Cocoa butter may conjure up images of delicious delicacies such as chocolate bars, fudge layer cake, and chocolate chip ice cream. Nonetheless, this delectable element is also found in skin creams and other health and beauty goods. The cocoa butter in your skin care regimen, unlike the one in your dessert, will not cause you to gain weight. But will it make you look better?
The fat made from cocoa beans is known as cocoa butter. To obtain cocoa butter, the beans are extracted from the larger cacao plant. The beans are then roasted, peeled, and pressed to extract the fat—the cocoa butter. The leftovers are subsequently ground into cocoa powder. The positives of cocoa butter include the following.
1. Aids Skin Health
Cocoa butter is found in many skin care products, including moisturisers and anti-ageing lotions. These products claim to have numerous skin health benefits, including relief from dry skin and increased skin suppleness. Cocoa contains a number of antioxidants known as polyphenols, which are plant-derived compounds with a variety of possible health advantages. These polyphenols may offer skin health benefits like reducing inflammation and protecting the skin from sun damage. These polyphenols are mostly found in cocoa powder, rather than cocoa butter. Despite the fact that cocoa butter is an active ingredient in many skincare products, there is little empirical proof that it improves skin health.
According to one cell study, cocoa polyphenols improved skin elasticity and ageing, and cocoa butter may boost these effects. However, this was a small-scale study, and additional research is needed before scientists can determine the specific benefits of cocoa butter on the skin.
2. Helps Against Stretch Marks
Many people think cocoa butter can prevent stretch marks, especially during pregnancy. Some doctors and midwives may recommend taking cocoa butter during pregnancy to lessen the chance of stretch marks, but there is no proof that this is effective. According to one analysis, multiple research found little evidence that cocoa butter prevents stretch marks during pregnancy. They also state that there is no evidence that any topical lotion may prevent stretch marks. Stretch marks are a normal aspect of pregnancy, and the majority of them will diminish with time.
3. Natural Moisturiser
Many skin moisturisers contain cocoa butter as a component. Pure cocoa butter is used by some people to help treat dry skin. Cocoa butter, like other natural moisturisers such as coconut oil, is mostly composed of fatty acids. These fats may aid in the formation of a protective layer on the skin, preventing moisture from leaving and so keeping the skin from drying out.
Cocoa butter is also used to treat skin dryness caused by common skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. While this may be effective for some people, there is no scientific evidence that it will be effective for everyone.