Annatto seed powder is more than just a natural food dye; it is also excellent for your skin, which is why we included it in our Fire Soap and Sunflower Soap!
While this orangish-red food coloring is popular in meats, butter, and cheeses, it is also commonly found in skin products, including soap. Some companies use it for the color, but we wanted to use it because of the amazing skin benefits.
Annatto seeds are from the achiote tree (more like a shrub), which is a tropical plant. The seeds are extracted and then ground into a powder. This powder is very common in Latin American and Filipino cuisine to give dishes a nutty, musky, and peppery taste.
These seeds are also high in antioxidants and tocotrienol (a form of vitamin E), which means it has potent skin-protecting properties. This is great news if you want to fight the signs of aging and keep your skin looking younger! They also contain minerals like calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron.
Annatto seeds have excellent cleansing properties, which are always good for blemished skin. They also help to calm irritated, painful skin issues (say, mild burns) by making it into a paste and then applying it. This helps relieve the pain, speeds up skin repair, and lowers the chances of scarring.
