Cocoa butter is a plant-based fat taken from the cocoa bean. It’s extracted from roasted cacao beans. In general, cocoa butter is a rich moisturizing cream. Pure cocoa butter may be packaged on its own or processed with other ingredients and sold as a body cream.
Cocoa butter can replenish skin’s moisture and create a barrier to protect your skin from moisture loss. Compared to other oils and creams, cocoa butter tends to be absorbed well without leaving skin greasy. However, cocoa butter definitely helps skin maintain its elasticity and tone.
Parts of the cocoa plant have been used to treat acne, psoriasis, skin cancer, and wounds. And more research is going on to verify exactly how effective cocoa products are for skin health.
The cocoa plant has high levels of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phytochemicals. Phytonutrients have been studied for their anti-cancer properties. Research found cocoa to have more phytochemicals (basically the plant’s active ingredient) than both tea and red wine.
An overview of many studies found that the phytochemicals in cocoa might also increase blood flow in the skin and protect against sun damage. Both of these benefits can help maintain healthy skin as well as decrease visible signs of aging skin.
Take one whiff of raw cocoa butter and you just know there are good things in store for your body and hair. Rich in antioxidants, cocoa butter creates a natural barrier between your body’s natural oils and the rest of the world that tries to break it down by protecting your skin. Cocoa butter reduces inflammation and can moisturize from your scalp all the way down to your feet. According to study, cocoa butter has been historically used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
Side Effects of Cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is safe for use on the skin. Pure cocoa butter does not contain any ingredients that are likely to cause problems in most people. As with many skin care products, cocoa butter formulations may contain other ingredients that could irritate the skin. Always check the label for potential irritants.
