Want to use cocoa butter for skin recipes? Cocoa butter has a multitude of uses and so many skin benefits! Learn how to make soothing scrubs & balms that moisturize and smell like the best chocolate ever.
As the fat extracted from cocoa beans, cocoa butter is a major ingredient in the chocolate industry. Because it contains so many fatty acids, it’s used to make the chocolate meltable [source]. But it’s also loved by cosmetic companies.
And for good reason: it’s antioxidant-packed and has a long shelf life (up to five years!). It has a pleasant texture and smells so much like chocolate that you might be tempted to eat it. Read on for 15 easy cocoa butter recipes!
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Cocoa Butter Benefits for Skin
When it comes to your skin, the benefits cocoa butter brings to the table are undeniable. Here are some of its best qualities:
1. Packed with antioxidants
Polyphenols present in cocoa products are potent antioxidants that prevent damage from the numerous free radicals in the environment [source], like those from exposure to the sun, chemicals, an unhealthy diet, and toxins.
Their effects lead to skin aging, so anything that prevents or mitigates free radicals can make a positive impact on the skin’s appearance over time.
2. Calms inflamed skin
Cocoa beans contain beneficial compounds like catechins and anthocyanins that have natural anti-inflammatory actions [source]. Improving inflammation produces smoother, more healthy-appearing skin.
3. Anti-aging effects
In addition to the many antioxidant compounds it contains, cocoa butter is packed with nourishing oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids [source] that hydrate and lock moisture into the skin, making it soft and supple.
4. Hydrates & softens
The combined fatty acids in cocoa butter make it an excellent emollient that covers the skin with a protective layer. That keeps it hydrated, which reduces dry patches and rough appearance.
5. Repairs & protects
The soaps, cosmetics, and other products we use daily contain harsh chemicals and cleansers that can erode the skin’s natural protective barrier. Delivering some protection and getting rid of inflammation gives skin cells a chance to repair the microdamage that occurs from—well—everything you come in contact with by just living your life.
6. Works with most skin types
Cocoa butter is a mild wax that works with most skin types. It can clog facial pores, so it’s most commonly used in bodycare recipes.
Cocoa Butter Recipes
Cocoa butter helps to improve dry and itchy skin, stretch marks, skin elasticity, wrinkles, and scars. It’s especially useful in lotions, balms, butters, bath recipes, and soap.
For DIY recipes, look for raw, unrefined cocoa butter. I also like to use cocoa butter wafers because they’re easier to measure and weigh. So, if you’ve just ordered your first container of cocoa butter and don’t know what to do with it, we’ve got some ideas to get you started:
Cocoa Butter Balm Recipes
Cocoa butter is a must-have ingredient for homemade balms and body butters because it hydrates, protects, soothes sensitive skin, and fights off free-radical damage. It is a nutrient-rich emollient that helps to smooth and moisturize scars or stretch marks, as dryness causes them to appear more prominent.
1. Cocoa Butter Balm
If there’s one balm you’re gonna DIY, let it be this one! This body balm is made with a trio of moisturizing, healing ingredients: cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil.
The result is an amazing multi-purpose balm that can be slathered on to heal and moisturize the skin, soothe sunburn, and tame flyaway hairs or remedy chapped lips, dry cuticles, and crusty elbows.
For minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, a healing balm made with cocoa butter can be beneficial. Blend it with ingredients like raw honey, beeswax, and lavender oil to help soothe and heal the skin.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cocoa butter
- ¼ cup beeswax
- ¼ cup raw honey
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Melt cocoa butter and beeswax together in a double boiler.
- Stir in honey and lavender oil, and let the mixture cool slightly
- Pour into small containers and allow it to solidify.
- Apply to cuts, scrapes, or burns when needed to soothe and heal the skin.
For dry, sunburned skin, try this after-sun balm if you want to feel better and heal faster.
