Description

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter is a creamy, solid fat obtained from the seeds of the Sclerocarya Birrea tree, commonly known as marula. This tree belongs to the Anacardiaceae family and is native to the southern regions of Africa. The seed butter is rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds, making it a valuable ingredient in various cosmetic and personal care products.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter contains a variety of bioactive compounds:

Fatty Acids: Rich in oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid, which provide moisturizing and nourishing benefits.
Vitamins: Particularly vitamin E (tocopherols), which acts as a potent antioxidant.
Phytosterols: Compounds that help maintain skin barrier function and reduce inflammation.
Polyphenols: Including flavonoids and tannins, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Physical Properties

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter is typically a creamy, off-white to yellowish solid with a mild, nutty aroma. It has a smooth texture and melts at body temperature, making it easily absorbed into the skin.

Production Process

Seed Collection: Seeds are harvested from mature Sclerocarya Birrea trees.
Cleaning: The seeds are thoroughly cleaned to remove any pulp or debris.
Drying: The seeds are dried to reduce moisture content and prepare them for extraction.
Extraction: The seeds are pressed or extracted using solvents to obtain the oil, which is then processed into butter.
Refining: The extracted butter is refined to remove any impurities and improve its texture and stability.
Quality Control: Rigorous quality tests are conducted to evaluate the purity, stability, and composition of the final product, including chemical and microbiological analyses.

Applications

Cosmetic Products: Used in creams, lotions, body butters, and lip balms for its moisturizing, nourishing, and emollient properties.
Skin Care: Ideal for formulations aimed at hydrating, protecting, and revitalizing the skin due to its high content of fatty acids and vitamin E.
Hair Care: Incorporated into conditioners, hair masks, and treatments for its ability to nourish and strengthen hair.
Personal Care Products: Used in body butters, salves, and other personal care items for its moisturizing and protective effects.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic and personal care products. It is non-toxic and non-irritating to the skin. Sustainable harvesting practices for Sclerocarya Birrea are important to ensure the continued availability of its seeds and to protect the biodiversity of the regions where it is grown.

INCI


Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Skin conditioning agent - Humectant. Humectants are hygroscopic substances used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up the human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: corneum, the most superficial, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum and basale. Humectants have the ability to retain in the stratum corneum the water they attract from the air and have the function of moisturising the skin. It is better to use them before emollients that are oil-based.

Skin conditioning agent - Occlusive. This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing flaking and restoring elasticity. It has a strong lipophilic character and is identified as an occlusive ingredient; it is generally composed of oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce trans epidermal water loss.
Synonyms:

CAS: