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What Is Cocoa Butter Soap?

Karize Uy
Karize Uy

Cocoa butter soap is usually an organic soap primarily made of cocoa butter, which is the extracted fat from cocoa beans. The soap can appear to be creamy yellow, or sometimes even a dark brown, when chocolate is added. It also has a distinctly rich aroma and smoothness that resembles that of chocolate, as both chocolate and cocoa butter come from the same source.

The popularity of cocoa butter soap has since increased because it is one of the richest and most moisturizing soaps on the market. It is also one of the most emollient, making it an ideal product to lock in the moisture in the skin. People who have dry and flaky skin, especially in the knees and elbow areas, can benefit from using the soap. Cocoa butter is also known to have a melting point at the same temperature of the human body, hence it is absorbed easily when rubbed on the skin. For people who like soft skin, but do not like the feeling of having a film of lotion on their skin, cocoa butter soaps are good substitutes to keep the skin moisturized.

Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean.
Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean.

Aside from being a good moisturizer, cocoa butter soap is also used to treat stretch marks, especially for pregnant mothers. The cocoa butter helps replace the lost moisture in the skin and restores its elasticity, making the stretch marks less visible. Pregnant women can prevent the worst of stretch marks by using the soap once the baby bump appears. One can also look for cocoa butter soaps that include vitamin E for added moisture.

Handmade soap with added cocoa butter.
Handmade soap with added cocoa butter.

The moisturizing properties of cocoa butter soap also make it a home remedy for wounds, burns, and scars, as these heal better when properly moisturized. Aside from moisturizing the area, it also acts as a barrier to protect the skin from further irritation. A person who has undergone tattoo removal through laser surgery can also use the soap to quicken the healing process of the skin. The soap has also been known to treat other skin disorders such as dermatitis and eczema and can even heal sunburns.

The fat used to made raw cocoa butter is extracted from dried cocoa beans.
The fat used to made raw cocoa butter is extracted from dried cocoa beans.

The stability and the presence of antioxidants in the cocoa butter keep the soap usable even after two years. In order to make sure the skin absorbs the soap, one can keep the lather on the skin for a few seconds to a few minutes before rinsing it off.

Discussion Comments

Penzance356

After using cocoa butter lotion and soap I found it in valuable for softening my skin. As my partner and I are keen hikers I often suffered from sun and wind exposure, making it hard to feel very feminine.

I tried to convert my guy to these products but he complained that they had a 'girly scent', which set me off on a determined search for the best cocoa butter products with little or no smell to them.

Eventually I found something targeting outdoor type people, and it is completely unscented, yet still has all the benefits he wanted. Now I just steal his when we spend a night away together!

MissMuffet

Last year I had to stay in hospital for several weeks, which was a pretty miserable time for me all in all. I appreciated all the gifts of magazines, books, candies and flowers I received, but the outstanding present was a very large gift basket of cocoa butter products.

When you are laying around in bed all day it's easy to get down and neglectful of your personal appearance. However, armed with so many potions, lotions and creams I began a twice daily beauty routine that meant I left the clinic with better skin than I had ever had in my life!

Some of the items were made from pure cocoa butter and others blended it with shea butter, which was a nice balance. I especially liked the bottle with collagen, elastin and vitamin E. I would swear I looked a few years younger after applying it religiously twice a day.

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    • Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean.
      By: svl861
      Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean.
    • Handmade soap with added cocoa butter.
      By: Hayati Kayhan
      Handmade soap with added cocoa butter.
    • The fat used to made raw cocoa butter is extracted from dried cocoa beans.
      By: Jiri Hera
      The fat used to made raw cocoa butter is extracted from dried cocoa beans.
    • Soap made with cocoa butter is an effective emollient that is easily absorbed by the skin.
      By: CandyBox Images
      Soap made with cocoa butter is an effective emollient that is easily absorbed by the skin.