Cupuacu Butter
Cupuacu butter (prounouced ¨coo-poo-a-soo¨) is obtained from the seeds of the cupuacu fruit from the cupuacu tree, which is native to the Amazonian Brazilian rainforest. It belongs to the same family as the cocoa plant. It has been used by amazonian tribes for centuries for food and to look after their skin and hair. In 2003 It was declared the national fruit of Brazil. It's used widely throughout Brazil in a range of food and cosmetics and Brazilians call it the fruit of the Gods.
Because it is harvested in its wild natural habitat, the cupuacu we use can not receive the organic status and receives the wild-crafted status instead. It is sustainably harvested between January to June, cold pressed to maintain all the benefits of the oil. Unlike other oils that are harvested, cupuacu can be harvested without causing harm to the rainforest and as the fruit pulp is used for food the seeds would be wasted, therefore using cupuacu butter allows the whole fruit to be used and provides the farmers with another income.
It has a perfect amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids which help nourish the skin, and due to its low melting point, it absorbs into the skin quickly. It is rich in vitamins A, C, E and B vitamins and contains up to 12 different fatty acids some of which are: Oleic, stearic, palmitic, arachidic, and behenic. These last two are long chained fatty acids which help repair and protect the skin.
It has the ability to hold 440% of its weight in water, higher than lanolin (without the sensitisation that can happen with lanolin) because of this it can keep the skin hydrated for up to 8 hours. It restores elasticity to the skin and with continued use can help restore the skin barrier and limit transepidermal water loss. It's good for all skin types but very good for soothing dry and irritated skin. It contains antioxidants such as polyphenols and phytosterols that are anti-inflammatory, help to strengthen the lipid barrier of the skin and help combat free radicals on the skin.