There are so many benefits of cocoa butter for the skin which is why it is one of our favourite natural ingredients. Not only does it help nourish the skin, it also smells delicious! If you are not soaking up the benefits of cocoa butter, here are a few reasons you should!
What exactly is cocoa butter?
Cocoa butter comes from cocoa beans found naturally inside the cocoa fruit. From the cocoa beans, two products are produced: cocoa butter and cocoa powder.
To produce these products the beans are roasted, stripped of their shells and milled down to produce a cocoa liquor. This is then pressed to separate the fat while protecting the antioxidants. The fat results in cocoa butter and the remaining is pulverised to make cocoa powder.
In the making of chocolate, cocoa butter and powder are mixed back together. It is the cocoa butter that is responsible for the incredible melt-in-your-mouth quality that keeps you coming back for more.
The wonderful benefits of cocoa butter for the skin
The natural nutrient composition and fatty acid content makes cocoa butter really nourishing for the skin. Here are the amazing benefits you will see when you start to include it in your regular skin care regime.
1. Antioxidant properties
You have probably heard that chocolate is a great source of antioxidants; it may even be your excuse for eating it! Cocoa butter is also packed full of antioxidants which help fight free radical damage and save your skin from the inevitable signs of aging.
2. Restorative quality
Cocoa butter has the ability to penetrate deep-down into the skin, hydrating and restoring your skin after being exposed to various environmental conditions. This is due to the high fatty acid content and for this reason, it can be great for healing skin problems such as eczema, dermatitis and other skin irritations. Cocoa butter is also great for healing cracked or chapped lips giving you the perfect pout!
3. Soothes skin
Cocoa butter is a great natural moisturiser to help soothe the skin after being exposed to the sun. As it melts at skin temperature, it sinks deeply into the layers of the skin quickly restoring natural moisture providing ultimate nourishment. It doesn’t offer any UV protection, but it will help burns heal faster.
4. Assists with scar reduction
Due to its antioxidant properties and nutrient qualities, cocoa butter is well known for its effective healing of scars, scratches and even stretch marks. While everyone’s skin is different and subjected to different conditions, regular use of cocoa butter has been shown to help reduce the appearance of unsightly scars.
5. A smoother shave
Cocoa butter has the ability to leave you skin incredibly smooth if used while shaving. It also can help reduce any irritation caused in the process. Simply apply some cocoa butter to your skin and get shaving!
The benefits of cocoa butter for the skin go beyond leaving it soft and smooth, although we know that is all what we are after. We love that cocoa butter is safe to eat, so we know it is ok to put on your skin and it naturally smells delicious too!