Skin Benefits of Cocoa Butter
When it comes to formulating our products, selecting organic ingredients that provide skin with essential nutrients is our top priority. We select cold-pressed and plant-derived ingredients that are sourced around the world for each product that we formulate and manufacture at our independent and FDA registered lab in Asheville.
For products that are anhydrous and intended to provide skin with a heavy barrier against moisture loss, we love to include cocoa butter in these formulations. It is a highly stable and unrefined ingredient that provides skin with a megadose of essential antioxidants and minerals for overall skin health.
We source our organic, fair trade cocoa butter from Peru and this ingredient is the natural fat extracted from cocoa beans. It is a rich source of fatty acids and nutrients including vitamin E, omega 9 (oleic) acid, stearic acid and palmitic acid, making it a valuable ingredient for nutrient dense skincare.
The high vitamin E content is essential with helping to promote skin regeneration, which in turn helps to reduce the appearance of scars over time. The natural anti-inflammatory properties in cocoa butter can help to reduce inflammation making this ingredient an excellent choice for soothing irritating skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.
Another benefit of cocoa butter is its ability to protect the skin against UV damage and improve skin elasticity. The high level of antioxidants keeps skin supple and can help neutralize free radicals caused by sun exposure, which helps in reducing the risk of premature aging and overall skin damage.
From an application standpoint, we love that it is ultra-emollient and melts quickly on skin contact providing hydration to both the epidermis and dermis. It has the ability to moisturize and hydrate deeply while providing a barrier against transepidermal water loss, meaning that this ingredient is considered both hydrating and occlusive. The fatty acids present in cocoa butter are what form a protective barrier on the skin's surface, keeping it moisturized and plump. This deep hydration along with a barrier to prevent moisture loss assists with an increase in overall skin suppleness and a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
We love this prized ingredient for the numerous skincare benefits and use it to formulate the following: