Red Palm Oil: The Ultimate DIY Guide and Recipes
To use Baraka red palm oil in DIY recipes, melt it gently in a double boiler, blend it with other oils or butters such as shea butter, then let it cool and set. It works best in body butters, hair masks, foot creams and balms. Red palm oil is deep orange, so it can stain skin, hair, clothing and towels.
This guide gives the method, what each ingredient does, how to change the texture and ten recipes with exact amounts. For the full reference on the oil, see Red Palm Oil: The Complete Guide. To compare it with another oil, see Red Palm Oil vs Coconut Oil. For the other oil from the same fruit, see Palm Kernel Oil: The Complete Guide.
For more ideas, see Best Ingredients for DIY Skincare and Baobab Oil: Ultimate DIY Guide and Recipes, a lighter oil to pair with it. Red palm oil is not a sunscreen. For the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. For background on sun care, see Natural Sunscreen Alternatives.
How to use red palm oil in diy recipes: melt, blend and set
Melt it gently, mix it with other oils or butters, then let it cool and set. Red palm oil is semi-solid at room temperature, so it gives body to a blend without needing much wax. This is the basic method behind every recipe below.
- Weigh everything on a digital kitchen scale. Oils and butters differ in density, so weight is more reliable than cups.
- Warm the red palm oil, and any butter or wax, in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Keep the heat low.
- Take the bowl off the heat. Stir in any lighter oils, vitamin E oil and essential oil.
- Pour into a clean jar. For a whipped butter, let it cool until it starts to set at the edges, then whip it.
- Let it set at room temperature. Keep it cool, dark and closed.
Where red palm oil works best: body butters, hair masks, foot creams and balms, where an orange colour does not matter. For the face, use 1/2 oz (15 g) or less in a batch. Where colour is a concern, use baobab oil or shea oil instead.
Essential oils: the leave-on recipes here keep essential oil at or below 1% of the batch weight. Five drops is about 0.01 oz (0.25 g). These are Baraka's recommended limits, not a guarantee of safety. Do not use essential oils on babies or young children.
What makes red palm oil different from other African oils
Red palm oil keeps its natural carotenoids. Unrefined red palm oil contains roughly 500 to 700 ppm of them, mainly beta-carotene and lycopene, which are antioxidants and give the oil its colour. It also contains vitamin E. Its fatty acids are mostly palmitic acid (40 to 47%) and oleic acid (36 to 44%), which makes it a rich, semi-solid conditioning oil.
Staining: what to know before you start. Red palm oil stains clothing and towels, and it can colour bedding and light surfaces too. It can also leave an orange-yellow tint on skin and hair. Do not assume it will wash out of fabric. Let body butters absorb before dressing, use dark towels and socks, and keep it away from very light or bleached hair.
Red palm oil is not palm kernel oil. Red palm oil is pressed from the outer flesh of the oil palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis). Palm kernel oil is pressed from the inner seed. It is pale and rich in lauric acid, and is mainly used for cleansing and lather. They are not interchangeable. This guide covers red palm oil only.
Red palm oil for skin: what people report
In West Africa, red palm oil has long been used traditionally to condition skin and hair. Many people find it rich and softening. This is DIY advice, not medical advice, and no recipe here treats or prevents any condition.
Red palm oil and skin whitening. No. Red palm oil does not lighten skin. It adds an orange-yellow tint that sits on the surface. Baraka makes no skin-lightening claim.
Palm oil on the face. Red palm oil is rich and can feel heavy on skin prone to congestion. If you try it on your face, start with a small amount, blend it with a lighter oil such as jojoba, and use 1/2 oz (15 g) or less in a batch. Recipe 3 shows how. If your skin is sensitive or reacts, stop and ask a doctor or pharmacist.
What each ingredient does in these recipes
- Red palm oil: rich and semi-solid. It adds body and a deep orange colour.
- Shea butter: rich and creamy. It makes a blend feel substantial and gives lasting moisture.
- Coconut oil: firm in the cool and melts on warm skin. It is light on the hair.
- Jojoba, almond, avocado and rosehip oils: soft and light. They absorb quickly and keep a blend from feeling heavy.
- Mango butter: firm and smooth, with a higher melting point than shea.
- Beeswax: holds a blend in shape. A little goes a long way.
- Vitamin E oil: a few drops, added for its vitamin E.
- Honey and yogurt: used only in the rinse-off face mask.
How to change the texture
The rule of thumb: butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, wax makes it hold its shape.
- Firmer: add a little beeswax, more shea or mango butter, or a little more red palm oil.
- Softer or runnier: add a light oil such as jojoba or almond, or use less butter and wax.
- Lighter: use more light oil and less red palm oil and butter. This also gives a paler colour.
- Richer: add more shea butter or red palm oil.
