At the outset, I will point out that I am completely biased about this body lotion (its not a butter – see below). It was one of my bathroom staples for many years until I started to care about the chemicals I slap onto myself.
What initially endeared me to this product is quite frankly the price point: its cheap as chips, as it still costs INR 1,495 (US$ 20 for 200g), which is comparable to Forest Essential’s Velvet Body Cream (INR 1,750 for 200g). However, my repeat purchases were driven by the following factors:
- Fragrance: its a cross between almond and coconut. It feels like an Indianesque fragrance but without being overpowering
- Relatively fast-absorbing
- It comes in a metal container, which looks as if it can be recycled in its entirety. I had unfounded concerns of a rusty container: that didn’t happen.
- Ingredients it uses are quite regional: kokum butter and coconut oil
Kokum butter
Kokum butter is extracted from an evergreen tree that is indigenous to India. The butter itself is rich in oleic and stearic acids as well as Vitamin E. It has excellent emollient (moisturising) properties and therefore is great for skincare products. From what I have read so far, it also appears to be sustainable.
Coconut oil
If you are Indian, I don’t need to sing the praises of coconut oil. It is an excellent emollient (moisturiser) and an anti-bacterial compound owing to its high lauric acid content. Pure coconut oil should not smell: Parachute oil contains an artificial coconut fragrance! This is absent from this product.
Apparently, coconut oil is supposed to be comedogenic (ie blocks pores). I don’t know many Indians for whom this is a problem, because we are a nation that uses coconut oil in our hair. If we were to break-out every time our foreheads were covered in pimples, than there would be a very small market for coconut oil!
Cons of the Kama product
The major problem is that this product contains as one of its preservatives, BHT. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I am not keen on BHT.
I like David Suzuki’s excellent explanation, which is, “Limited evidence suggests that high doses of BHT may mimic estrogen, the primary female sex hormone and prevent the expression of male sex hormones, resulting in adverse reproductive effects.”
Texture of the product
Its soft and creamy and not a liquid lotion
Would I buy this product again?
Many of you have pointed out that either you don’t care about BHT, the evidence is fairly limited or that you need super high doses for BHT to be an issue.
I get it: I used this product for the longest time. This product is available for you to purchase at Kama Ayurveda or Nykaa.
If you live outside India this costs US$ 46 for exactly the same product: just use Shop & Ship.
Personally for me, it is my view that manufacturers can change their formulation to exclude BHT. It is not that hard and it may just affect the price. Its a pass for me until Kama change their formulation.
See also
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