Butters and WAXES
Thicker emollients and occlusives that nourish, repair, and lock in hydration
Natural Emollients
AND Skin Barrier Repair
One of the many studies confirm that rich emollients like cocoa butter significantly improve the skin’s hydration and barrier function by preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Fatty Acids and
Skin Barrier Function
Research in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences highlights how essential fatty acids in botanical butters and oils restore lipid bilayers and enhance skin smoothness.
Occlusive Moisturizers
and Long-Term Skin Health
A review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology explores how occlusive ingredients like waxes and butters prevent water evaporation, aiding in long-term hydration and skin healing.
Rich plant-based butters and waxes are emollients and occlusives, meaning they fill in the micro-cracks between skin cells with fatty acids, restoring softness while forming a protective layer over the skin’s surface. These ingredients are often high in stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and long-chain triglycerides—lipid compounds that mimic the natural fats found in the skin’s stratum corneum.
Occlusive agents like sunflower seed wax and cocoa butter reduce water evaporation (TEWL), helping retain the moisture drawn in by humectants. At the same time, butters provide mechanical protection to damaged or dry skin, helping to heal cracks, reduce inflammation, and reestablish the barrier function. These compounds not only treat symptoms of dryness, but actively rebuild compromised skin.
Barrier-Building Butters and WaxES in Árija Skincare Formulations
Rich butters and waxes aren’t just for indulgence—they’re essential for those dealing with dry, mature, or environmentally stressed skin. These deeply nourishing ingredients not only provide instant relief but work at a cellular level to reinforce your skin barrier. Here’s how each butter and wax plays a vital role in Árija Skincare:
Shea Butter
A time-honored emollient packed with stearic and oleic acids, Shea Butter soothes irritated skin, reduces inflammation, and boosts collagen production. It also contains allantoin and triterpenes, which promote healing and calm inflammation in dry, compromised skin.
Thanks to its semi-solid texture and rich phytosterols, it forms a breathable layer on the skin that shields from moisture loss without clogging pores.
Found in: Smoothing Eye Cream, Nourishing Rich Cream, Gentle Cleansing Milk, Ceramide Hydrating Night Cream, Brightening Eye Cream
Cocoa Butter
Renowned for its rich texture and chocolatey aroma, Cocoa Butter is high in palmitic and stearic acids, making it a powerful skin-softening agent. Its occlusive nature forms a protective shield on the skin while deeply conditioning the dermis. It contains polyphenols that improve skin elasticity and tone, and its saturated fat content makes it ideal for mature or weather-exposed skin.
Found in: Nourishing Rich Cream, Ceramide Hydrating Night Cream
Murumuru Butter
This Amazonian butter is rich in lauric acid and pro-vitamin A, helping to repair damaged skin and maintain elasticity. Its high content of myristic and oleic acids allows it to melt quickly upon contact, delivering nourishment without greasiness.
It supports lipid replenishment in dry skin, locking in hydration and restoring flexibility to the outer layers.
Found in: Pigment Perfecting Serum
Cottonseed Oil
Often overlooked, Cottonseed Oil is rich in linoleic acid and tocopherols, providing antioxidant support and improving hydration. It also contains palmitic acid and phytosterols, which contribute to skin barrier repair and elasticity. Its fast-absorbing profile makes it ideal for balancing heavier butters in formulas, delivering softness without heaviness.
Found in: Pigment Perfecting Serum
Sunflower Seed Wax and Oil
Sunflower-derived emollients contain a balanced mix of oleic and linoleic acids. The oil penetrates easily to nourish deeply, while the wax forms a breathable occlusive layer that helps prevent moisture loss.
Sunflower oil is also high in vitamin E, supporting antioxidant defense and promoting barrier repair in dry and flaky skin.
Found in: Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 for Face & Body, Nourishing Rich Cream, Gentle Cleansing Milk, Ceramide Hydrating Night Cream, Pigment Perfecting Serum, Brightening Eye Cream
Irvingia Butter
Derived from wild mango kernels, Irvingia Butter is rich in stearic and lauric acids, making it ideal for soothing and rebuilding damaged skin. It has a smooth consistency and melting point similar to shea, making it a luxurious occlusive agent. It helps reduce water loss and enhances the delivery of other actives by forming a protective lipid film.
Found in: Soothing After-Sun Lotion
Flaxseed (LINSEED) Oil
Flaxseed Oil is a powerhouse of alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), which helps reduce redness, sensitivity, and signs of skin fatigue. It also contains lignans and polyphenols that contribute to its antioxidant profile.
By supporting ceramide synthesis and reducing TEWL, it reinforces the barrier and calms reactive skin.
Found in: Pigment Perfecting Serum
Dry, sensitive, or mature skin isn’t just thirsty—it’s often dealing with a compromised barrier.
Árija’s rich butters and waxes don’t just sit on the surface. They mimic the skin’s natural lipids to help heal, hydrate, and protect from within. Whether you’re battling winter weather or simply restoring balance, our formulas bring intensive nourishment with a velvety finish.
How to Best Benefit from BUTTERS & waxes in Your Routine:
🎯 Targeted Care:
Use Shea and Murumuru butters in spot treatments for flaky or textured areas—especially around eyes and lips.
☀️ Morning:
Apply lightweight occlusives like Sunflower Wax or Cottonseed Oil to seal in hydration without greasiness. Follow with sunscreen.
🌙 Evening:
Opt for richer butters like Cocoa or Shea at night, when your skin enters repair mode. These help rebuild the barrier and restore moisture reserves while you sleep.
Pro Tip for Application:
Apply these products as your final layer, especially in drier climates or overnight routines. Pat gently into skin rather than rubbing to avoid disrupting the skin barrier.
Rich butters and waxes are more than moisture-sealers—they’re functional treatments for anyone experiencing dryness, irritation, or environmental damage. By reinforcing your skin’s lipid structure and shielding it from water loss, these ingredients provide deep, lasting hydration.
Árija’s formulations use these natural powerhouses not just to protect—but to restore, rejuvenate, and reveal skin at its healthiest.
