The Skin Benefits of Cocoa Butter

     Cocoa beans have been around for centuries being used as a skin moisturizer in areas like Mesoamerica and the Caribbean. They are native beans apart of the Central and South America. Cocoa butter  is a natural oil extracted from the cocoa bean. It is a theobroma oil that naturally heals sensitive, dry skin. Cocoa butter is completely edible and can be found in products like lip glosses, lotions, and other beauty items.
 Cocoa butter is a considered a healthy fat, like coconut oil. It is much healthier for our diets being high in antioxidant which improves our heart health. For the skin it plays a big part because it naturally hydrates the skin. Working from the inside out the skin absorbs the cocoa butter residing there for hours. Also since there is no fragrance, colors, or dyes you can use it to prevent dryness and peeling.  So if you have dry, cracked skin applying cocoa butter to the affected area can improve the moister.
 The most common use of cocoa butter is as a lip balm. Many people create their own homemade lip balm which is great if using all natural ingredients. Since it is a emollient, which means it is high in moister it creates an extra layer to protect the lips from drying up. Your homemade lip balm can be mixed with essential oils like peppermint, vanilla, or, grapefruit. Our lips are very unprotected and with the cocoa butter protecting us from heat, and cold temperatures your lips will never stay dry.
Furthermore a dab of cocoa butter here and there can help prevent skin dryness and peeling, heals chapped lips, fights signs of aging, soothes burns, rashes, and infections.