The Natural Benefits of Cacao Butter
Written by Mon Sun Chan, The Chocolate Date Diva
What is good for the inside has also turned out to be good for the outside. Who would have thought that chocolate can heal the skin? Mother Nature’s luxury skin treatment turns out to be cocoa butter—the fatty, rich component of the cocoa bean. High in antioxidants, it is also used to nourish and moisturize the skin and sometimes used to treat skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. In fact, chocolate has so many amazing, beneficial properties and is now in so many healthy products that spas and retreats around the world are using it.
Look for chocolate skin products in retail stores. Be sure to read the packages as some are naturally edible, while others are not.
The natural benefits of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is a natural cream-colored fat that is extracted from the cacao seed and has many properties that make it beneficial for both external and internal uses.
Cocoa butter gives chocolate flavor, scent and a rich, creamy texture. For external purposes, its excellent moisturizing properties are used in soaps, lotions, creams, moisturizers, massage bars and essential oils to help keep the skin soft. Because cocoa butter melts at body temperature, it is readily absorbed into the skin and is therefore perfect for the treatment of dry and irritated skin conditions. It is also helpful for the treatment of stretch marks.
