About The Consumer Guide to Cocoa Butter
Lush skin, radiant beauty and gorgeous complexion. What do these three descriptions have in common? Simple. It’s cocoa butter.
Your skin deserves to be treated with kindness and tenderness. It should be pampered and doted on.
One of the best products you can use to do this is the amazing cocoa butter. A product of cocoa beans, cocoa butter has come to stay as a major beauty treatment and skin care solution among many women all over the world. No woman who is serious about moisturizing jokes with cocoa butter.
This is because by its very nature, cocoa butter is a highly moisturizing agent that’s so effective it can tackle even the driest of skins.
So, if you or someone you know has dry skin and you’ve tried everything else without much luck, you should seriously give the cocoa butter a try.
In this cocoa butter guide for consumers, you’ll learn:
- Why cocoa butter is amazing
- How it can help you prevent stretch marks
- Why you should rub copious amounts of it during your pregnancy –Hint: this is an age long skin care secret
- The difference between scented and unscented cocoa butter
- The difference between cocoa butter, coconut butter and shea butter –this is important because there are lots of comparisons between all three
- The best cocoa butter creams and raw cocoa butter tubs in the market
- How to use cocoa butter for stunning results
- General proven skin care tips you can use to get a lush, radiant skin.
Benefits of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter has so many tremendous benefits. This is why we consider it one of nature’s great gifts.
Used properly, you can transform your skin and get rid of so many blemishes. Here are some of the reasons cocoa butter is amazing.
Radiating Skin
Admittedly, having a gorgeous skin is usually a mixture of many things –good genes, lifetime of taking of care and paying attention to your skin, good skin care regimens and moderate exposure to the sun-, but one of the key factors is consistent moisturizing.
Cocoa butter is a fantastic moisturizer and an excellent skin hydrating agent. It does this by trapping moisture in your skin, hence keeping your skin fresh. As you know, little or no dehydration means supple, radiant skin.
It is effectively one of the best skin moisturizers in the market. This makes it particularly effective for people with dry and rough skin. It works by combating dry skin and keeping it moisturized without any greasy feeling.
Let’s face it, dry, rough skin sucks. Not only is it unappealing, it feels coarse to the touch and in extreme cases, can be repulsive to people.
So, if you want a radiant, supple smooth, and soft skin that draws compliments from everyone, you really should add cocoa butter to your skin regimen.
Helps with Scars
Cocoa butter is also well known for its scar removing qualities. While regular lotions and ointments can help, there are actually special cocoa butter serums and creams specifically made for removing or preventing scars.
There are women –and men- who swear by these ointments and serums’ effectiveness at preventing and even removing everything from acne scars to insect bite scars.
This makes sense because keeping the skin hydrated and protected under a thin protective film after an injury will most likely result in less scarring after the wound or injury heals up.
So, if you have some acne scarring, injuries or any form of scarring on your body, try applying some cocoa butter to that area morning and night for 8-12 weeks non-stop.
Many who have done this have observed a distinct fading of a mild to moderate scar within that period. More severe scars may take longer though.
Helps Alleviate Wrinkles
Many of us have spent a small fortune trying to eliminate those eye bags and wrinkles around the eyes.
There’s no doubt that eye bags are simply an indication of sleep deprivation. They just don’t look good on anyone.
Also, as nice as those early onset wrinkles are for personal relationships –you know how they say kind people tend to have wrinkles around their eyes because they smile a lot- they aren’t good for your beauty and looks.
Now, there’s a great way to keep smiling without the wrinkles under and around the eyes. Apply cocoa butter to that area of the face last thing at night and before applying your makeup in the morning if you’re a woman.
For guys, just apply away and you’re good. No longer do you have to keep a straight face just to delay the onset on wrinkles –here’s looking at you Kim- or pump your face full of botox. Oh, and it doesn’t irritate your skin at all. If anything, it’s very soothing.
However, if you have acne, you might want to avoid using cocoa butter because it tends to clog pores and will most likely worsen your acne.
