Nature offers some of the best solutions for radiant, youthful skin. One of our favorite ingredients, featured both in our facial oil serum, Frequencía, and herbal infused all-over body oil, Néctar, is Cacay oil. Cacay is a rare, powerhouse of an ingredient that is just beginning to gain widespread popularity for its unique profile of benefits.
Native to the Amazon rainforest in South America, Cacay oil comes from the nuts of the Caryodendron orinocense tree. Its lightweight, non-greasy texture is fast-absorbing and suitable for all skin types, including both acne prone & mature skin.
UNDERSTANDING CACAY OIL: LIPID PROFILE + ANTIOXIDANTS
Cacay oil contains an abundance of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that deeply nourish the skin. It contains three times more naturally occurring vitamin A (retinol) than Rosehip oil and twice the amount of vitamin E as Argan oil, making it an exceptional ingredient to boost collagen production, enhance skin elasticity and reduce fine lines.
A key component of Cacay's lipid profile is linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that makes up 68.04% of its composition. Linoleic acid plays a critical role in maintaining the skin's protective outer layer, also known as the lipid barrier. This barrier helps to lock in moisture, protect against external irritants and preserve a healthy complexion. Over time, our skin's barrier can become compromised due to factors like harsh skincare products or environmental stressors, making nutrient dense oils like Cacay essential for restoring and maintaining this protective layer.
Cacay oil's antioxidant-rich profile, particularly its high vitamin E content, also makes it an excellent tool for combatting free radicals- unstable molecules that accelerate the aging process by causing oxidative damage. By neutralizing free radicals, Cacay oil helps reduce signs of aging while offering an extra layer of defense against environmental stressors like pollution and UV damage.
NATURAL RETINOL vs. TOXIC SYNTHETIC RETINOL
One of Cacay oil's most unique benefits is its high natural content of vitamin A, or retinol. Retinol is known for its ability to accelerate skin regeneration, promote cellular turnover, enhance texture and reduce signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. It also promotes collagen production, improves skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks- benefits that make Cacay oil a standout ingredient for both facial and body formulations.
However, most synthetic forms of retinol (retinoic acid) can be harsh on the skin. They can compromise the skin barrier, cause irritation and increase sensitivity, particularly when exposed to sunlight. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) rates synthetic retinol a 9 out of 10 for toxicity and is even contraindicated during pregnancy due to potential risks.
In contrast, Cacay oil offers all the benefits of retinol without the downsides. Its perfectly balanced composition of fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins make Cacay oil a gentle, non-irritating alternative. Its stable delivery system ensures the skin's natural renewal process is activated, boosting skin repair all while providing protection to the skins lipid barrier, rather than compromising it. With over 3x the amount of retinol found in Rosehip oil, Cacay oil delivers powerful anti-aging benefits without the toxicity or irritation.
SUSTAINABILITY
Beyond the skincare benefits, Cacay is a highly sustainable oil. The production process is entirely zero-waste, with every part of the harvest being utilized. After the oil is cold-pressed from the nuts, the remaining meat is ground into a nutrient dense flour for cooking, while the inner peel is repurposed as animal feed or fertilizer. The hard outer shells are used as fuel for cooking or heating, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
Currently, most Cacay oil is wild-harvested from trees in the Amazon, providing a valuable income stream for local Indigenous communities. This growing market helps incentivize the preservation of the rainforest rather than the destruction of its ecosystems for industrial farming.
However, even with the prospects of Cacay oil becoming more widely cultivated through farming, its production remains sustainable due to the fast-growing nature of the trees, their ability to restore the fertility of the soil and harmoniously coexist with other crops.
EXPERIENCE CACAY OIL
Cacay is a phenomenal, scientifically-backed ingredient choice for skincare that is lightweight, non-pore clogging, youth-promoting and nutrient dense that delivers results. Its potent combination of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and natural retinol that nourishes, protects and renews the skin has quickly become a favorite of ours.
You can experience it in our formulations of 01 Frequencía, Ritual Rainforest Serum and 02 Néctar, Body Oil Infusion
