Scent: Fresh and uplifting. Notes of Tiare flower and jasmine with soft magnolia petals, violet leaves, green bamboo, and palm fronds evoke the smell of the dewy tea fields of Indonesia at sunrise.
Texture: Buttery, whipped yet fast-absorbing
Color: Cream
Benefits & Features
Features essential fatty acids with omega-rich candlenut, avocado, and carrot seed oils with antioxidant vitamin E and indulgent Illipe butter. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients help protect skin from environmental stress, sun damage, and dry climate.
Has a signature hydrating yet non-greasy feel, leaving skin feeling smooth and velvety.
Directions
This product can be used daily for maximum benefits.Warm the desired amount of product in the palm of your hand, letting it warm just slightly, and then massage creme gently into the skin until it is fully absorbed.
Apply generously on freshly cleansed skin or re-apply any time of day for a boost of moisture.
Ingredients
Candlenut Oil: Moisturizes and softens skin with a non-greasy, velvety feel. Rich in linoleic and linolenic acid, candlenut oil moisturizes and helps mend rough, chapped skin.Rice Bran Oil: Maintains elasticity. Rich in natural Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, rice bran oil intensely hydrate and help maintain youthful elasticity.Avocado Oil: Nourishes and calms. Traditionally used in Indonesia, Avocado Oil is richly hydrating and highly soothing.Illipe Butter: Moisturizes and protects. Provides a cushiony barrier to protect skin from dehydration, hard water and harsh elements.All Ingredients: Water/Eau, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Emulsifying Wax NF, Cyclomethicone, Illipe (Shorea stenoptera) Seed Butter, Candlenut (Aleurites moluccana) Oil, Avocado (Persea gratissima) Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Rice Bran (Oryza sativa) Oil, Dimethicone, Carrot (Daucus Carota sativa) Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenypropanol.
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Did you know fatty acids make up 15% of your skin barrier?¹ These tiny compounds are absolutely crucial for skin health and overall wellness. We explain why, examine the best fatty acids for skin health, and explore how you can integrate them into your skincare routine.
Key Takeaways
Fatty acids are the building blocks of lipids, which are crucial for overall wellness and skin health.
Our bodies don't produce enough of some essential fatty acids, meaning we need to get them in our diet.
Fatty acids provide many different potential health benefits, from supporting heart health to brain development and more.
Research suggests they can also provide benefits to the skin, such as hydration and skin barrier repair, when used in topical products.
Metta Murdaya, co-founder of JUARA Skincare, says:
"Fatty acids are essential for skin health. They help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier, keep skin hydrated, protect against premature aging, and more."
Fatty acids are more important than you might think. They are essential building blocks in lipid compounds.
Lipids are vital for many different aspects of health. Many lipid compounds are crucial for skin health, so fatty acids are also vital for maintaining healthy skin.
Little wonder, then, that many fatty acids are called essentialfatty acids. These are the fatty acids that your body cannot produce itself. That means you need to get them from food (and skincare products).
The chemical structure of fatty acids is simple: a hydrocarbon chain with a methyl group at one end and a carboxyl group at the other end. It's this carboxyl group that makes the fatty acid acidic.
However, small variations in this structure can lead to big variations in how different essential fatty acids support our skin.
Epidermal Lipids
Fatty acids are responsible for the creation of epidermal lipids. This is a mixture of lipids, including ceramides and cholesterol, that forms an integral part of your skin barrier.
Epidermal lipids perform two key functions. First, they keep harmful substances out. Second, they keep water and electrolytes in.
Research shows that the body ramps up production of fatty acids when the skin barrier is disrupted. It also shows that undermining fatty acid production delays the recovery of skin barrier function.²
Where Are Fatty Acids Found
Fatty acids aren't just in your skin barrier. They are present throughout your body. After all, they're the building blocks of fat.
They're used for energy storage, maintaining membranes, cell metabolism, hormone responses, and much more.³
In other words, fatty acids aren't just important for skin health. They're responsible for maintaining overall wellness.
But not all fatty acids are made equal.
What Are Omega Fatty Acids?
One group of fatty acids is called omega fatty acids. They are polyunsaturated fatty acids, which means they have at least two double bonds within their hydrocarbon chain.
