Garcinia Indica Seed Butter

Garcinia Indica (kokum) seed butter is a largely inert emollient/occlusive used at moderate to high levels to soften skin and support barrier function, and it is generally well tolerated compared with fragranced plant oils. However, as a botanically derived lipid, it can still trigger irritation or contact allergy in a small subset of highly reactive or eczema-prone patients (often related to minor constituents or oxidation/impurities), so it should not be scored as near-inert. In routine leave-on products its overall irritancy risk is low but not zero, warranting a gentle score rather than exceptionally gentle for compromised skin. Safety Notes: In commercial emulsions (lotions/creams), Garcinia Indica (kokum) seed butter is commonly used as a minor structuring emollient at low levels around 0.1–2% (often alongside other butters/oils) to improve slip and reduce greasiness in leave-on products. Mid-to-high levels (5–30%) are found in body butters, balms, and lip products where it functions as a primary occlusive/structurant. The market high end includes anhydrous consumer butters sold as single-ingredient “kokum butter,” which are effectively 100% and intended for leave-on use; rinse-off products rarely exceed low single digits due to sensory and deposition limits.