Change one thing at a time, in small steps, and write down what you did.
Where Baraka red palm oil comes from
Baraka's red palm oil is sourced through cooperative relationships with smallholder farmers in West Africa. Wayne Dunn has maintained direct cooperative relationships for over 15 years. The oil keeps its natural colour, which comes from the carotenoids in the fruit.
For the story behind it, see Baraka Palm Oil. Baraka is Community Certified Fair Trade. The wider picture is in Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report. Browse the Oils Collection and DIY Ingredients Collection.
DIY red palm oil recipes
Measuring: weigh everything for consistent results. A scale accurate to 0.004 oz (0.1 g) is ideal. Cup and spoon amounts are a guide.
Staining: every recipe turns orange and can stain clothing and towels. Try a small area of skin first, and try a small strand of hair before a hair mask.
Skincare recipes
1. Simple Red Palm Oil Moisturizer
A basic moisturizer. It will be orange-yellow and can stain clothing and towels.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) red palm oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) jojoba oil
- 5 drops vitamin E oil
Instructions:
- Gently melt the red palm oil in a double boiler.
- Stir in the jojoba oil and vitamin E oil.
- Pour into a clean jar and let it cool and set at room temperature.
- Keep it cool, dark and closed.
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- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
Jojoba oil and vitamin E oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: if too firm, use 0.35 oz (10 g) less red palm oil and 2 teaspoons (10 ml) more jojoba oil. If too soft in a warm climate, add 0.35 oz (10 g) red palm oil.
2. Red Palm Oil and Shea Butter Body Balm
A firm body balm with shea butter's richness and beeswax for structure. It will be deep orange-yellow.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) red palm oil
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) shea butter
- 1 tablespoon, about 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax
- 5 drops lavender essential oil (about 0.01 oz, 0.25 g, well under 1% of the batch)
Instructions:
- Melt the red palm oil, shea butter and beeswax together in a double boiler. Allow extra time for the beeswax.
- Remove from heat and stir in the lavender essential oil.
- Pour into clean jars straight away, because beeswax sets quickly.
- Let it set at room temperature. Keep it cool and closed.
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This recipe uses two Baraka ingredients. One click takes both straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
- Baraka Raw Shea Butter, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
Beeswax and lavender essential oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: if too hard, use 0.2 oz (5 g) less beeswax and 0.2 oz (5 g) more shea butter. If too soft, add 0.2 oz (5 g) beeswax.
Facial care recipes
3. Red Palm Oil Facial Moisturizer
A small amount of red palm oil with lighter oils to limit the colour. Keep to 1/2 oz (15 g) of red palm oil, because more gives a visible orange tint.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon, about 1/2 oz (15 g) red palm oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) jojoba oil
- 3 drops rosehip oil
- 2 drops vitamin E oil
Instructions:
- Gently melt the red palm oil in a double boiler.
- Stir in the jojoba, rosehip and vitamin E oils.
- Let it cool slightly, then apply a small amount to face and neck.
- Keep the rest in a clean jar, cool and closed.
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- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for three batches
Jojoba oil, rosehip oil and vitamin E oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: if the tint is too strong, use 0.35 oz (10 g) red palm oil and 2 teaspoons (10 ml) jojoba oil.
4. Red Palm Oil and Honey Face Mask
A rinse-off mask with honey and yogurt. It contains yogurt, so make it fresh each time and do not store it.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon, about 1/2 oz (15 g) red palm oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) honey
- 1 tablespoon, about 1/2 oz (15 g) yogurt
Instructions:
- Gently melt the red palm oil, then let it cool until just above setting.
- Stir in the honey and yogurt.
- Spread a thin layer on clean skin, avoiding the eyes.
- Leave for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse well with warm water.
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This recipe uses one Baraka ingredient. One click takes it straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for three batches
Honey and yogurt are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: the mask is orange and may leave a slight tint. If it separates, stir well before applying.
Haircare recipes
5. Red Palm Oil Hair Mask
A pre-wash conditioning mask. Red palm oil can tint light or grey hair orange-yellow, so try a small strand first and keep it off very light or bleached hair.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons, about 1 oz (30 g) red palm oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) avocado oil
Instructions:
- Combine the oils. If the coconut oil is solid, warm gently until liquid.
- Work the warm mixture through hair from roots to ends.
- Cover with a shower cap and leave for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Rinse well with warm water and shampoo as usual.
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This recipe uses two Baraka ingredients. One click takes both straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 3.5 oz (100 g): enough for three batches
- Baraka Virgin Coconut Oil, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for three batches
Avocado oil is not a Baraka product; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: shampoo twice if an orange tint remains. Wear an old towel, because it can stain.
