Cocoa butter: properties, a thousand uses and which one to choose

Cocoa butter, a natural substance rich in benefits and not just for the lips, skin or hair. Let's discover all the properties of cocoa butter, the most classic and alternative uses.

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Cocoa butter, a natural substance rich in benefits and not only for the lips, skin or hair. Let's discover all the properties of cocoa butter, the most classic and alternative uses.

We know cocoa butter mainly as an emollient balm for the lips, even if the products on the market sometimes do not contain this substance at all but other types of fats (and not always "green").

The famous butter is extracted from cocoa fruits (Theobroma cacao) which are fermented, dried, toasted and finally pressed to obtain pure cocoa butter, a solid, water-free fat composed of saturated and unsaturated fats that appear off-white or ivory.

It is used for food purposes or to enrich some cosmetics, in particular lip balms or creams. This substance, in fact, has the particular characteristic of being able to create a sort of barrier against cold and wind, protecting the skin but at the same time allowing it to remain well hydrated.

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Properties and benefits

Cocoa butter is a common ingredient in products used for skin care and cosmetics thanks to its therapeutic properties known for centuries in Africa. Here the inhabitants used this substance to protect, heal and hydrate the skin exposed to the heavy local elements.

But even today this natural fat offers us several advantages.

Benefits for the skin

Moisturizing: cocoa butter is a powerful natural moisturizer that melts just above room temperature. It is rich in fatty acids that penetrate the skin and promote its health and softness.
Anti-aging: cocoa butter is rich in antioxidants including oleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid. These fatty acids are beneficial for the skin as they form a protective layer against external agents but also counteract the free radicals responsible for cellular aging.
Anti-inflammatory: cocoa butter is also anti-inflammatory and this is another useful feature for the skin to better resist bad weather and the passage of time.

Health benefits

Even when taken through chocolate (dark and quality), cocoa butter gives us several benefits:

Helps the immune system: it boosts our immune system and can also promote hormonal balance.
Beneficial for the mood: chocolate, as we know, helps people to feel happier. Cocoa butter increases the endorphin and serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn improves overall mood.
Improve Heart Health: it is a fat capable of lowering the inflammatory markers that contribute to the hardening of the arteries, it also helps in the metabolism of fats.
Fights constipation: cocoa and cocoa butter can help fight constipation and improve intestinal functions.

Cocoa butter: properties, a thousand uses and which one to choose

The many uses of cocoa butter

Cocoa butter for food use is usually used to prepare common chocolate but there are those who also use it for frying. More generally, it can be an alternative to butter in recipes where this fat is needed, especially sweet ones given its chocolate aroma.

It is also widely used in cosmetics and is added to lip sticks, creams, balms, soaps, etc.

Here are some ideas for using pure cocoa butter:

Relaxing bath: a great way to relax after a stressful day is to indulge in a hot bath made with the addition of cocoa butter capable of leaving a deep and intense scent of vanilla and chocolate. Just dissolve 2 tablespoons in the bath and soak for at least 20 minutes.
Added to the moisturizer: cocoa butter is rich in fatty acids and deeply hydrates the skin, which is why it can be added to a moisturizer to enhance its effect.
Hair pack: you can use this product, first dissolved with the heat of your hands, to make pre or post shampoo hair packs and masks. It will help to soften them, reduce split ends and the harmful effects of atmospheric agents but also to repair hair damaged by the use of a straightener.
For shaving or hair removal: it can be used instead of shaving foam or mixed with it but also as a soothing agent for hair removal. In fact, it helps to avoid the danger of cuts and relieves any redness.
Against sunburn: if you have pure cocoa butter this can also be useful in case of small home or sun burns.

Cocoa butter stick (so most of the time actually a mix of fatty substances) can also be used in an alternative way to the usual balm for dry lips. Here are some ideas:

Shoes that hurt: passing a little cocoa butter on the areas of the feet stressed by shoes that hurt (especially if new) can help solve the problem by making them wear without major discomfort.
Interlocking hinges: if a zip gets stuck, you can try to lubricate it by passing over a little cocoa butter which, thanks to its oils, will help make it work again.
Remove a ring: if you have swollen fingers and a ring can no longer be removed, you can try sprinkling the surrounding skin with a little cocoa butter to make it easier to remove.
Soften the cuticles: Before getting a manicure, cocoa butter can be used to soften cuticles so that they can be removed more easily.

How to choose cocoa butter

Choosing a good cocoa butter is very important, especially considering that we will use it mainly on the mouth and therefore small traces of this product can be ingested.

On the market there are many variants of cocoa butter in sticks or to spread with the finger, but most of the time, especially the most common and used ones, they do not have a clean Inci. In fact, in the formulation you can find mineral oils that derive from the processing of petroleum and, in some cases, there is no trace of cocoa butter.

It is therefore good to always read the labels of the products we buy, making sure to spread on our lips a cocoa butter that really contains this substance or other ingredients of natural origin.

As for pure cocoa butter, this exists in two versions:

Unrefined: cocoa butter in its rawest form with a strong chocolate smell
Refined: it is clearer and with a much less strong odor. This is what is usually incorporated into cosmetics and lip balms

The best option is to purchase pure cocoa butter organic and unrefined origin that can be used as it is or in DIY recipes. If you want to use it in the kitchen, make sure it is approved for this purpose.

Cocoa butter: properties, a thousand uses and which one to choose

DIY lip balm

A great alternative to avoid buying cheap, chemical-rich products is to make your own cocoa butter yourself. It is not difficult to self-produce a lip balm based on cocoa butter and / or other ingredients at home to keep in a small glass jar and always carry with you.

There are several recipes that include, for example, the use of shea butter, sweet almond oil, wax, vitamin E, essential oils and powdered spices. HERE you will find our proposals to make your very own cocoa butter.

Alternatives to cocoa butter

Not necessarily to have soft, hydrated and shiny lips you have to use cocoa butter there are many other valid alternatives for when you do not have this product available.

We have told you, for example, about natural substances such as: