Red Palm Body Butters and More! Seriously

September

2022

Red Palm Oil is great in body butters and skin and hair formulations, bringing many benefits and so easy to work with.

And no, using it doesn’t mean you are destroying rainforest and obliterating Orangutans, especially when you use Baraka Red Palm Oil, sustainably produced and sourced from small scale farmers in Ghana. Check this blog if you want more detail: Why Baraka Palm Oil is Sustainable.

BENEFITS OF RED PALM OIL

Red Palm Oil works well with Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Kombo Butter and other formulation staples. Like Kombo Butter, it seems to make formulations easier to apply and less greasy. And, it provides a rich, natural colour that will even lighten if you whip it as it reaches the temperature where it solidifies.

Baraka Red Palm Oil comes from Palm Fruit, hand-grown on small-holder farms in rural Ghana. It is minimally processed, which reduces oxidation and aids absorption into the skin.

It is simple to use. I simply melt it together with other butters and oils (shea, cocoa, kombo, coconut, etc.) and then leave it to cool.

When nearly solidified I add in any essential oils and powders (I love adding cocoa powder - it contributes to the rich colour and has such amazing skin-care benefits)

You can experiment and use it in different ways in your favourite formulations too. Don’t fear. When you work with simple, pure, natural ingredients like Shea, Kombo and Cocoa Butters, Palm and Coconut Oils, you really can’t go wrong. They all have their own unique benefits. The biggest things to remember are:

Cocoa Butter, and to a certain extent Shea Butter, will firm up whatever you are making
Palm and Coconut Oils will make it softer
Red Palm Oil and Kombo Butter will add colour and you need to be conscious of possible staining

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes - sometimes they turn out brilliantly and most mistakes can be fixed by re-melting and tweaking the formulation.

It's not rocket science. Experiment, be creative and and share your results (PLEASE) on the Baraka Clan Page.

Red Palm, Shea, Cocoa and Kombo Butter after whipping

Red Palm, Shea, Cocoa and Kombo Butter as it reaches solidification

RED PALM OIL AND SKIN CARE

It is high in antioxidants, which many claim mitigates the effect of aging on the skin. It contains concentrated levels of Vitamin E, and all the benefits that it brings to skin and hair.

Red Palm Oil contains carotenoids, the same pigments that sweet potatoes and carrots contain. These help protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

USING RED PALM OIL FOR YOUR HAIR CARE

Don’t worry - it won’t turn you into a redhead (but, if you have real light hair you shouldn’t leave it in too long or it may give it a reddish tinge).

It will do wonders for your hair though. And is so simple to use. You can add some to your favourite haircare formulations (experiment, test and be creative). It also works amazingly well when just applied directly. Put a small dollop in your palm, rub your hands together and work into your hair. Leave it in for a while and shampoo it out. Shampoo it out immediately, or even leave it overnight if you have darker hair and aren’t worried about staining pillows and sheets.

CAUTIONS WHEN USING RED PALM OIL

While Red Palm Oil has many amazing properties that will make your hair and skin happy, it may make you sad if you don’t take care of the colour. It can stain sheets and clothes (fortunately it absorbs quickly and the very things that give it the colour (carotenoids) are powerful protection against UV Rays). If you have light hair you should test it in a small area and avoid leaving it on your hair for an extended period.