The Babassu palm tree grows wild in tropical areas of Brazil. The tree produces hard-shelled nuts that display in bunches of as many as 600. The nuts are collected and broken open by local Brazilian women known as Babassu breakers.

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The nuts contain kernels comprised mostly of oil. Much like coconut oil, Babassu starts out as a solid and melts down when heated or just by the warmth of your skin. Babassu oil is increasingly being used as a substitute for coconut oil in cooking, and in the soap and cosmetic industries.

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It's incredibly moisturizing, but unlike coconut oil, doesn’t leave your skin feeling slick and greasy and is virtually non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog pores. It’s lightweight, absorbs easily.

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What is in it that makes it so good?

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Babassu oil is packed with vitamin E, antioxidants and fatty acids with a high concentration of lauric acid which offers anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

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In addition to lauric acid, it is also composed of other fatty acids including myristic, oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. Due to the healing properties, Babassu is used for medicinal purposes.

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According to NCBI, the mesocarp derived from the Babassu tree is used among communities of Babassu nut breakers for the treatment of different diseases such as rheumatism, ulcers, inflammatory conditions and for treating wounds.