Moisturising your body is important throughout the year, but it gains a special significance in the colder months, as the lower temperatures & decreased humidity can really steal the moisture out of your skin. The first step in keeping your skin soft & supple is to stay well hydrated, but it’s also important to find a good external moisturiser.
During a bit of research I came across Cocoa Butter as an ingredient & I was amazed at the benefits it offers. So today’s post is going to be all about cocoa butter, & why it’s so good for your skin.
What is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is a natural vegetable fat (sometimes called theobroma oil) that is extracted from the cacao bean. It’s one of the main ingredients used to make chocolate but has a variety of other uses as well. It is solid at room temperature but melts easily in your mouth or hands & naturally has a long shelf life too, without the use of any artificial preservatives.
Cocoa Butter for Skin
Cocoa butter is a great emollient, it’s thick & rich properties mean that it penetrates deep into the layers of your skin, providing a great source of moisture especially in parts of skin prone to dryness & roughness such as elbows & knees. It’s also known to be especially effective against scars & stretch marks – it may not outright make existing scars or stretch marks disappear, but regular use can firstly prevent them from occurring & can also help them fade over time.
Raw Cocoa Butter isn’t that hard to come across. It’s usually available in chunks & can be used directly on your skin after being warmed up between fingers.
Skincare enriched with the goodness of Cocoa Butter
I know that many people (me included) wouldn’t be so enthusiastic to use raw cocoa butter on a daily basis – the process is more time consuming & while it might be great on a weekend where I have extra time, the best solution for everyday is to choose a lotion enriched with this magical ingredient!
For the past couple of weeks I’ve been using Himalaya Herbals Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion. Himalaya is a brand I trust a lot – their products are natural, affordable & easily available too.
The lotion has a light cocoa smell that is intoxicating & the thicker consistency does an excellent job of moisturising skin wonderfully. It keeps skin feeling soft for a longer period, because I hate it when I use a lotion & my skin is dry within a couple of hours. If you’re looking for a body lotion enriched with the magic of cocoa butter, I’d highly recommend this one! And men, don’t forget to to show your skin some love too! Careers such as male modelling require their talent to be glowing and fresh faced. Use these tips and tricks and your skin will surely be the envy of the rest.
I hope this post helped you know a bit more about the origin & benefits of Cocoa Butter. Have you ever used it? Do share your experience in the comments. x
