If you’ve ever used one of our balms, you’ll know the feeling — that soft, nourished calm your skin has after using our Gently Nourishing Cleansing Balm or Hydration Boost Moisturising Balm.
That comfort comes, in part, from one extraordinary ingredient: cupuaçu butter.
People often ask us whether cupuaçu butter is a humectant — an ingredient that attracts water to the skin. It’s not quite that simple, and it’s why we’ve chosen to build our range around ingredients that work with your skin’s natural balance, not against it.
Let’s explore what humectants really are, why they’re not always the gentle solution they seem, and how cupuaçu butter gives your skin lasting hydration — the natural way.
💧 What Are Humectants?
Humectants are water-loving ingredients that draw moisture to them — like little magnets. Common examples include:
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Glycerin
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Aloe vera
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Hyaluronic acid
These are found in countless moisturisers and serums because they can help the skin feel hydrated and plump — at least temporarily.
But there’s a side to them that most people don’t talk about.
⚖️ The Hidden Downside of Humectants
1. They Can Backfire in Dry Air
Humectants pull water from wherever it’s available — usually from the air around you. But when humidity is low (think central heating in winter or air conditioning in summer), there’s very little moisture in the air to draw from.
In those conditions, humectants start pulling water from the deeper layers of your skin instead. The result? Skin that feels tight, dehydrated, or irritated — even though you’re using “hydrating” products.
2. They Can Disrupt the Skin Barrier
Overusing humectants can make the skin dependent on constant external hydration. This weakens the barrier and makes it harder for your skin to retain moisture on its own. You might notice a cycle of temporary plumpness followed by dryness or sensitivity — a classic sign of overhydration imbalance.
3. They Don’t Work Without Support
Humectants need to be paired with emollients or occlusives (like oils and butters) to seal in the moisture they attract. Without that protective layer, the water they draw in can evaporate — taking more of your skin’s own hydration with it.
Unfortunately, many modern formulas are overloaded with humectants but lack that natural lipid balance.
4. Individual Sensitivities
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Glycerin can feel sticky or clogging for some skin types, especially in heavy concentrations.
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Aloe vera is soothing for many, but its enzymes can trigger irritation in reactive skin.
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Hyaluronic acid can actually dehydrate the skin if used in very dry air or layered incorrectly, pulling water out of your skin instead of into it.
In short — humectants aren’t “bad,” but they’re not always the answer. They can leave skin feeling parched, shiny, or imbalanced, especially without nourishing oils to support them.
🌸 Cupuaçu Butter: Nature’s Balanced Moisture Keeper
Cupuaçu (pronounced koo-poo-ah-soo) butter is extracted from the seeds of the Theobroma grandiflorum tree — a tropical cousin of the cacao tree that grows deep in the Brazilian Amazon.
It’s rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and phytosterols, which soften, calm, and restore the skin barrier.
What makes cupuaçu truly special, though, is its ability to hold up to 400% of its weight in water — far more than shea or cocoa butter.
Instead of pulling in water from the environment like a humectant, cupuaçu butter helps your skin retain and stabilise the water it already has. It strengthens the skin barrier so moisture stays where it belongs — inside.
🌿 Why We Use It in Our Balms
We use cupuaçu butter in both our Gently Nourishing Cleansing Balm and Hydration Boost Moisturising Balm because it delivers calm, lasting hydration without overstimulating the skin.
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In our Cleansing Balm, it cushions and protects while melting away the day — leaving skin soft, never tight.
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In our Moisturising Balm, it helps your skin retain its natural moisture, creating that dewy, balanced finish that lasts all day.
For dry, mature, or sensitive skin, cupuaçu is the perfect antidote to dehydration caused by overactive humectants.
♻️ A Kind and Sustainable Ingredient
Our cupuaçu butter comes from community-led cooperatives in the Brazilian Amazon, where families hand-harvest the fruit using sustainable, regenerative methods.
It’s a zero-waste ingredient — the butter is cold-pressed from the seeds of fruits that would otherwise be discarded.
Every pot of balm supports these communities — a gentle daily ritual that does good in the world.
💚 The Husk & Seed Philosophy
At Husk & Seed, we believe that true hydration comes from strengthening the skin barrier, not forcing it to absorb more water.
Cupuaçu butter aligns perfectly with our slow, mindful approach to skincare — helping your skin stay soft, calm, and hydrated without the rollercoaster of quick fixes.
So, while cupuaçu butter isn’t a humectant, it’s something much better: a natural moisture keeper that nurtures your skin and the planet in harmony.