If your beard balm doesn’t use Kokum Butter, then they are substituting a cheaper agent you should avoid.
Every man wants that full healthy-looking beard that stays perfectly styled throughout the day, and for that most men turn to a beard balm or beard butter. However, not all balms and butters are created equal. What might your balm be lacking? Probably kokum butter.
What is Kokum Butter?
Kokum butter is a vegetable oil derived from seeds of the kokum tree, also known as Garcinia indica. This oil remains a solid at room temperature, which is why it is referred to as a butter. Cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter are all common butters that you have probably seen on your products before.
kokum fruit, seeds, and leaves
Why is Kokum Butter important?
Kokum butter is primarily composed of a type of saturated fat known as stearic acid. This compound is what makes kokum one of the hardest natural butters, giving beard balms made with it a stronger hold to keep your beard shaped and fly away free.
Restores Moisture
Kokum is best known for its role as an emollient, meaning it improves moisture content in almost every part of your body from hair to skin, to scalp, to even your lips. What’s more, despite it being one of the hardest natural butters, it is also one of the lightest wearing. Kokum is non-comedogenic and fast absorbing, so it won’t block your pores or leave your skin feeling greasy after application.
Reduces Inflammation
Some researchers believe that, in combination with its moisturizing nature, the inherent antioxidant and anti-microbial properties of kokum fruit may be the reason this butter excels at reducing types of skin inflammation such as eczema and beardruff. For this reason, beard butters and balms made with kokum would be an excellent source of daily moisturization for men with dry or sensitive skin.
Helps Prevent Acne
Kokum butter can also help alleviate acne. While kokum shouldn’t be used to treat acne, depending on the cause of your acne – whether it be dry skin, excessive oil production, hormonal imbalances, or bacterial overgrowth – it may reduce its occurrence. Because kokum absorbs quickly into the skin it can restore moisture to dry irritated skin that would otherwise make your breakouts worse. Likewise, kokum’s non-comedogenic and anti-bacterial properties discourages the growth of bacteria in your pores. Ultimately, you won’t have to worry about kokum triggering an acne outbreak like heavier vegetable butters such as cocoa or mango butter.
Reduces Visible Signs of Aging
As a powerful emollient, kokum is purportedly a potent fighter against visible signs of aging. By improving your skin’s moisture content, kokum can be an effective tool in treating and preventing the hallmarks of aging such as wrinkles, diminished elasticity, increased fragility, and dryness. In other words, using kokum can make your appearance more youthful by promoting better beard health.
How Does Kokum Compare?
When it comes natural butters that can provide your beard with both healthy enrichment and a strong styling hold, it really is hard to beat kokum butter. And while kokum should be the industry standard, that is rarely the case. Let’s take a closer look at how kokum butter compares with other butters on the market.
Does Not Clog Pores
Most importantly, when comparing kokum to other butters, is that it is non-comedogenic – it won’t clog your pores. Other butters commonly found in beard care products such as cocoa butter, mango butter, and coconut butter all have tightly packed molecules that will clog your pores leading to break outs of whiteheads, blackheads, and acne. Any beard care product that contains these butters – or their oil counterparts – should be avoided, especially if you already have oily skin.
Kokum Butter
Scent Free
Cocoa, mango, and coconut butters also have distinctive scents that can interfere with the fragrances added your beard care products, making them chocolatey or fruity when they are meant to be. Kokum on the other hand is naturally scent free and won’t influence any added fragrance. For men with skin that is sensitive to fragrance, the presence of cocoa, mango, and coconut butters and oils can still be and irritant even in products marketed as unscented.
Faster Absorbing
Compared to cocoa, mango, and coconut butters, kokum is remarkedly lighter and quicker to absorb. This makes kokum better at locking in moisture. Not only does this make your skin visibly younger, but it protects your skin from irritation without the greasy residue.
Stronger Hold
Styling products designed for your beard utilizing kokum will have better hold. Usually, these products will need to be warmed up between your balms until they melt. But once applied and absorbed into your beard, they will cool and lock your hairstyle into place.
Why Don’t I See Kokum Butter More Often?
The main reason you don’t see Kokum on more product labels is price and availability. Kokum is a premium ingredient and comes a at premium cost. Most manufactures find it better for their bottom line to use low-cost alternatives that aren’t necessarily as great for your beard. The next time you shop for a beard balm or a beard butter, check and see if they are using kokum. If not, they are probably substituting a cheaper agent you should probably avoid.
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