From Bean to Beauty: The Benefits of Using Cocoa Butter

When you see the word “cocoa” you’re probably picturing a decadent piece of creamy chocolate: fudgy brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate truffles. While cocoa butter is related to that delicious bar of chocolate, it is a completely different product. Although it can be used as a food product, these days, it tends to be regarded for its benefits to the skin when applied topically. 

Is your mouth watering yet? Here are the benefits of using cocoa butter on your skin.

What is Cocoa Butter?

Cocoa Butter comes from the cacao bean, which is found in a cocoa pod, from the cocoa tree, typically grown in West Africa, and Central and South America. The difference between the words cocoa and cacao is that cacao is the name given to the raw, unprocessed beans whereas cocoa is the name given to the beans after they have been harvested and processed.

The cocoa pod is a large fruit and typically contains 20-40 cocoa seeds inside of it. Once the seeds have been harvested, they are fermented, cleaned, dried, and shelled. They are then roasted and ground into cocoa nibs. They are added to boiling water and stirred. During this process, the fat of the cocoa beans rises to the surface and is collected. 

Cocoa Butter comes in two forms: refined and unrefined. Unrefined Cocoa Butter is Cocoa Butter in its rawest form, has a yellow color, and possesses a strong smell of chocolate. Refined Cocoa Butter has been stripped of its scent and color. We choose to use Unrefined Cocoa Butter in our products. Both are solid at room temperature, but when applied directly to the skin, will melt and become emollient. 

Benefits of Cocoa Butter

Hydrating

Cocoa Butter is an excellent moisturizer for dry and cracked skin. It can provide hydration and help to nourish the skin, leaving it soft, supple, and smooth. Cocoa Butter is rich in fatty acids and contains oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids, all of which nourish the skin. 

Does your skin need a boost of moisture? Treat your skin to a rich, luxurious body cream formulated from the very best clean and natural ingredients. Cocoa Butter is found in our aromatic Rose Body Cream, formulated with Rose Absolute Essential Oil to deeply hydrate and nourish the skin while boosting confidence and the ability to love. Prefer a more relaxing scent? Try our Lavender Body Cream. 

Antioxidant Powerhouse

Cocoa Butter contains antioxidants that can help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, like pollution. This damage can show up on the skin in the form of sagging, dark patches, and dull skin. It may also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making the skin look younger and more radiant. 

For a more youthful glow to the skin, apply our Max Moisture Cream to the face and neck. This rich, ultra-hydrating face cream is developed to provide essential moisture for dry and very dry skin types. It is excellent for use in extreme environments to provide a physical barrier, helping to protect the skin from frigid temperatures, windburn, and arid climates. For a more youthful eye area, apply our Jasmine Fine Line Cream around your orbital bone. 

Improves Skin’s Appearance

Cocoa Butter is rich in vitamin E, which effectively hydrates and softens the skin, as well as protects the skin from the appearance of stretch marks. It also has smoothing properties which may help diminish the appearance of uneven skin textures similar to cellulite. By keeping skin hydrated and nourished, it can provide the skin with a more elastic feel and appearance that protects it from breaking or tearing during times of rapid body changes. 

Cocoa Butter is an ingredient safe to use during pregnancy, which is ideal to assist skin recovery from stretching and weight fluctuations. Use a cream rich in Cocoa Butter early on during pregnancy to prevent or lessen the appearance of stretch marks, such as our Nourishing Body Cream. For maximum improvement in your skin’s appearance, try pairing it with our Immacule Elixir, or Algae Extract Unscented


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