6. Red Palm Oil Hair Leave-In Conditioner
A spray with rosewater. The finished spray is orange-tinted and will separate, so shake it before each use.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon, about 1/2 oz (15 g) red palm oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) jojoba oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) rosewater
Contains water, so make small batches, keep it cool and throw it out if it smells or looks off.
Instructions:
- Melt the red palm oil, then let it cool to room temperature.
- Combine the red palm oil, jojoba oil and rosewater in a small spray bottle.
- Shake well.
- Mist lightly onto damp hair, mostly on the ends, and style as usual.
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This recipe uses one Baraka ingredient. One click takes it straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 1.8 oz (50 g): enough for three batches
Jojoba oil and rosewater are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: test on a small section first to see the colour. For very light hair, use baobab oil in place of the red palm oil.
Footcare recipes
7. Red Palm Oil Foot Cream
A rich foot cream. Red palm oil is semi-solid, so it holds its shape without beeswax. It can stain socks and sheets, so wear dark socks.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) red palm oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) coconut oil
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil (about 0.01 oz, 0.25 g, under 1% of the batch)
Do not apply to the face of babies or young children. Do not use this recipe for babies or young children.
Instructions:
- Melt the red palm oil and coconut oil together in a double boiler.
- Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint essential oil.
- Pour into a clean jar and let it set at room temperature.
- Massage a small amount into your feet.
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This recipe uses two Baraka ingredients. One click takes both straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
- Baraka Virgin Coconut Oil, 3.5 oz (100 g): enough for three batches
Peppermint essential oil is not a Baraka product; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: if too firm, use 0.35 oz (10 g) less red palm oil and 2 teaspoons (10 ml) more coconut oil. If too soft in a warm climate, add 0.35 oz (10 g) red palm oil.
8. Red Palm Oil and Sugar Foot Scrub
A rinse-off scrub. The sugar exfoliates, and the red palm oil leaves skin feeling soft.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons, about 1 oz (30 g) red palm oil
- 1/4 cup, about 1.75 oz (50 g) sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) almond oil
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- If the red palm oil is solid, warm gently until liquid, then let it cool until warm, not hot.
- Combine the red palm oil and sugar in a small bowl.
- Stir in the almond oil and lavender essential oil.
- Massage into feet in circles, then rinse well with warm water.
Buy the ingredients now
This recipe uses one Baraka ingredient. One click takes it straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 3.5 oz (100 g): enough for three batches
Sugar, almond oil and lavender essential oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: hot oil dissolves the sugar, so keep it warm, not hot. Rinse the shower or basin afterwards, because the oil can leave an orange residue.
Body butter recipes
9. Simple Red Palm Oil Body Butter
A whipped body butter with red palm oil and shea butter. It will be noticeably orange and can colour skin, clothing and towels.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup, about 4 oz (114 g) red palm oil
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) shea butter
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) jojoba oil
- 10 drops vitamin E oil
Instructions:
- Melt the red palm oil and shea butter together until fully liquid.
- Remove from heat and stir in the jojoba oil and vitamin E oil.
- Let it cool at room temperature until it starts to set at the edges, about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Spoon into a clean jar. Keep it cool, dark and closed.
Buy the ingredients now
This recipe uses two Baraka ingredients. One click takes both straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for two batches
- Baraka Raw Shea Butter, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
Jojoba oil and vitamin E oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: if it deflates, it was too warm when whipped, so remelt and cool it further. If grainy, it cooled too slowly. Let it absorb fully before dressing.
10. Red Palm Oil and Mango Butter Body Butter
A firmer body butter. Mango butter has a higher melting point, and beeswax adds structure. It will be deep orange-yellow.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) red palm oil
- 1/4 cup, about 2 oz (57 g) mango butter
- 1 tablespoon, about 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax
- 5 drops ylang ylang essential oil (about 0.01 oz, 0.25 g, well under 1% of the batch)
Instructions:
- Melt the mango butter and beeswax in a double boiler on low heat. The beeswax takes longer.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the red palm oil and ylang ylang essential oil.
- Pour into clean jars straight away.
- Let it set at room temperature. Keep it cool and closed.
Buy the ingredients now
This recipe uses one Baraka ingredient. One click takes it straight to checkout.
- Baraka Red Palm Oil, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
Mango butter, beeswax and ylang ylang essential oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.
Troubleshooting: if it sets before you finish pouring, return it to very low heat. If too hard, use 0.2 oz (5 g) less beeswax. If too soft, add 0.2 oz (5 g). Let it absorb before dressing.
Make It Your Own
These recipes are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use your judgement, be inspired, and don't be afraid to experiment. Everything here is a pure, natural ingredient that blends happily with the others. Start with a small batch, write down what you did, and see how your skin and hair respond. When you find a blend that works for you, make it again.
