Butter alone is music to our ears. What more the sound of cocoa butter, which makes most of the chocolates we love creamy and smooth? It’s no wonder cocoa butter is celebrated allover the world. However, did you know that cocoa butter does not only make food better but also used in toiletries, medicine, and ointment?
Cocoa is also known as Theobroma, which in fact means “food of the god” rightfully so. Nevertheless, more than satisfying our sweet cravings, cocoa butter, which is the natural fat extract from cacao beans, has other uses in our daily lives. For one, it’s become a common ingredient in a lot of skincare and beauty products for its therapeutic properties. For hundreds of years, cocoa butter is being used in Africa to heal irritated skin and moisturize it.
Most people are confused between cocoa and cacao. However, you cannot actually differentiate or compare the two. As mentioned earlier, cocoa butter is extracted from cacao beans. These cacao beans are contained in the oval-shaped pods found in cacao tree. This raw bean is harvested, fermented, and dried.
After roasting and processing, the cacao beans are then called cocoa beans. The cocoa butter is produced by pressing the beans in hydraulic machinery. The remains of the extracts are processed into cocoa powder.
This rich off-white or ivory butter is responsible for the smooth texture and consistency of chocolates, but it has so much more benefits and uses than that.
1.Skin Moisturizer
Cocoa butter makes a great natural moisturizer. With high contents of fatty acids, it penetrates the skin for deeply moisturize. While some body moisturizers found in stores already contain cocoa butter, you can make your own whipped body butter using the following ingredients: ½ cup shea butter, ½ cup cocoa butter, ½ cup organic coconut oil, ½ cup almond oil, and 20 drops lavender essential oil.
Steps: Put aside the essential oils. Mix and melt all other ingredients in a potovermedium heat while frequently stirring. Once the consistency is right, remove from the heat and let the mixture cool off a bit before adding the lavender essential oil. Put the mixture in the fridge for an hour or just until it hardens slightly. Once off the fridge, using a hand mixer, whist it for ten minutes or until fluffy. Put it back into the fridge for approximately 15 minutes. Use a glass jar with a lidas container, and place it in a cool location.
Use this homemade whipped butter to keep your skin smooth and healthy. It can also be used to soothe dry and itchy skin during winter.
2. Hair Conditioner
The cocoa butter does not only moisturize the skin; it also moisturizes your hair. You can also make a leave-in conditioner for smoother, softer, and good-smelling hair. You will only have to gather the following ingredients: ½ cup cocoa butter, 2 tablespoon organic coconut oil, 2 teaspoons vitamin E oil, and 6 drops vanilla essential oil.
Steps: Put aside the essential oil and mix all the other ingredients in a small pan over low heat while continuously stirring. Once the consistency is right, remove heat then slowly transfer into an airtight container after 10 minutes, and pour essential oil. Put the mixture in the fridge for around 15 minutes. Once off the fridge, allow it to soften until it has the consistency of butter. Now, you’re ready to apply it to your clean and dry hair.
before going to bed, you can apply this to your hair and massage your scalp with it then rinse it off the next day.It can also be used to style your hair just like how you use a mousse. Aside from leaving your hair moisturized, it also reduces dandruff and strengthens hair to avoid breaking as well as lessening dead and split ends.
3. Lip Softener
Unlike the skin, our lips does not moisturize itself, so we are always licking it or putting lip balm. But an even better alternative to keep them moisturized and soft is a homemade 100% cocoa butter stick.
You can use any essential oil that you like depending on your favorite scent. You can also add in color easily. Aside from keeping your lips soft and moisturized, cocoa butter also contains caffeine, which makes your lips feel fuller. Get that kissable lips right now!
4. Shaving Soap
The texture of the cocoa butter makes it a great ingredient for lotions and creams alike. Another way that you can enjoy the cocoa butter is by using it to make a shaving soap for both men and women. Replace your shaving cream with this cheap concoction with even better results.
You will only need the following: ½ cup cocoa butter, ½ cup organic coconut oil, 20 drops essential oil (whatever scent you like).
Steps: Pre-heat a small pan and melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil. Blend them and stir using a wooden spoon. Once consistency is right, remove heat and add essential oil. Lavender is great for women, while a lot of men prefer the scent of sandalwood. Once the mixture has cooled, mix it using a hand mixer until fluffy. Place it into an airtight container and place it in a cool location.
Now, you are ready to use this mixture the next time you shave. It lets the razor glide smoothly, which prevents cuts and nicks.
5.Anti-Aging
Cocoa butter is packed with antioxidants essential in anti-aging like oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. These fatty acids protects your skin from skin stressors and free radicals, which slows down aging. It’s also said to delay development of wrinkles and act as a gentle sunblock. Your skin will not only look moisturized and healthy but also young.
6. Skin Irritation
Clarifying Our skin is affected by different factors like weather, hormones, and other seasons and phases in life like pregnancy. Cocoa butter is a great non-toxic option to fight the negative skin effects of all these occurrences. Cocoa butter has been used to fade stretch marks especially among pregnant women. Aside from stretch marks, it also works to lighten scars and age spots as well as brighten skin tone. Recently, it’s also been used to reduce irritation caused by eczema or dermatitis. Cocoa butter is a much better option than what you would normally buy in stores because it does not contain harmful chemicals.
7.Soothing and Relaxation
The cheapest way to treat ourselves after a long stressful day is a warm bath. Make your warm bath even more enjoyable by adding about 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter, and let it melt for a full body coverage. It adds a deep, rich flavor of vanilla or chocolate, and it gives a silky smooth finish to your skin. You may also add essential oil for an elevated experience.
You can also make a foot soak using cocoa butter. Just add a tablespoon of cocoa butter with essential oil on your dry feet.
8. Aromatherapy Cocoa butter
has a natural fragrant, which is a mixture of chocolate and vanilla. This is why it is usually used in aromatherapy even if it is not really a carrier oil. To heighten the aroma, you can pour a few drops of Neroli. Neroli, anoil with a fresh floral scent with hints of citrus, is said to fight anxiety and battle depression. To help you sleep better, you can also try adding a few drops of red or green Mandarin oil.
9. Metabolism Improvement
Research studies show that cocoa does help in easing constipation. When consumed regularly, cocoa products improve metabolism and prevent constipation. Children who suffer from sensory processing issues largely benefit from cocoa butter. Currently, further research is being done to find out whether it can treat severe constipation and other problems and irregularity in bowel functions.
10.Heart Health Improvement
While it is common knowledge that fat is bad,there are actually fats that are good for our health such as the fat in cocoa butter. Cocoa butter contains polyphenolic, which reduces inflammatory markers responsible for the hardening of arteries. Cocoa also aids in fat metabolism, preventing heart attacks.
11. Immunity Boost
According to research, cocoa butter also improves the immune system. Cocoa Mass Polyphenol (CMP),foundin cocoa butter is found out to help in preventing T-cell activity in our immune systems, thus reducing inflammation. Regularly incorporating cocoa butter in your diet can also cure hormonal imbalances.
12. Source of Happiness
Chocolates make people happy, and this is not a myth. There is definitely a scientific explanation behind this idea. Cocoa butter found in chocolates increases the endorphin and serotonin levels in your brain, and the overall effect is that it improves your mood.Now this signals the first step in being mentally prepared to be happy. In addition, cocoa has phenylethylamine, which is a stimulant. As a result, you become more mentally alert, and you have greater stamina. A combination of alertness and strong stamina give a satisfaction and a feel-good mood.
