What Is Cocoa Butter? What Does It Do For Your Skin?
Cocoa butter, or theobroma oil, is a gold mine for skin. Cocoa butter is not only edible, it is also used in skincare and lip care products. It’s derived from cocoa beans and has a high healthy fat content.
Because of its immense lipid content, it has been used for centuries to moisturize several areas of the human body. Your parents and grandparents have no doubt used this old school remedy for stretch marks or scars, and if you check the ingredients on some of your favorite moisturizing products in your home, you may be surprised to find cocoa butter as an ingredient.
Cocoa butter has been a popular skin moisturizer for a long time. Cocoa butter intensifies the fatty elements of the skin. Healthy skin has a smooth, rich oil on the outermost layer which works to reduce evaporation. Cocoa butter is able to imitate this and protect your skin.
Cocoa butter consists of fatty acids which hydrate your skin and boost elasticity, creating a defensive barrier over the skin to retain moisture. Maintaining healthy skin goes a long way and will help you sustain a fresh glow that will not show age as quickly.
Adding cocoa butter to other products to create a lotion can help with sensitive or arid skin. When placed on the skin, cocoa butter diffuses at normal body temperature, providing a soothing remedy to inflamed skin. Cocoa butter contains fatty acids, which explains why skin professionals recommend it for its ability to nurture skin of all types.
Will Cocoa Butter Diminish Acne Scars?
Cocoa butter is commonly used on wrinkles, scars, and other undesired spots on the skin. It is often used in conjunction with skin lightening products in order to address unwanted dark spots or scars on the skin.
Hydroquinone is an effective skin lightener that has been used for skin treatments for many years. This is often mixed into lotions with cocoa butter.
Glycolic acid has been used in association with cocoa butter to address sun spots on hands, face, and arms. It works to increase cell turnover in the skin while exfoliating at the same time.
Cocoa butter and vitamin E help soothe the skin during this process. Noticeable differences in the skin can be achieved in as little as a few days. A typical treatment plan includes using the product for at least three months to address the user’s skin concerns. Significant lightening of age spots and scars is commonly obtained.
We should note that cocoa butter alone has not shown evidence of lightening scars or age spots on the skin, but consistent use of it will aid the skin in retaining its glow and youth. Cocoa butter itself is safe on sensitive areas of the skin, but use caution on areas that are prone to breaking out in acne pimples.
Is It Safe To Use On Your Face?
Cocoa butter is usually included in treatments for the skin, as it helps to soothe the skin after treatment with harsh chemicals. You can use cocoa butter on your face in a few ways.
Using a heavier formula on dry, chapped lips is greatly beneficial. It hydrates and moisturizes all while providing a pleasant scent. Because it’s soothing, it will help diminish some of the irritation from acne, but caution should be used on the type of lotion used on acne spots.
Your best bet is to find a product meant for acne prone skin that uses cocoa butter as an ingredient.
Will Cocoa Butter Worsen Acne?
Choosing the right cocoa butter-infused formula for your face is key. If you wrestle with clogged pores, resulting in acne, select a formula specifically designed for acne riddled or acne prone skin.
Dry skin is also prone to breakouts, so using cocoa butter in a face-appropriate formula for moisturizing will be helpful. If you are unsure which formula to use, consult your primary care physician or dermatologist for advice.
How Do You Use Cocoa Butter To Get Rid Of Acne Scars?
As with stretch marks on the skin, scars as a result of acne respond to the use of cocoa butter by a marked improvement of the texture and look of the skin. Cocoa butter smooths the skin and continues to improve it with regular use. You can use it multiple times a day, depending on your skin’s individual needs.
A formula that is firm is best used on your dry or chapped lips. You may need to investigate the correct formula for your skin. If the first product doesn’t work, continue on to find one that will. Cocoa butter contains anti-inflammatory characteristics which aid the other ingredients in the formula in improving the look and feel of your skin.
Typically, cocoa butter products are best applied to the scarred area a minimum of three times each day. Work the product well into the skin for the best results and to assure that it permeates the layers of the scar or area that needs correction. You’ll want to use it consistently for at least three months in order to see improvement. Again, finding a product that is formulated particularly for the area of skin you wish to treat is vital.
Final thoughts
Cocoa butter is worth a try to improve your overall skin health. It reduces the evidence of some scars and undesired spots, but you’ll need to use it regularly for several months. Consistency is key.
If you are prone to severe acne breakouts, it’s best to use caution when applying to your face. Look for formulas that are non-comedogenic, meaning they do not clog pores. Cocoa butter is safe to use, but it’s a little heavy for facial skin by itself. There are plenty of products on the market that are designed for your specific skin concern that use cocoa butter as a moisturizing agent.