What the evidence actually shows, and how to check it yourself
Red palm oil has been used in West African communities for generations, as a skin and hair conditioner and as a soap-making ingredient. Its carotenoid content is measured chemistry. That is meaningful, but it is not a clinical trial showing specific outcomes for specific skin or hair types. Treat this guide as DIY advice, not medical advice, and see a doctor or pharmacist for any skin condition.
To find supporting research, search: "red palm oil tocotrienols skin study", "beta-carotene topical application evidence" or "Elaeis guineensis mesocarp oil carotenoid properties". To find qualifying evidence, which matters just as much, search: "red palm oil comedogenic rating", "palm oil saturated fat skin" or "does red palm oil stain skin". Reading both sides gives a clearer picture, and much of what you find will be inconclusive.
You can also read what customers say about Baraka red palm oil in their own routines. That is not clinical evidence, but it is another useful signal.
Frequently asked questions
What is red palm oil and what makes it different from other African oils?
Red palm oil, including Baraka's, is pressed from the outer flesh of the oil palm fruit. Its orange-red colour comes from carotenoids, mainly beta-carotene and lycopene. It is a rich, semi-solid conditioning oil. Palm kernel oil comes from the inner seed and is mainly used for cleansing and lather.
Will red palm oil stain my skin or hair?
It can, and Baraka red palm oil is no exception. Red palm oil can tint skin and hair orange-yellow, and it stains clothing, towels and bedding. Do not count on it washing out of fabric. Try a small strand of hair first and keep it off very light or bleached hair. Let body butters absorb before dressing.
What is the difference between red palm oil and palm kernel oil?
As Baraka's guide explains, they are two oils from the same fruit. Red palm oil is pressed from the outer flesh. It is red, carotenoid-rich and conditioning. Palm kernel oil is pressed from the inner seed. It is pale, rich in lauric acid and used for cleansing and lather. They are not interchangeable. See Palm Kernel Oil: The Complete Guide.
Is red palm oil comedogenic?
Baraka red palm oil is rich and can feel heavy on skin prone to congestion. On the face, use 1/2 oz (15 g) or less in a batch, or swap in baobab oil, which is lighter. For the body and hair, this is rarely a concern.
Do red palm oil products need a preservative?
Baraka's recipes made only from oils and butters contain no water. Keep them cool, dark and closed. Recipe 4 (face mask) contains yogurt, so make it fresh and use it straight away. Recipe 6 (leave-in spray) contains water, so make small batches, keep it cool and throw it out if it smells or looks off.
Where does Baraka's red palm oil come from?
Baraka's red palm oil is sourced through cooperative relationships with smallholder farmers in West Africa. Wayne Dunn has maintained these relationships for over 15 years. The wider picture is in Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report.
What is red palm oil best used for in DIY formulations?
Baraka red palm oil suits body butters, hair masks, foot creams and balms, where the orange colour is acceptable. For the face, keep to 1/2 oz (15 g) or less. Where colour is a concern, use baobab oil or shea oil. For larger quantities, see Wholesale and Bulk Shea Butter: Supply for Soap Makers, Formulators, and Small Manufacturers.
How does red palm oil compare to coconut oil in formulations?
Baraka's guide notes that both are semi-solid at room temperature, but they behave differently. Red palm oil is richer, closer to olive oil blended with a harder butter. Coconut oil is high in lauric acid and lathers in soap. See Red Palm Oil vs Coconut Oil.
Not sure how you will use red palm oil? Take the Discover Red Palm Oil quiz: a few quick questions show the ways to use it that fit you.
Quick answers
How to use red palm oil in diy recipes
Melt Baraka red palm oil gently in a double boiler, mix it with other oils or butters such as shea butter, then let it cool and set. It works best in body butters, hair masks, foot creams and balms, where an orange colour is acceptable. Keep facial products to 1/2 oz (15 g) or less, because it can tint skin and hair and stain clothing and towels. Where colour is a concern, use baobab oil or shea oil instead. More in How to use red palm oil in diy recipes: melt, blend and set
About the Author
Wayne Dunn is the founder of Baraka Impact and a former Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University. He holds an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford and has spent over 15 years working directly with cooperative networks in West Africa to source traditionally made shea butter, natural oils, and palm oils. He shares DIY skincare recipes and ingredient guides designed to be made at home with real ingredients, and sourced with full transparency about where they come from.
The recipes on this page
- Simple Red Palm Oil Moisturizer
- Red Palm Oil and Shea Butter Body Balm
- Red Palm Oil Facial Moisturizer
- Red Palm Oil and Honey Face Mask
- Red Palm Oil Hair Mask
- Red Palm Oil Hair Leave-In Conditioner
- Red Palm Oil Foot Cream
- Red Palm Oil and Sugar Foot Scrub
- Simple Red Palm Oil Body Butter
- Red Palm Oil and Mango Butter Body Butter
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