What if one of beauty’s most powerful ingredients has been hiding in the Amazon for centuries?
Actress, model and Xirü founder Daniela Botero joins Dr. Randi Boyette to reveal why cacay oil, often called “nature’s retinol,” could become the next major ingredient for skin, body and hair. Naturally rich in vitamin A, vitamin E and essential fatty acids, this Amazonian oil has become the foundation of the entire Xirü collection.
Daniela shares how she discovered cacay oil, the difference it made in her own skin and hair, and how she joined forces with her husband Brent Saunders, the former CEO of Allergan and current chairman and CEO of Bausch + Lomb, and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Bertha Baum to bring it into an elevated line of beauty products.
From achieving smoother, more radiant skin to nourishing the body, scalp and hair, Daniela walks Dr. Randi through the many ways she uses cacay oil, including her signature gua sha ritual and the hair-oiling routine she swears by. She also reveals some of the more unexpected lessons she has picked up from years in front of the camera, from Colombian beauty traditions and rituals discovered around the world to the surprising supermodel secrets behind her “less is more” philosophy.
Could this ancient Amazonian oil really be the beauty ingredient we’ve all been waiting for?
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Episode FAQ
What is Xirü, and what did this Beauty Scene episode cover about cacay oil?
On this episode of The Beauty Scene, a segment of The Dr. Randi Show, host Dr. Randi Boyette spoke with Daniela Botero, an international model and actress for more than 15 years and co-founder of Xirü, a face, body, hair, and scalp line built around cacay oil. Daniela Botero co-founded the brand with dermatologist Dr. Bertha Baum and beauty and healthcare executive Brent Saunders. The conversation covered what cacay oil is, how she layers a face oil into a simple routine, how she uses a gua sha on the face and body, her hair oiling ritual, and where the brand is headed next. The answers below reflect her personal experience and opinions and are not medical advice.
What inspired the creation of a cacay oil skincare brand?
Daniela Botero shared on The Beauty Scene that in 2018, while she was working as a model and actress, she was dealing with acne, rosacea, and cystic acne. On a trip to Colombia, a makeup artist suggested she try pure cacay oil, and she said she noticed a big difference in her redness after about three days. During her second pregnancy she became focused on clean, effective beauty, and she wanted to build a line around a single hero ingredient she loved. She added that each Xirü formula connects to her roots, including the rosemary and Centella asiatica her grandmother used when she was growing up. This reflects her personal experience and is not medical advice.
What is cacay oil, and why is it called nature’s retinol?
On The Beauty Scene, Daniela Botero explained that cacay oil comes from the nut of the cacay tree, which she said takes about 10 years to grow and is found in the Orinoquía and Amazon regions of Colombia and Brazil. She described it as rich in natural retinol (vitamin A), linoleic acid, and omegas, along with delta-5-avenasterol, which she said has anti-inflammatory benefits. In her experience, it supports hydration, reduced redness, and elasticity, and she said she does not experience the sun sensitivity she associates with some retinol products, though she still wears SPF 50 every day. She noted that Xirü is currently running clinical studies. This reflects her personal perspective and is not medical advice.
Can people with oily, sensitive, or rosacea-prone skin use a face oil?
Daniela Botero told Dr. Randi Boyette on The Beauty Scene that she considers it a myth that people with oily skin cannot use oils, since, in her words, our skin is made of oil and our bodies need it. She said the delta-5-avenasterol in cacay oil is part of why she feels it helps with rosacea, and she personally uses oils every day on her hair, face, and body. For anyone with sensitive skin who is new to the brand, she suggested starting with the body oil first to see how the skin responds. This reflects her personal experience and is not medical advice.
Should a face oil replace a serum or moisturizer, and can it go under makeup?
On The Beauty Scene, Daniela Botero said a face oil is meant to be layered, not used as a replacement. She does not believe in 10-step routines and prefers three basics: a good cleanse, a serum you love, and hydration, with the Xirü Pure Radiance Face Oil applied after the serum. She said it also works well before foundation, since she believes skin should always be moisturized before makeup. For what she calls red carpet skin, she depuffs with a gua sha using the oil, then follows with foundation. This reflects her personal routine and is not medical advice.
What morning and nighttime skincare routine does a longtime model follow?
Daniela Botero described her routine on The Beauty Scene as very simple, and she said she changes her products about every three months. In the morning, she applies Xirü cacay oil to her full body, splashes her face with Evian water, then uses a saffron serum, the cacay face oil, and SPF 50 sunscreen. At night, she cleanses to remove sunscreen, uses Re-Q as a first step, and alternates between a serum and a retinol she uses every other day, followed by a probiotic Greek yogurt moisturizer. Her biggest lesson from years in front of the camera is that less is more, along with hydration, nutrition, and sleep. This reflects her personal routine and is not medical advice.
What can a gua sha do for the face, and how often should you use it?
On The Beauty Scene, Daniela Botero said she uses a gua sha to support collagen and lymphatic drainage, especially in the morning, since she feels fluid builds up overnight. She recommended being consistent, using it morning and night and passing over each zone about 10 times, and always using an oil so the tool glides. She advised waiting after injectables or other aesthetic treatments so you do not move what was placed. She designed the Xirü Face and Body Gua Sha in 100% ceramic after discovering a similar tool in Korea in 2022, choosing ceramic because she finds it antibacterial compared with wood and less likely to break than quartz. She said Vogue recognized the gua sha among the best of 2026. This reflects her personal experience and is not medical advice.
How do you use a hair and scalp oil for an oiling routine?
Daniela Botero called the Xirü Revitalize Hair and Scalp Oil a hero of the line on The Beauty Scene. She said it has five ingredients, including cacay, amla, rosemary, and argan, and that she has noticed improved hydration, silkiness, and density in her own hair. Her ritual is to section her hair, which she said The Xirü Comb makes easy even for thick hair, be generous with a full dropper per section, massage the scalp with the Xirü Scalp Massager to help circulation, then put her hair in a bun for two to three hours before double shampooing. She shared that her hair was short and thin about three years ago and is now much longer, and that some customers have told her it helped with frizz and dandruff. This reflects personal experience and is not medical advice.
How can a body oil and gua sha be used together on the body?
On The Beauty Scene, Daniela Botero said the Xirü Firm and Nourish Elixir Body Oil blends cacay with Centella asiatica, jojoba oil, green tea extract, and calendula, and pairs well with the gua sha. She uses the tool upward along the legs and focuses on the thighs and stomach, where she says she tends to hold more fat, spending about 15 minutes per session. In her experience, body gua sha helps with the look of cellulite and with circulation, and she feels body oils with natural retinol can help with pigmentation and skin tone as we age. She emphasized that results depend on consistency and good nutrition. This reflects her personal experience and is not medical advice.
Which Xirü product should someone new to the brand try first, and what is next for Xirü?
Daniela Botero said on The Beauty Scene that she expected the hair oil to be the breakout product, but customers have especially loved the body oil and gua sha. For newcomers, particularly those with sensitive skin, she suggested starting with the body oil, then adding the hair and face oils as they feel comfortable. After a first phase focused on press and credibility, she said the brand is now focusing on distribution and sales, with a hair mask and a lip gloss in development. This reflects her personal perspective and is not medical advice.
