Kokum butter may have an unusual appearance, but don’t let this fool you. It is one of the most potent substances on the market and its ability to moisturize will give your skin and hair a silky feel. Here are some ways in which this special butter can be used.
Lotions Or Conditioners
Kokum is rich in stearic acid, which should be taken into consideration if you decide to concoct either a conditioner or lotion. In large concentrations it can make the formula overly thick. For this reason you should use no more than 3 percent in your recipe. The lotion that you will produce using this butter is truly luxurious, and will be the envy of your friends.
Body Butter
This substance has a texture which makes it ideal for hydrating the body. It is quite firm, which means you’ll need to melt it prior to whipping. You will want to keep it at 5 percent and then combine with something that is softer such as avocado so that the recipe has greater balance. This butter will feel wonderful when applied to the body and will make your skin look and smell good.
Soap
Kokum is the perfect ingredient for soap, up to about 10 percent. As stated previously, this butter is rich in stearic acid, and when used in soap it can cause it to trace quite rapidly. When using this butter it is best to keep it at 5 percent of the recipe. This will provide a moisturizing effect while making the bar sufficiently firm. Some people like to add eucalyptus oil and grounded pumpkin seeds to the recipe.
Bath Bombs And Scrubs
When applied to bath bombs butter and oil will wet it, which will help them maintain their shape. They can also bring moisture to the skin, so it is recommended to add roughly 5 ounces of butter which has been melted for every 1.5 cups of mixture at the start. For scrubs, kokum is the perfect way to add moisturizers. By itself, it is too firm to effectively mix with the exfoliant, but it does work well with softer butters or liquid oil.
Balms
Kokum can be used alone in balm, both for the lips and body, but it will be quite firm. Those who want a texture which is softer will want to keep it at about 5 percent. The classical formula for balms is 1:1:1 for butter, oil and wax. Kokum works well with candelilla wax or beeswax, and as far as oil is concerned, you could throw in chia seed, sweet almond or even avocado to create a powerful moisturizer. Prior to working on the balm, use the freezer to store a few spoons. When you take them out and place them into the balm which has melted, it will harden immediately, and if it is too firm or soft, it can be adjusted as needed.