Omega fatty acids can be further divided into two main classes: omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids.⁴
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are distinguished by the position of the final double bond in their hydrocarbon chain. If you count three carbons away from the methyl group (or "omega") at the end of the chain, you'll see the final double bond. Hence the name omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids have plenty of important functions. They are a vital part of cell membranes. Research has found they are crucial for supporting heart health, brain development, and managing inflammation.⁵
Within the class of omega-3s are three main types of omega-3 fats: eicosapentaenoic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid.⁶
Our bodies aren't able to produce as many omega-3 fatty acids as we need to stay healthy. That means we need to include them in our diet.
Several foods are naturally high in omega-3s. Fatty fish, nuts (including candlenuts), seeds, and plant oils are all great sources of omega-3s. Fatty acid supplements, such as fish oil and algal oil, are also good sources of omega-3s that may support a healthy diet.⁷
Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Linoleic Acid)
The second main class of omega fatty acids is omega-6 fatty acids. The most common omega-6 fatty acid is linolenic acid. Our bodies can't make it, so we need to source it in our diet.
Omega-6 fatty acids have a worse reputation than omega-3s. But research suggests they are also beneficial to overall wellness. Studies have found they can lower harmful cholesterol, help manage blood sugar levels, and support heart health.⁸
The most common source of omega-6 fatty acids is vegetable oils. Other sources include eggs and walnuts.
Another common unsaturated fatty acid is arachidonic acid.
Other Fatty Acids
Omega fatty acids are far from the only fatty acids out there (and in our bodies).
For example, there are monounsaturated fatty acids. Unlike polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats have just one double bond in their hydrocarbon chain.
Monounsaturated fats are sometimes called "good" fats. Research suggests they can help support weight loss, heart health, and the inflammatory response.⁹
Examples of monounsaturated fats include oleic acid, vaccenic acid, and palmitoleic acid.
Foods high in these healthy fats include olives and virgin olive oil, nuts, pork, avocados, sunflower seeds, and eggs.
Saturated Fatty Acids
Saturated fatty acids are fatty acids with no double bonds in their hydrocarbon chains. That gives them a straighter, more flexible structure.
In turn, that means they're usually solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fatty acids are more often liquid. Think butter versus oil.
Saturated fatty acids have a bad reputation. They have been linked to heart-related health conditions. But new research suggests these downsides only appear when saturated fats are eaten in excess.¹⁰
And saturated fatty acids are certainly crucial for health, including skin health. For example, saturated fatty acids are important for keeping the skin hydrated.¹¹
Examples of saturated fatty acids include lauric acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid.
Many different essential fatty acids can help hydrate skin. In the skin, fatty acids help lock in moisture, keeping the skin hydrated.
Research has confirmed that products containing omega fatty acids can improve skin hydration and reduce moisture loss. A 2025 scientific review concluded as much, noting that products based on fatty acids often focus on moisturizing skin.¹²
As we mentioned earlier, candlenuts are a great source of omega fatty acids. In fact, research has found that candlenut oil can be composed of up to 90% omega fatty acids.¹³ That includes omega-3s, omega-6s, and even the less common omega-9 fatty acids.¹⁴
Some of the many omega fatty acids found in candlenuts include arachidic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid.¹⁵
“[Candlenut] is nutritious," explains JUARA co-founder Metta Murdaya, in conversation with dermatologist Dr Arini Widodo. "It has the omegas in it, which are good for the skin.… it also has a signature velvety feel … that our body creme is known for. And the fragrance, it's like a walk on the beach in the morning."
JUARA's Candlenut Body Creme blends natural candlenut oil with other oils that are also rich in essential fatty acids, like rice bran oil. Illipe butter further protects the skin from dehydration.
Skin Barrier
We already explained how fatty acids are essential to your skin barrier function. In fact, as a 2025 review noted, between 10 and 15% of the outermost layer of your skin's lipid barrier is made up of free fatty acids.¹⁶
Skincare products with omega fatty acids can therefore help keep this outermost layer hydrated and functioning properly.¹⁷ In part, that's because these fatty acids can help your body regulate sebum production, which is one of the ways your body naturally stays hydrated.