Great Hair Conditioner
Your hair and scalp both deserve the best treatment possible to keep your hair looking lush and gorgeous. After all, for women, it’s your crown. The key to this though is good scalp treatment and hair treatment.
Cocoa butter functions as a great leave-in hair conditioner that you can rub in overnight and rinse out the next morning. If you want, you can also apply it in the morning and style your hair as you see fit.
Using cocoa butter for your hair helps eliminate and prevent dandruff, while enriching the hair and ensuring a fuller, healthy hair.
This means less hair breakage and split ends, more shine, and the possibility of your hair growing longer.
Softer Fuller Lips
Who doesn’t want to have succulent, softer and fuller lips? We know we do ;). Chapped, dry lips can be very off-putting and often repulsive.
Doubt it? Look at anyone with dry, chapped or even peeling lips. How long can you watch? See? Not so long.
But look at someone with luscious lips, chances are you’d look for longer. So, this is for the gentlemen and ladies.
If you want to get kissed more by your partner –who doesn’t?- try on some cocoa butter, and let it work those wonders for you. For best results, apply last thing at night before going to bed.
That way, it works its wonders while you sleep as nothing goes in your mouth during that time.
Then, apply it during the day, preferably as a foundation, before applying your lipstick or wet lips. Men can just use it as their lip balm –you’ve gotta admit that girls love a man with luscious lips.
Helps Ease Symptoms of Skin Conditions Like Dermatitis
According to the National Eczema Association, it is estimated that 17-32 million Americans suffer from mild to severe atopic dermatitis or eczema, and as much as 1 in 3 children has it mild to severe forms.
While there are other treatment forms –usually in the form of topical ointments or corticosteroids and oral medications- the cocoa mass polyphenol in cocoa butter helps minimize the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody produced by your body’s immune system’s overreaction to allergens, and capable of worsening your dermatitis.
So, if you have dermatitis or eczema, you should try applying some cocoa butter to help soothe the itching.
Does Cocoa Butter Help Prevent or Clear Stretch Marks?
Can cocoa butter help prevent stretch marks during pregnancy? These are two frequently occurring questions among women.
This is why it is in a separate section here. Stretch marks as an unintentional “side effect” of pregnancy, can be devastating to an individual and a marriage. As women, you understand what stretch marks can do to both your self-esteem and your love life.
Many women have lost their husbands to younger women with firmer bodies and no stretch marks. Most men won’t admit this though, but one of the reasons women enjoy less coitus, particularly after having a child is severe stretch marks.
Some don’t mind them, while others absolutely abhor them. If your partner is in the latter category, chances are there’ll be less fun in your union. We know it’s not fair, but it happens.
The good news however is that cocoa butter has been known to help reduce the severity of stretch marks, so it’s less jarring.
Women who have small to moderate stretch marks have been known to completely wipe them out courtesy of the consistent application of cocoa butter.
Those with severe stretch marks have been able to make it less visible through the constant application of cocoa butter.
In fact, there are specific cocoa butter lotions and creams for stretch marks after pregnancy and preventing or minimizing the occurrence during pregnancy.
These are applied to the lower belly, breast, waist, thighs and hips to keep the skin firm during and after pregnancy.
For best results, you should apply twice a day, right after having your bath and before applying any other creams.
Cocoa butter works, as testified by millions of women and men who have used and are still using it. Avail yourself of the opportunity and kick those unsightly stretch marks to the curb today.
Cocoa Butter VS Shea Butter? Which is Better?
This guide would be incomplete without a comparison between these two butters. Often times, cocoa butter is often mentioned in the same sentence as shea butter.
This is not surprising seeing as the both of them are great as moisturizing agents, help with clearing out rashes and fading out scars.
So, which of the two is better? Well, that’s a tricky question seeing as it usually comes down to choice.
Besides, many people use one of these combined with other oils to make what is known as body butters.
Body butters are usually nutrient rich homemade body creams designed to take advantage of the ingredients in all the components of the body butter, enriching the skin of the user in the process.
The idea is that the skin will benefit from all ingredients so that they can get faster, prolonged and better results from their skin care and beauty regimens.
