Have you ever thought about using cocoa butter for your skin? If you have, you’ve probably wondered about cocoa butter skin benefits. There are so many different oils and kinds of butter out there that all claim to be great for the skin. But which one is better? Is cocoa butter good for the skin?
The good news is that cocoa butter is perfect for dry and normal skin. It almost seems like nature made it specifically for dry skin. It heals dry skin, provides hydration, and offers protection from the elements.
If you suffer from dry skin, or even if you have normal skin, cocoa butter might be a good option for you. With regular use, your skin will become more hydrated, healthy, and glowing.
Below, I cover everything about the skin benefits of cocoa butter as well as exactly how to use cocoa butter for skin benefits so you get the best results.
What Is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter comes from the seeds of the cocoa tree. It is a light yellow fat that we extract from the cocoa beans to use in our beauty products. Over 50% of cocoa butter production occurs in West Africa. Cocoa butter also comes from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The cocoa tree creates fruits that are large and green. Inside the fruit are the seeds, or “beans”. Each fruit may contain up to five seeds. To extract the cocoa butter, the seeds must go through a process of roasting and pressing.
You might be wondering, does cocoa butter come from the same thing we use to make chocolate? Almost! Cocoa beans make both chocolate and cocoa butter. But, we use different parts of the cocoa bean in each instance.
Two different elements come from the cocoa bean: the powder and the butter. The butter is the fat that we use for our beauty regimes. The powder is what creates chocolate.
Cocoa butter has been so useful for the skin that people have been using it for over 3,000 years. For centuries, we have sworn by cocoa butter’s ability to heal and hydrate the skin.
Now, what are the cocoa butter benefits for skin?
Is Cocoa Butter Good For Skin?
Skin can be sensitive and picky about the products you put on it. Cocoa butter is no different. So, you must think about the properties of cocoa butter and whether it will be good for your skin.
For most people, cocoa butter is a great addition to your beauty regime. It offers wonderful hydration and protection for your skin. It will even leave you smelling like chocolate!
But, cocoa butter isn’t going to be great for everyone.
You also should avoid cocoa butter if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
Why Is Cocoa Butter Bad For Oily & Acne-Prone Skin?
Beauty products are either comedogenic or non-comedogenic.
Comedogenic refers to the likelihood that an ingredient will clog your pores. When something clogs your pores, it’ll lead to increased oil production which can lead to acne.
If your skin is already oily or acne-prone, you don’t want to make your skin condition worse.
Ingredients are rated on a scale from 0-5. “0” is completely non-comedogenic, while “5” is highly comedogenic.
Researchers rank cocoa butter as a “4” on the comedogenic scale.
If you have dry or normal skin, there will be lots of cocoa butter benefits.
Top Cocoa Butter Skin Benefits
There are lots of benefits of cocoa butter on the skin.
Raw Cocoa Butter Skin Benefits
I prefer using raw cocoa butter because it’s better for the skin. After using it for a while, you’ll notice the benefits of cocoa butter on skin.
There are two different kinds of cocoa butter: refined and unrefined.
Refined is the most common form of cocoa butter used in beauty products. Manufacturers prefer refined cocoa butter. It is more stable, making it easier to use in their products. It also won’t go bad as quickly.
The problem with refined cocoa butter is the refining process. The beans go through a rigorous extraction process that uses high heat and chemicals. These methods strip the cocoa butter of almost all its nutrients.
So, although refined cocoa butter works better for use in beauty products, it’s not going to be as good for your skin.
But, we make unrefined cocoa butter gently. We don’t use any harsh chemicals or extreme heat. As a result, unrefined cocoa butter retains all the nutrients that make it so beneficial to the skin.
Cocoa Butter Is Filled With Vitamins & Nutrients
The reason that cocoa butter is so great for the skin boils down to the vitamins and nutrients it contains. This is also why unrefined cocoa butter is better than refined. Unrefined cocoa butter is chock-full of nutrients to keep your skin feeling amazing.
Here is a list of the most effective nutrients found in cocoa butter:
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Iron
- Choline
- Oleic acid
- Palmitic acid
- Stearic acid
Cocoa Butter Hydrates Skin
The primary reason that people use cocoa butter is that it moisturizes and hydrates the skin. This is what makes it so perfect for dry skin. Cocoa butter is thick and penetrates deep within the skin, keeping it hydrated for longer.
Cocoa Butter Protects The Skin
Cocoa butter penetrates deep within to keep the skin moisturized. But, this also keeps the skin protected. Cocoa butter is a thick, penetrative surface that contains Vitamin E. This combination forms a protective barrier over the skin. It keeps the skin safe from sun damage, dirt, and pollution, among other things.
Vitamin E is an amazing protector against UV rays. It’s so great that it can block up to 67% of the sun’s UV rays. But, this DOESN’T mean that you should use Cocoa Butter as a replacement for sunblock. Instead, you should use it as a protective supplement.
Cocoa Butter Fights The Appearance Of Aging
Collagen is the main protein found in the skin, residing in the connective tissue. It keeps the skin stretchy, healthy, and young. When your skin ages, it is because of a breakdown in collagen.
