If you haven’t heard of babassu oil till now, you will probably know about it very soon. Like coconut oil and mustard oil, babassu oil can be used on skin, lips, and cooking. It holds a lot of resemblance to coconut oil, given that Babassu, too, is a palm fruit. Like coconut oil, babassu oil is solid at room temperature but is warm and nourishing when it touches the skin. However, babassu oil is believed to be far superior to coconut oil. Let us see how babassu oil has stolen all the limelight.
What is Babassu Oil?
Babassu is a type of palm tree Babassu palm (Attalea speciosa), and the oil derived from its seeds is known as babassu oil or cusi oil. The oil is generally transparent or light yellow. The fruit, oil from the seeds and the residue have been used for medicinal and beauty purposes by people around the Amazon region in South America, where the tree flourishes. Babassu oil does not harden when exposed to air and finds uses in cleaning agents, food, and beauty. Some people also use it as a medicine. However, scientific evidence on most uses is lacking, though the results seem favorable.
Babassu oil is increasingly replacing coconut oil and contains essential fatty acids in significant proportions – particularly lauric and myristic acid, making it an excellent emollient. It has been known to be a very effective moisturizer. It has also been used in combination with other oils as a biofuel. The cosmetic industry has broadly accepted the use of babassu oil in skincare products.
What are the Benefits of Using Babassu Oil
Let us discuss the benefits of this exotic oil from the land of Brazil for skin, hair, and general health. You will be astounded by the benefits it offers and will surely try for yourself to see the magic.
1. Excellent moisturiser
Babassu oil is an excellent moisturizer when it comes to skin. If you have dry and flaky skin, applying a little babassu oil will work wonders to make the skin soft and supple. Babassu oil is non-greasy and gets absorbed by the skin quickly, unlike other oils. Babassu oil soaks in the skin within seconds, so you don’t have to wait to get interested, and it doesn’t need to be washed later.
2. Healthy cooking oil
We all keep hunting for the best cooking oils to cook our meals in. But just coconut oil, babassu oil has the same benefits- it improves cholesterol, balances blood sugar levels, makes up for a stronger immunity function, and enhances taste and health. All this without the strong, nutty aroma of coconut oil.
Toss some vegetables in babassu oil or use it for popping the popcorn. It can be used in baking, too. You can substitute babassu oil in just about everything that needs butter. Its taste and flavor are mild, so it does not dominate the original dish.
3. Has anti-inflammatory properties
In Brazil, babassu oil is used for anything that causes skin inflammation – bug bites, eczema, rashes from plants, stings from insects, or otherwise chapped or burnt skin. Apply a peanut-sized helping of babassu oil to the affected area and relieve the discomfort within minutes. The oil acts as an effective anti-inflammatory agent thanks to lauric acid but has no side effects. It is an entirely natural way to treat skin inflammation. (Source)
4. Get baby soft lips with Babassu
Babassu oil works wonders to make skin soft, shiny, and supple without the hint of greasiness, so it can also be used as a lip balm. Mix babassu oil with shea butter and apply it on dry, chapped, and cracked lips. Within just a few applications, your lips shine bright, soft, and healthy.
5. Treat dry scalp
A dry scalp might lead to hair problems such as dandruff, itching, hair fall, and split ends. Being the effective moisturizer that babassu oil is, using it as hair oil in a small quantity could seal the moisture in the scalp and make it healthy to support a shiny, lustrous mane. Moreover, you don’t have to shampoo your hair to get the oil out. Within 30-90 minutes, babassu oil will be absorbed by your skin and be virtually unnoticeable. Try it to feel it!
6. Repairs and brings shine to hair
Shiny, lustrous, and healthy hair is everyone’s dream. But, given the pollution, stress, and fast-paced lifestyle we lead, maintaining a gorgeous mane seems like a task. Not with babassu oil, though.
Babassu oil can effectively prevent split ends, grow hair longer, and prevent hair breakage. You can even use it in your conditioner to get a beautiful shine and softness to your hair. Though you may have to try a few proportions of conditioner and babassu oil, eventually, you will end up with healthy, long, and beautiful hair.