Some people swear by a mixture of coconut oil and cocoa butter, calling it the best skin care treatment in the world. Others, prefer shea butter and coconut oil.
They are both great moisturizers that benefit and soothe the skin, their anti-inflammatory properties makes them excellent for reducing swellings on the skin.
They are both great at providing a protective barrier on the skin, resulting in prolonged hydration for the skin –a condition that’s great for people with dry skin, and capable of providing relief for skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
Cocoa butter’s unique properties however comes from the fact that it is very rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, help slow down or even prevent premature aging, works great for massages, contains plant sterols like Stigmasterol which may have cancer prevention properties and is very rich in vitamins E and K.
Both of these vitamins are crucial to slowing down visible aging signs like wrinkles and eye bags, effectively keeping you looking younger than your age. Compared to shea butter, cocoa butter smells better, which is why many people prefer it
So, while these two are great, cocoa butter has a history of taking care of your skin, resulting in flawless, soft and radiant skin. So, treat your skin to the best nutrition it can get. Go get some cocoa butter today.
Best Cocoa Butter Creams
We’re assuming you’d like to know the best cocoa butter brands for great results, right? The following are brands we think are perfect for those skin issues.
Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Cream
This cocoa butter is effective for people with terribly dry skin and chapped lips. Many users have recorded great success using this cream within as little as two weeks. The same goes for people whose lips tend to dry out really fast for whatever reason.
Many of those who have used this cream on their lips have noticed that their lips stay soft and moisturized for as long as 12 hours –even after they’ve eaten or drank something.
It’s been called a miracle skincare product for the singular reason that it brings back “dead skin” to life.
It’s also great for fading out scarring from surgeries and healed injuries. Most people also swear by its softening qualities.
So, if you need a cocoa butter cream that does all these, plus keeps your skin ultra-soft and radiant, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cream is a must use.
Perfect Body Harmony Organic Cocoa Butter
This is for those who want all the amazing benefits of cocoa butter, but from an organic source.
For those who don’t want the refined cocoa butter and prefer raw, organic types, the Perfect Body Harmony Organic Cocoa Butter is a USDA certified organic cocoa butter that delivers excellent results for its users.
Raving fans cannot stop talking about its amazing absorption rate –it’s non-greasy- its ease of use on the hair, the UV-resistant Ziploc bag designed to maintain product integrity for as long as possible, and gorgeous chocolate smell.
Also, some women swear by its ability to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy as evidenced by women in their 37th week, showing no stretch marks (beware of the smell though, it may trigger major chocolate cravings ). If you make body butters and lip balms, this will be great for you too.
Mary Taylor’s Naturals Cocoa Butter
If your goal is homemade body butters, lip balms, and skin care products, Mary Taylor’s Naturals Cocoa Butter is right up your alley.
The fragrant cocoa butter is perfect for this. This all natural organic, food grade cocoa butter from Ecuador is an amazing skin delight.
Many have used this for stretch marks with good results. Just make sure that you apply it right after having your bath as that increases its absorbability. You can also use it to make your own chocolate bars.
If you would like to check out a few others, take a look at Sky Organics’ Organic Cocoa Butter, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks with Vitamin E, and Now Foods Cocoa Butter.
Best Cocoa Butter Tips for Skin Care
Cocoa butter usually comes in two forms: The liquid oil which is usually refined and in solid crusty forms which is usually raw and unrefined. For the hard ones, you need to warm it up a bit before you can use it.
The good news is you don’t need any other heat source apart from your skin. Just rub it around a certain part of your skin over and over. The heat from the friction between it and your body will melt some of it, enough for use.
Apply it to target body parts last thing at night and first thing in the morning for as long as necessary. Please note that cocoa butter is high on the comedogenic scale, so it can result in clogged pores. This is important if you tend to have acne breakouts.
But if you don’t, it is great for your skin and will make your skin radiant as well as the cynosure of all eyes.
For even greater results, try mixing it with beeswax oil and coconut oil. Combined together, this luxurious body butter will make your skin ridiculously soft, flawless and radiant.
