Cocoa butter is the fat extracted from cocoa beans. These are the same beans that chocolate comes from! Because of this, cocoa butter has some of the same antioxidant properties as pure chocolate and retains a slight chocolaty smell AND it is my FAVORITE beauty ingredient and I use it literally from head to toe!
THE BEST MOISTURIZER
Cocoa butter is mostly saturated fat; which has gotten a bad wrap for inclusion in our diets but is heaven for our skin because of its emollient properties. Of its saturated fat content, it is highest in stearic and palmitic acids. These fatty acids are known to help protect the skin from moisture loss by helping the skin create a barrier against the elements. This keeps the moisture locked in your skin where it belongs making the skin appear smoother and more supple.
HEALS DAMAGED SKIN
Like Shea butter, cocoa butter is very high in antioxidants. These are the same healthy antioxidants found in chocolate. This makes cocoa butter great for lightening hyperpigmentation, making skin tone more even, and healing scar tissue. This is why cocoa butter has been the go-to for getting rid of stretch marks. Cocoa butter is also anti-inflammatory making it great for conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis because it soothes and protects the inflamed skin.
HAS ANTI-AGING PROPERTIES
Cocoa butter is high in polyphenols that prevent skin degeneration. It also has antioxidants that protect the skin from oxidative stress and free radicals. This keeps the skin looking young and radiant. The moisturizing properties of cocoa butter also give the skin a more youthful appearance by making the skin more plump, supple, and smooth.
Interested in a great body butter made with cocoa butter? Check out one of these!