7. Good for nails
Lauric acid and vitamin E work beautifully to give you healthy, strong nails and cuticles. Your nails get to lock moisture when babassu oil is applied, strengthening them, and the cuticles feel soft and manageable. Lauric acid also makes babassu oil anti-microbial and anti-fungal, making sure no micro-organism causes any harm to your nails.
8. Prevents body odour
You can make your body deodorant using babassu oil as a base to eliminate body odor. It is microbial, has a mild scent, and is quick-drying, so it does not ruin your clothes. In addition, you can use it with your favorite essential oils since it mixes well. Moreover, you can use it without worrying about the harmful effects of chemicals on your skin.
9. Heals damaged skin
Due to lauric acid, Babassu has excellent moisturizing properties. Babassu oil also has vitamin E, which promotes the regeneration of damaged skin cells, and the microbial properties keep it safe from breakouts. It soaks faster in the skin and hydrates it from within. Add a couple of teaspoons to your tub of water, and your whole body will be soft and smooth. Problems like cracked heels, minor cuts and wounds, and dry skin will be quickly resolved.
10. Is non-clogging in nature
When considering oils, most worry about them clogging our pores, resulting in breakouts, acne, and dull skin. However, you can put your worries to rest when using babassu oil; it is non-clogging, does not stay on the skin’s surface for long, and gets absorbed quickly without causing any breakouts or skin problems.
11. Lightweight and mixes with other oils easily
Babassu is lighter than coconut oil and does not linger on the skin or hair, making one happy, oily, and shiny. This property of babassu oil makes it a preferred oil over coconut oil, and it gets absorbed within the internal layers of skin and hair in a bit. It also mixes with other essential oils to make your deodorant, lip balm, or even a chest rub using babassu oil.
12. Has a mild smell
The last thing to worry about babassu oil is the smell. Unlike coconut oil, it does not carry its nutty essence. It has a milder, almost non-existent scent that is not easily noticeable. One cannot smell like ‘just returned from the beach all day, which makes Babassu excellent oil for people who wish to get all the benefits of using an oil without smelling like it!
Apart from these, some people use babassu oil to clean wooden furniture and medicine. There is no denying that Babassu oil scores over the popular coconut oil in many aspects while providing better benefits. Do use it yourself to know the difference.
Babassu Oil FAQs
Does Babassu Oil grow hair?
There is limited evidence that babassu oil may be effective in growing hair. Still, several factors need to be considered before making any decisions. For example, not all hair types respond the same way to babassu oil treatments. Additionally, it’s important to remember that Babassu Oil doesn’t treat baldness or regrow lost hair; it only helps improve hair health and growth.
If you’re interested in trying babassu oil for your hair goals, start by looking for high-quality products that have been laboratory-tested for performance and purity. Also, make sure to take the proper dosage to see maximal benefits. And lastly, don’t forget about good diet and exercise habits – they also play an essential role in hair loss prevention!
Is Babassu oil good for dry skin?
Babassu oil is a vegetable oil derived from the nuts of the babassu palm. It grows in warm, wet climates and has been used by indigenous people in Africa to treat skin conditions.
According to studies conducted on babassu oil, it appears to be effective at promoting healthy skincare habits due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, babassu oil also contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This essential fatty acid helps improve the look and feel of skin tissue. It might help reduce moisture loss and inflammation associated with acne or rosacea.
Is Babassu oil an antifungal?
Babassu oil contains significant levels of fatty acids, including Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which makes it an excellent source of Omega-3s. In addition, some research has shown that babassu oil may have anti-fungal properties when applied to topical applications like treating acne or fungal infections.
In particular, studies have found that it can inhibit colonization by Candida albicans and Staphylococcus epidermidis cultures in vitro. Babassu Oil was also found to suppress budding yeast cells while preventing fungus formation on agar plates containing malt extract as a food source for yeast growth.
