So, What is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is a type of fat that comes from cocoa beans. To harvest the cocoa butter, the beans are taken out of the larger cacao plant. Then they’re roasted, stripped, and pressed to separate out the fat—the cocoa butter. The remnants are then processed into cocoa powder.
Cocoa has been used in medicine for around 3,000 years. It was a favorite ingredient of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, who even used cocoa for currency. More recently, researchers have discovered that compounds called phytochemicals in cocoa might help keep both your body and skin health.
Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which is why it’s often touted for its ability to hydrate and nourish the skin and improve elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter forms a protective barrier over skin to hold in moisture.
Cocoa butter is also rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals. These substances may improve blood flow to the skin and slow skin aging by protecting against damage from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
One common use of cocoa butter is to smooth scars, wrinkles, and other marks on the skin. Many women believe cocoa butter creams and lotions can be used during and after pregnancy to prevent and minimize the appearance of stretch marks. For me personally it kept my skin perfectly moisturised but its not a miracle worker.
Because of its high fat content, cocoa butter has a richer, denser feel than many other butter ingredients. It’s often compared to shea butter, which is also high in fatty acids but doesnt have the sweet chocolately scent of cocoa butter. Once whipped together with other oils and butters it adds a creamy texture to the final product.