Studies also suggest that omega fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties.¹⁸
We already discussed how candlenut oil is a great source of these omega fatty acids. JUARA's Candlenut Body Oil for Glowy Skin blends omega-rich candlenut oil with passion fruit oil, which is naturally high in antioxidants to help soothe skin and protect from environmental stressors that may irritate or damage the skin barrier.
Another great source of fatty acids is avocado oil.¹⁹ JUARA's Radiance Vitality Face Oil blends candlenut, avocado, and macadamia oils to moisturize, protect, and rebuild the lipid barrier.
Anti-Aging
One of the most powerful potential benefits of essential fatty acids is protecting aging skin.
In part, fatty acids protect in the ways we already described. As we age, our skin naturally dries out, making moisturization all the more important. And our skin barrier naturally becomes thinner, meaning it's all the more in need of support.
Research has also shown that fatty acids may provide other potential anti-aging benefits.
For example, one study found that a topical fatty acid helped improve skin elasticity.²⁰ That's important because our skin naturally becomes less elastic over time.²¹
A systematic review from 2025 noted that topical omega fatty acids may also help reduce sun damage.²² UV light is essential to overall wellness, but it can also damage the skin. Protecting against that damage is crucial for keeping skin healthy and happy.
Another source of omega fatty acids that we haven't mentioned yet is sunflower oil - sunflower seed oil in particular. It's packed with linoleic acid and oleic acid.²³ JUARA's Recovery Face Cream for Menopausal Skin blends sunflower seed oil with kombucha, an antioxidant-rich fermented tea, and bio-retinol, which helps smooth fine lines and supports elastin production.
Conclusion
Fatty acids are essential nutrients that play a large role in overall wellness. They're an important part of a healthy, balanced diet. Research has shown that eating enough essential fatty acids provides all kinds of health benefits, including many related to skin health.
Fatty acids are also potent ingredients in topical skincare products. When formulated right, they can be great for all skin types: They help moisturize dry skin, are gentle on sensitive skin, and have been shown to help acne-prone skin, too.
The key phrase there, of course, is formulated right. Fatty acids are abundant in nature, and have been used by people around the world for hundreds of years. JUARA draws on these traditional wellness principles when developing modern skincare.
Fatty acids are an essential part of the skin. They are the building blocks of many of the lipids, or fats, that comprise your skin barrier. Fatty acids help keep moisture locked in and potentially harmful substances out.
When used in topical products, fatty acids can help moisturize skin, support skin barrier functioning, protect against premature aging, and much more.
What Are the Benefits of Fatty Acids?
Fatty acids have many potential benefits. Many of them are essential parts of a balanced diet, which is why they are called essential fatty acids. When consumed, studies have shown that essential fatty acids can support heart health, brain function, and skin integrity.
Topical products containing fatty acids can also help support skin health. They are great moisturizers, help support skin barrier function, and can protect skin from things that might irritate or damage it.
Which Fatty Acid Is Best for Flawless Skin?
The best fatty acids for skin are omega fatty acids, particularly omega-3 and omega-6. They can help keep skin hydrated, support the skin barrier, balance the production of natural oils, and protect the skin against irritation.
Fortunately, these fatty acids are abundant in nature. For example, candlenuts are a great source of omega fatty acids. That's why JUARA uses them in its Candlenut Body Creme and Candlenut Glow Body Oil.
Juara Skincare incorporates ancient rituals with Western skincare science, creating the ultimate beauty experience. We aim to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating scents, and powerful, skin-improving formulas. All of our products are nutrient-rich and botanically based. We are proud to be certified cruelty-free. Get the latest skin care tips and info on Juara products by learning more about our founders and following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Metta Murdaya
Co-founder and CEO
Metta Murdaya is co-founder and CEO of JUARA Skincare, a skincare and beauty company inspired by the Indonesian wellness traditions of Jamu. Her award-winning book, Jamu Lifestyle, captures the essence of the Jamu philosophy, emphasizing the power of healthy, intentional, and joyful living. Guided by a deep commitment to societal betterment, Metta inspires individuals to thrive in mind, body, and spirit. As a wellness speaker and retreat guide, she contributes to the Global Wellness Institute’s Aesthetic Health Initiative and serves on the board of Mentari, supporting trafficking prevention and education initiatives in Indonesia and wellness programs in the U.S.