Your skin can lose collagen and elasticity. This is due to overexposure to the sun, exposure to pollutants, or from getting older.
Collagen Production
But, cocoa butter helps keep the skin young by boosting the production of collagen. It helps to heal damaged cells as well as promote the production of new skin cells.
Over time, you should notice a reduction in wrinkles, dark spots, and swelling.
There haven’t been many studies done on the effects of cocoa butter. Usually, we rely on anecdotal evidence to know how effective cocoa butter is. In the case of wrinkles, though, we have evidence!
Two studies examined the effects of cocoa butter on wrinkles. The first comes from “Skin Research and Technology”. The second comes from the “Journal of Cosmetic Science”. Both studies confirmed that cocoa butter improved collagen and elastin production. These proteins reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Elastin
A loss in elasticity is another reason that your skin begins to age. Elastin is another protein that helps your skin to be elastic and healthy. It allows your skin to stretch and be able to recover after experiencing stress.
Elastin can begin to break down on its own, usually due to aging. But, a breakdown in elastin is usually preceded by a breakdown in collagen. When your elastin breaks down, it leads to wrinkles and sagging.
Because elastin is what helps your skin to stretch, it’s also what prevents stretch marks. But, sometimes our skin stretches too quickly, and our elastin isn’t able to keep up. This is most common in cases of pregnancy and growth spurts.
Fortunately, cocoa butter contains antioxidants like Vitamin E. Other antioxidants include fatty acids like polyphenols and catechins. These elements fight damage to the skin, such as damage caused by free radicals. They work together to help your skin become healthier again.
This healing can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, sagging, and inflammation. Cocoa butter can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. They will better blend with the surrounding skin.
Cocoa Butter Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Vitamin E protects your skin from free radicals, but it also reduces inflammation in the skin. Vitamin E supports the immune system by regulating your cells’ immune response. You should notice a reduction in inflammation caused by psoriasis, eczema, etc.
Cocoa Butter Can Reduce The Appearance Of Scars
Cocoa butter softens the skin which can reduce the appearance of scars. When skin is softer, it is less likely to appear uneven and will appear more smooth with the rest of the skin.
Increased collagen and elastin production reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It can also reduce the appearance of scars.
How To Use Cocoa Butter On Skin – All The Cocoa Butter Uses For Skin
There are many benefits of cocoa butter for skin, but you also need to know how to apply cocoa butter.
Use Cocoa Butter As-Is
By far the easiest way to use cocoa butter is to use it by itself. It is gentle and effective enough that you don’t need to combine it with anything else. Simply massage some of the cocoa butter into your skin.
Buy A Product With Cocoa Butter
You can also buy a pre-made product. Cocoa butter is a very popular ingredient. So, it’s not difficult to find a product that contains cocoa butter.
Many people like this option because it’s an easy way to combine cocoa butter with other ingredients. Your skin can reap more benefits from the other ingredients mixed with cocoa butter.
There are a few downsides to this method, though. Most pre-made products use refined cocoa butter which lacks many beneficial nutrients. Also, some companies will sneak in ingredients that are actually bad for your skin. So, you need to be vigilant.
Create Your Own Cocoa Butter Mixture
Personally, the best way to use cocoa butter is to make your own product. You can use unrefined cocoa butter to create lotions, body scrubs, cleansers, and lip balms. By doing this, you can include any ingredients you want, and you know exactly what is going into your mixture.
Below, I’ve included some of my favorite cocoa butter recipes:
[mv_create key=”96″ type=”recipe” title=”Cocoa Butter & Coconut Oil Body Scrub” thumbnail=”null”]
Once ready, prepare your skin by rubbing it with warm water then scrub the mixture over your body in the desired areas to exfoliate before you rinse it off with warm water.
[mv_create key=”97″ type=”recipe” title=”Cocoa Butter & Coconut Oil Body Cream” thumbnail=”null”]
You can then massage your body with warm water. For best results, try using the above body scrub beforehand. Just massage the body cream into your skin as you normally would with lotion.
[mv_create key=”98″ type=”recipe” title=”Cocoa Butter & Almond Oil Lip Balm” thumbnail=”null”]
To start use, simply apply the lip balm to your skin using the tube or your fingers. It’s that easy!
Conclusion
One thing we know for sure is that there are many cocoa butter benefits on skin.
When you use cocoa butter, your skin will become more moisturized and hydrated. Hydrated skin leads to healthy, glowing skin.
It fights the signs of aging like wrinkles, inflammation, and dark spots. It helps heal minor wounds and can reduce the appearance of scars. It protects your skin from the sun, dirt, and pollution. Best of all, it will leave your skin smelling like chocolate!
If you have dry or normal skin and have been on the fence about trying cocoa butter, give it a try! You’ll surely be happy with the results.
Discover more wonderful ways to use cocoa butter for lips, face, feet, scalp and dry skin as well as stretch marks. You can find more cocoa butter guides here, the benefits of eating cocoa butter here and learn whether it is good for you or not here.
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