Kahai

Argan and Marula oils made a splash; Charlotte’s Book recently covered the incredible Moringa oil. Is there room on stage for a new star? Absolutely! If it comes with anti-aging promises, we’ll see you there. Cacay oil, extracted from yet another deep-forest tree, is the newest addition to our skincare lineup (even Bloomberg‘s on board).

So What Is It?

For centuries, Amazon dwellers have used a nondescript, baseball-sized nut to feed their livestock and treat wounds. Until recently, this particular nut hasn’t provided much else. Grown in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, the cacay nut (pronounced kahk-ai) is now providing the key ingredient to anti-aging face creams.

The oil from cacay nuts contains antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin F, and a high concentration of Vitamin E (50% more than argan oil)—all of which nourish, soften, and repair damaged skin and hair. The cacay nut has the highest amount of natural Retinol, which helps to boost collagen production and even regenerates the skin.

Not quite convinced?

The Benefit Breakdown:

• For all skin types, including sensitive skin
• Emollient properties, providing long-lasting hydration
• Helps repair the hydrolipidic layer, protecting the skin against irritation and dehydration
• Improves texture, firmness and elasticity of skin
• Restores skin radiance
• Smooths and improves the visible appearance of wrinkles

According to Charlotte’s Book Expert Nurse Jamie, who uses cacay in some of her skincare products, “It’s going to be a new wave. I was always a fan of retinol and argan oil, and we were initially searching for ways to improve on these two ingredients.” And then they discovered cacay. Nurse Jamie offers her facial elixir with cacay, along with a men’s shaving oil version.

Grown in the same region as cocaine, the cacay nut gives farmers a profitable way to make a living without getting into the drug market. The planting of more cacay nut trees has also helped with the environmental problem of deforestation. Face-oil sales have more than doubled over the past two years, and with a renewed appeal for natural beauty treatments, facial oils aren’t going anywhere.

The Drawback

Rare cacay nut doesn’t come cheap: facial creams featuring the oil cost $200/ounce. Currently, there’s not a huge supply of the oil, but expect to see that change over the next few years.

If this all sounds pretty good, here’s a list of 3 cacay nut products we love:

1. Nurse Jamie’s EGF Platinum 3 Restorative Facial Elixir —29m, $198

This “scene-stealer” is a luxury facial elixir of essential oils that will restore skin to a healthier, revitalized complexion. The EGF Platinum 3 is a nutrient-infused blend including 3 active essential oils specially formulated to deliver increased hydration and moisture. Each droplet releases a power-packed complex to restore, refine and perfect skin’s natural radiance. Contains both damascena rose and cacay  nut (kukui) oils.

2. Florivera Firming Face Oil —50ml, $78

This fast-absorbing dry oil is rich in natural antioxidants which protect skin from environmental assaults that trigger premature aging and skin damage. It’s also infused with our favorite, cacay seed oil, which reduces wrinkles and regenerates the skin. Can be used on all skin types.

3. Oilixia’s Brilliance Facial Oil —30ml, $56

Brilliance Facial Oil is a luxurious blend of 18 naturally sourced oils (including—yes!—cacay nut oil) infused with 3 patented actives to reveal more radiant, visibly smoother and firmer feeling skin. Neroli, lavender, bergamot and patchouli leaves skin delicately scented