No products in the cart.: $0.00
Babassu Oil
ORY® product lines:
☑ Skincare
☑ Haircare
☑ Handmade Soap (coconut-oil alternative: hardness and lather)
☑ Cosmetics — full dual-use ingredient
Babassu oil is pressed from the kernels of the Brazilian babassu palm (Attalea speciosa, formerly Orbignya oleifera), harvested by the traditional “quebradeiras de coco” women of Maranhão. Chemically it is coconut oil’s lighter cousin — dominated by lauric and myristic acids — but it melts at skin temperature into a faster-absorbing, less greasy oil that many find gentler than coconut. Laboratory studies show babassu oil has anti-inflammatory activity and has been developed into topical delivery systems [1], and its lauric acid provides antimicrobial action. In handmade soap it substitutes 1:1 for coconut oil, giving hardness and abundant lather with a slightly milder, creamier profile. Its comedogenic rating is lower than coconut’s, but still moderate.
What is Babassu Oil made of?
Babassu oil is cold-pressed from dried kernels (60–70% oil). Composition [1]:
- Lauric acid (40–50%): Antimicrobial; lather and hair penetration.
- Myristic acid (15–20%), palmitic (6–11%), stearic (3–5%) acids: Saturated; hardness.
- Oleic acid (12–18%) and linoleic (2–3%): Slightly higher unsaturation than coconut — softer, faster-absorbing.
- Vitamin E and phytosterols: Antioxidant.
- Comedogenic rating ~2–3; shelf life 24 months; melts at ~24–26 °C.
- Soap data: SAP ~0.175 g NaOH/g; hard bar, big creamy lather; 15–30% of oils (coconut substitute).
What skin type is best suited for Babassu Oil?
Babassu suits normal, dry, and sensitive body skin; facial use is moderate:
- Dry: Melts on contact; nourishing without heaviness.
- Sensitive: Anti-inflammatory [1]; often better tolerated than coconut.
- Normal: Body butters, balms, lip care.
- Mature: Softening; antioxidant support.
- Combination: Body and lips.
- Oily: Body use; light on the face.
- Acne-prone: Moderately comedogenic; prefer for body/hair; rinse-off on the face.
What hair type is best suited for Babassu Oil?
Babassu is a lighter alternative to coconut oil for hair:
- Dry or damaged: Babassu coats and softens the fiber, reducing moisture loss and mechanical breakage.
- Curly and coily: Sealing oil over water-based leave-ins (LOC/LCO method).
- Color-treated or chemically processed: Replenishes lipids stripped by chemical services.
- Straight and wavy: Lighter than coconut; suits medium hair as a pre-wash or ends treatment.
- Oily scalp: Lengths and ends only.
- Sensitive scalp: Neutral carrier for scalp actives; patch test.
- Dandruff-prone, mature or thinning: Carrier for rosemary, peppermint, or tea tree scalp treatments.
What are the benefits of Babassu Oil?
Babassu oil’s benefits are supported by laboratory studies and its compositional similarity to coconut [1, 2]:
- Anti-inflammatory: Demonstrated in laboratory models [1].
- Antimicrobial: Lauric acid.
- Fast-melting, non-greasy emollience: Absorbs quickly.
- Barrier protection: Saturated fats form a light protective film [2].
- Hair conditioning: Lauric penetration with lighter feel than coconut.
- Soap hardness and lather: Coconut-oil substitute with creamier bubbles.
- Stability: Long shelf life.
- Sustainable, community-harvested: Agroforestry income for traditional harvesters.
Dual use across ORY® product lines
Babassu serves all four ORY® lines and is the preferred coconut alternative in soap.
| ORY® line | Dual use? | How it is used | Typical level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ORY® Skincare |
Yes |
Body butters, balms, lip care, cleansing balms, creams. |
5–50% |
|
ORY® Haircare |
Yes |
Pre-shampoo treatments, hair masks, conditioner bars, sealing balms. |
5–50% |
|
ORY® Handmade Soap |
Yes |
Substitutes for coconut oil for hardness and lather; gentler cleansing. |
15–30% of oils |
|
ORY® Cosmetics |
Yes |
Lip balms, cream sticks, makeup removers. |
5–30% |
Pros and cons of Babassu Oil
Pros
Cons
- Lighter, gentler coconut alternative: Faster absorption.
- Soap performance: Hardness and lather.
- Anti-inflammatory evidence: [1].
- Stable: Long shelf life.
- Sustainable, community-harvested: Strong story.
- Moderately comedogenic: Not ideal for acne-prone faces.
- Less clinical data than coconut: Mostly laboratory and compositional.
- Cost and availability: Higher than coconut; supply less consistent.
- Drying in soap above ~30%: Like coconut; balance with conditioning oils.
What is the best application of Babassu Oil?
Babassu is a body, hair, and soap fat:
- Body butter: Whipped babassu with shea.
- Lip balm: Base fat.
- Cleansing balm: With CCT.
- Pre-shampoo hair treatment: 30 minutes before washing.
- Conditioner bar: 10–20% with BTMS.
- Soap: 15–30% as coconut substitute.
- Cosmetics: Cream-stick base.
Peer-reviewed references
- Reis MYFA, Dos Santos SM, Silva DR, et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of babassu oil and development of a microemulsion system for topical delivery. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;2017:3647801.
- Vaughn AR, Clark AK, Sivamani RK, Shi VY. Natural oils for skin-barrier repair: ancient compounds now backed by modern science. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2018;19(1):103–117.
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018;19(1):70.
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is provided by ORY International, LC for educational purposes only. It summarizes published research about babassu oil as an ingredient, including laboratory and animal studies and clinical studies of formulas that may differ from ORY® products. Results from these studies may not apply to every person or to ORY® products. This page is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a dermatologist, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider.
ORY® Skincare, Haircare, Handmade Soap, and Cosmetics products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including eczema, acne, wounds, dandruff, hair loss, or any other condition. References to FDA or Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) findings describe the ingredient, not ORY® products, and do not mean FDA has reviewed or approved any ORY® product.
Results vary by skin and scalp type, formulation, and use. Allergy to this oil is uncommon, and any cosmetic can cause irritation, sometimes from other ingredients. Always patch test, follow label directions, and stop use if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are buying for a child, consult a healthcare provider before use.
ORY International, LC works to keep this page accurate and current but makes no warranty as to its completeness. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORY International, LC is not liable for any loss or injury arising from reliance on this information or from use of any product contrary to its label directions. To report a reaction, contact us at [insert contact email / phone].
