moisturizers that take a long time to dry, this oil soaks in quickly and leaves your skin feeling softer faster.
2. Light-Weight
All too often, coconut oil feels thick and heavy on your skin after you apply it. Not so with babassu oil- this lightweight oil can even be left in your hair for extra shine without weighing it down. Even before it dries, this lightweight oil doesn’t feel heavy and gross, meaning you’ll be motivated to use it more often than ever.
3. Repair, Soften & Shine Hair
For a naturally hydrating deep conditioner, babassu oil is the perfect choice, and consistent use will lead to less breakage and fewer split ends. A few drops in your regular conditioner is all it takes to start seeing the benefits of hydrated hair first hand. Note: make sure to experiment with different ratios of this oil to conditioner until you learn what level works for you.
4. Nourish Your Scalp
Just because it’s hard to see doesn’t mean your scalp doesn’t need special care, too! Warm babassu oil is an ideal scalp treatment when massaged into the roots of your hair, and it won’t feel overly heavy like coconut oil does. Best of all, babassu oil is a great treatment for scalp flakes and dandruff.
5. Promotes Healthy Nails and Cuticles
The high content of vitamin E in babassu oil means that it’s highly nourishing for skin and nails. Soaking your fingertips in it can simultaneously soften your cuticles while strengthening your nails, leaving your fingers looking fresher and younger than before.
6. Mixes Better with Essential Oils
While coconut oil has a heavy natural scent, babassu oil is almost fragrance free, meaning that it mixes well with essential oils to create beauty products personalized with your favorite scent. Blending babassu oil with other carrier oils can multiple the benefits, too, as adding jojoba oil will increase the benefits for your cuticles and nails.
7. Doesn’t Clog Pores
Because it’s naturally so light weight, this natural oil won’t clog your pores like coconut oil often does. This is a major asset if you’re naturally prone to acne or have oily skin. Babassu oil quickly gets absorbed into your skin, making it soft without leading to an oily appearance or unwanted breakouts.
8. Less Messy
No one likes it when their beauty products wind up on their clothes, and this oil gets rid of this inconvenience. Because the oil is absorbed into your skin so quickly, there’s little risk of it having time to absorb into anything else.
9. Reduces Redness & Inflammation
Do you suffer from chronic skin problems that leave you itchy and inflamed? Lauric acid, the main component in babassu oil, is naturally anti-inflammatory and will help soothe any rashes, burns, stings and bug bites that are bothering you. The high composition of antioxidants and vitamin E can also help to combat inflammation and free radicals in the body, which often lead to cancer and early aging.
10. Helps Heal Damaged Skin
The anti-microbial properties of babassu oil means that it can make a big difference for skin cell regeneration, making it ideal for treating shallow cuts, cracked heals and chapped lips. Unlike petroleum-based moisture products that just dry you out in the long run, this oil will heal your skin for good.
11. Cools on Contact
No one likes to slather on lotion when it’s hot and sticky outside. Thankfully, babassu oil is naturally cooling to your skin and will make you feel refreshed the second you put it on. Like aloe vera, babassu oil is also a great resource for treating a sunburn.
12. Helps Prevent Body Odor
Because it’s anti-microbial, babassu oil is a great ingredient in homemade deodorants. Just blend together ½ cup melted oil with 2 tablespoons baking soda and 6 tablespoons arrowroot powder to make a highly effective natural deodorant to keep you smelling fresh.
13. Healthy Alternative to Other Cooking Oils
Not just useful for keeping your skin beautiful, babassu oil is also an ideal cooking oil. Because its natural flavor is to mild, babassu oil is perfect for incorporating into a wide variety of food dishes, all while improving your cholesterol levels, balancing blood sugar, increasing energy and revving up your metabolism. Babassu oil is delicious when used for sautéing vegetables or greasing baking pans, and it can be used in place of butter in almost any recipe.
14. Improves Pet Health
While it’s great for humans, babassu oil can also work wonders for your pet. Whether you use it to improve their digestion or to better their dental hygiene or coat health, this oil is a natural way to ensure your pet is always looking and feeling his best.
15. Rejuvenate Wooden Surfaces
Babassu oil has plenty of benefits for nonliving surfaces, too. Rubbing down your cutting boards and wooden surfaces with it will prolong their shelf life and prevent bacteria from making themselves at home. By adding a few drops of lemon essential oil, you can also create a homemade furniture polish.
How to use Babassu Oil
Whether you apply babassu oil directly to your skin or use it as an ingredient for a nourishing beauty product, you’ll be sure to notice the difference for your body in just a few uses. You can rub in a few drops of this oil wherever you need extra moisture, or blend it together with your favorite essential oil for a powerful dose of aromatherapy benefits.
Top 5 Babassu Oil Brands
The best way to put babassu oil to use is to buy it in pure form and use it directly or diluted in other products. This allows you to blend it into your favorite body butter, lotion and shampoo recipes for an extra boost.
Finding the right brand of babassu oil can be tricky, but these five companies won’t let you down.
1. Dr. Adorable ?
Take advantage of the purity that comes from organic babassu oil by investing in the oil from Dr. Adorable. Each bottle of pure organic oil is cold pressed with nothing but the best babassu fruits. Shipped in BPA-free food grade containers, this high quality oil is the perfect addition to your beauty routine.
2. Piping Rock Health Products ?
Enjoy the feeling of top quality oil melting directly onto your skin with this babassu oil from Piping Rock Health Products. You’ll get the benefits of a luxurious oil on your skin and hair without any unnecessary filler ingredients. Each product is guaranteed for its purity, potency and safety, no matter what.
3. SaaQin Babassu Oil ?
High grade quality while still being affordable sets SaaQin babassu oil apart, and your skin and hair will be grateful for the attention.
4. Luxuriant Sparkle Beauty Products Babassu Oil-100% Natural-16oz ?
Filled with the nourishing chemicals your skin needs to be in its best shape, this all-natural extract is guaranteed to penetrate through your skin and leave you looking stunning and healthy without being greasy.
5. Best Nature’s Cosmetics Babassu Oil Organic Cold Pressed Unrefined 4 Oz ?
High amounts of lauric and myristic acid make it simple for babassu oil to melt into your skin, filling it with the glycosides, vitamins and minerals it needs to look its best. This blend of oil from Guatemala is unrefined, meaning that one of the valuable nutrients are processed out of the oil.