• Skincare Finder
Login

Cart

Your cart is empty
← All ingredients

Botanical Butter

Virola Surinamensis (Ucuuba) Seed Butter

A rich botanical butter that helps deeply nourish and moisturize, support the skin barrier, improve softness and elasticity, and promote smoother, more supple-looking skin.

Key Benefits

  • Deeply softens dry skin
  • Supports moisture retention
  • Improves suppleness
  • Adds protective emollience
  • Provides rich balm-like conditioning

How It Works

Ucuuba butter is dominated by solid triglycerides containing myristic and lauric acids. At skin temperature and within an emulsion, these lipids create a substantive film that lubricates rough surface cells and slows evaporation.

Its high saturated-fat content contributes firmness, oxidative stability, and texture to a finished product. Phenolic compounds in the less-refined fat may add antioxidant capacity, but composition changes with geography, shelling, extraction, and refinement.

The principal cosmetic mechanism is physical emollience and occlusion rather than biological collagen stimulation. Benefits depend on the finished formula and may feel richer on oily skin.

Ingredient Details

INCI Name: Virola Surinamensis Seed Butter

Ingredient Type: Botanical Seed Butter

Best For

Dry or very dry skin · Rough or flaky areas · Body care · Lip and balm formulas · Mature-looking skin

Research

Composition study: Virola surinamensis seed fat, fatty acids, phenolics, and stability →

What It Is

A high-melting botanical seed fat from Virola surinamensis, characterized by myristic- and lauric-acid-rich triglycerides and smaller amounts of phenolic compounds.

What It Does

Provides rich, long-lasting emollience that softens dry surface cells, supports moisture retention, and improves suppleness. It also gives balms and creams structure and a protective sensory finish.

Virola Surinamensis (Ucuuba) Seed Butter FAQs

Common questions about this ingredient in skincare.

What is ucuuba seed butter?
It is a solid botanical fat pressed from seeds of the Amazonian tree Virola surinamensis.
How is it different from shea butter?
Ucuuba has an unusual profile dominated by myristic and lauric acids and is typically firmer, while shea butter contains more oleic and stearic acids.
What does it do for skin?
It softens rough skin, reduces dry feel, supports moisture retention, and gives creams and balms a rich, protective texture.
Is it suitable for the face?
It can be used in facial products, but its rich, firm character may suit dry skin better than very oily or congestion-prone skin.
Does it contain antioxidants?
Compositional studies have measured phenolic content and in-vitro antioxidant activity, but levels vary and do not guarantee a clinical antioxidant effect.
Why does sourcing matter?
Ucuuba is a forest species from the Amazon region. Traceable, responsible sourcing helps protect biodiversity and support local harvesting communities.
Shop the ingredient

Products Featuring Virola Surinamensis (Ucuuba) Seed Butter

Related products will appear here when products reference this ingredient.

Free domestic delivery

for any purchase over $50USD

loyalty REWARDS

$$ off purchases & special offers

Satisfied or refunded

Easy return for exchange or store credit

Top-notch support

Email us or Online chat

Secure payments

We accept express checkout