Upon hearing “cocoa butter” the mind immediately imagines delicious desserts like chocolate bars, fudge layer cake, and chocolate chip ice cream. However, this is a common ingredient in skin creams and other health and beauty products.

Cocoa butter is known for keeping skin hydrated, making it look younger and giving it the ‘glow’ that is highly sought-after. While using cocoa butter in beauty products won’t cause you to gain weight, it can be beneficial for your health. Cocoa butter is extracted from cocoa beans which are found in the cacao plant. The beans are extracted from the plant, roasted, stripped, and pressed to separate out the fat – which is the cocoa butter – while the remains are processed into cocoa powder.

What benefits does cocoa butter offer?

Cocoa butter has a high fat content which gives it the ability to nourish and hydrate the skin, improving elasticity and forming a protective barrier over the skin which retains moisture. In addition, it is one of the best body butters and can also help to regulate the sebum production of the skin.

Natural plant compounds called phytochemicals are also found in cocoa butter which can improve blood flow in the skin while also slowing down the ageing of the skin. Phytochemicals also protect the skin against harmful ultraviolet rays.

Cocoa butter usually comes in the form of a thick, dense cream and this is due to the high fat content it contains. It is quite popular and is usually an integral part of people’s skincare routines. It is used as an ingredient in a variety of body lotions and creams but can also be found in lip balms because cocoa butter is edible.

Cocoa butter is used in a variety of different ways depending on people and their uses. Body lotions and moisturizers use only a small amount of cocoa butter as one of many ingredients. Pure cocoa butter is available in stick form. Unrefined cocoa butter can be acquired and melted in hot water if you want to make your own products.

How can cocoa butter be used?

There is a high content of antioxidants present in cocoa butter and these are great for the skin. The presence of antioxidants can slow the ageing of skin while also reducing dark spots and dull skin. The anti-inflammatory properties of cocoa butter can treat rashes or irritation.

There have also been claims of cocoa butter reducing stretch marks and scars. While there are differing views regarding how effective cocoa butter is at covering up stretch marks, there are many brands that offer products that claim to have anti-stretch properties.

Cocoa butter makes an excellent moisturizer for the skin as it has a high fat content. This allows it to hydrate the skin for up to 24 hours after application. Oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids are also found in cocoa butter which are highly nourishing for the skin. It is an excellent body butter for dry skin.

Cocoa butter can be used in different manners depending on personal preference. It is available in raw form and can be added to unscented body butter if you prefer to make your own DIY skincare products but is also offered as ready-to-use product by many skincare brands. There are many cocoa butter benefits depending on how it is utilized.