Cocoa butter benefits for the skin & hair

Although cocoa butter is one of the main ingredients in chocolate, most people know it – and use it – as a beauty cream. Cocoa butter has legions of loyal users who praise it as a fix-all, wonder treatment for dull skin and hair. In this article, we’ll investigate how good a beauty treatment cocoa butter really is. We’ll explain what cocoa butter is, then relay its benefits for skin and hair. Next, we’ll advise you how to incorporate cocoa butter into your beauty regime – and who should avoid it.

The technical name of cocoa butter is Theobroma oil, and it’s extracted from the cocoa bean. First cocoa beans are fermented, then dried, roasted, and pressed, to make Theobroma oil. This oil gives chocolates the deep, creamy quality which makes them so moreish. As well as being used in the production of chocolate, cocoa butter is used in body care products, including lip balms, hair masks, and treatment creams.

Cocoa butter is popularly associated with skin health. Here’s what the science has to say about its benefits: 

People with naturally curly hair often report that cocoa butter helps them to tame their tresses. However, people with thin or lank hair will likely find that cocoa butter is too heavy to provide benefits. Here’s how cocoa butter can benefit curly hair:

Cocoa butter is best applied to lips, skin, or hair. Avoid using cocoa butter on your face, as although it’s effective at sealing moisture in the skin, it can also result in clogged pores.⁴

Anyone with cocoa sensitivities should avoid cocoa butter, as it may cause skin irritation or a rash.