The Philippines isn’t just home to beaches and sunsets — it’s home to some of the world’s most powerful botanicals.
The Philippines is one of the most botanically diverse places on Earth — a true powerhouse of plant-based skincare ingredients.
We’re talking antioxidant-rich oils, nutrient-dense leaves, radiance-enhancing resins, and skin-reviving fruits that thrive naturally in our tropical climate.
Our islands grow high-performance plant ingredients that global brands travel oceans for. Here at Lococo, we call them what they are: Superplants for superskin.
Like the coconut, the Tamanu tree fruits are dispersed in the ocean and germinate on the beaches upon which they land. They thrive readily on beaches because they are tough, resilient, and resistant to saltwater.
On The Wild Side
- The journey of making tamanu oil is very traditional: the nuts naturally fall to the ground and that's when they are collected, gathered by hand, dried in the sun for 6 weeks, cracked open, then cold-pressed. Thus the harvesting process is super sustainable and does no damage to the local environment.
The nuts are after they naturally fall to the ground (instead of being picked from trees),.
- The collection and processing of the nuts provides income to local women enhancing the local economies of coastal communities in Negros and xx, Mindanao.
- Wind Resistance: Tamanu trees are highly resistant to strong winds due to their sturdy nature and development of deep roots that anchor them in sandy soil. This makes them less likely to be uprooted during storms.
- Coastal Stabilization: The tree's tolerance for wind and salt spray, along with its root system, makes it ideal for coastal stabilization and strand reforestation.
- Windbreaks: When planted in rows (known as windbreaks or shelterbelts), the dense branches and thick crowns help to reduce wind speed, protecting inland areas, crops, and structures from the full force of typhoon winds.
- Flood Mitigation: While not as significant as mountain ranges, coastal forests with strong native trees can help absorb excess water, reducing the risk of flash floods and landslides.
The preservation and planting of resilient native trees like the tamanu are considered an important part of a national security strategy against climate-induced disasters in typhoon-prone regions like the Philippines.