2. Whipped Cocoa Body Butter
Whip some cocoa butter with oils like jojoba or argan and a bit of cornstarch to make a fluffy body butter. This can be applied after a shower to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft and hydrated all day.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- ¼ cup jojoba oil or argan oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (to reduce greasiness)
- Optional: 10 drops of essential oil for fragrance
Instructions
- Melt cocoa butter over low heat in a double boiler.
- Remove from the heat and mix in jojoba or argan oil and cornstarch.
- Chill in the refrigerator until it is just starting to solidify.
- Whip using a hand mixer until fluffy.
- Spoon your body butter into a jar and store it in a cool place.
3. Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Cocoa butter makes an excellent base for lip balms because it’s solid at room temperature but quickly melts when it makes contact with the skin. Melt it together with beeswax and sweet almond oil for a nourishing, protective lip balm that keeps lips soft and hydrated.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 2 tablespoon beeswax pellets
- 2 tablespoon sweet almond oil
- 10 drops edible essential oil (like peppermint or orange)
Instructions
- Melt cocoa butter, beeswax, and sweet almond oil together in a double boiler.
- Once melted, remove from heat and add the essential oil.
- Pour into small lip balm containers or tubes.
- Let them cool and solidify before capping and using.
This vegan matcha lip balm is also made with cocoa butter, in addition to other moisturizing ingredients such as mango and shea butter. Or try this cocoa butter lip balm with essential oils that help keep cold sores at bay.
Cocoa Butter Scrub Recipes
Cocoa butter is also great in body scrubs. Melt it and mix it with coarse sugar or salt. Then, add an oil like olive or coconut for a luxurious, moisturizing body scrub that leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.
4. Cocoa Butter Lip Scrub
Get soft, kissable lips almost instantly with a lip scrub that combines cocoa butter, sugar, and honey. The ingredients are easy to procure, entirely edible, and delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- ½ teaspoon almond oil or coconut oil
Instructions
- Gently melt the cocoa butter in a double boiler or in a microwave in short bursts, stirring frequently to ensure it doesn’t burn.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted cocoa butter, granulated sugar, honey, and oil. Mix thoroughly, spoon the mixture into a small container, and let it cool.
The treatment can be applied once a week, and it’s particularly useful during cold winter months when your lips tend to be dry and chapped.
5. Cocoa Butter Sugar Scrub
Use a cocoa butter scrub in the bath to exfoliate and moisturize your skin simultaneously. Or these next-level sugar scrubs in bar form are your ally against dry skin.
Either way, you’ll get nourishing, exfoliating goodness that leaves your skin feeling its best.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cocoa butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted
- Optional: essential oils or vanilla extract for fragrance
Instructions
- Mix the melted cocoa butter and coconut oil with the sugar in a bowl.
- Add fragrance if using, and stir well.
- Store your scrub in a jar and use it as needed in the bath, gently scrubbing your skin to exfoliate and moisturize.
Cocoa Butter Haircare Recipes
6. Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Treatment
Cocoa butter can be incorporated into homemade hair conditioners to provide extra moisture to dry, brittle hair. This moisture-rich butter can also be used as a base for a rich, nourishing hair mask.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon argan oil
Instructions
- Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil together, then stir in the argan oil.
- Apply the mixture to your hair, focusing on the ends where the hair tends to be driest.
- Cover with a shower cap, and leave it on for at least 30 minutes or overnight for deeper conditioning.
- Wash it out with shampoo and follow with your regular conditioner.
7. Cocoa Butter Hair Balm for Split Ends
Cocoa butter is excellent for taming frizz and smoothing split ends.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon shea butter
- A few drops jojoba oil
Instructions
- Melt the cocoa and shea butters together, stir in the jojoba oil, and let the mixture solidify slightly.
- Rub a small amount of the balm between your fingers, and then apply it to the ends of your hair to smooth and condition.
Cocoa Butter Lotion Recipes
8. Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Cream
Create a rich moisturizing cream by combining cocoa butter with ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and your choice of essential oils. This cream can be especially good for dry skin or for use during colder months when the skin tends to lose moisture more rapidly.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup shea butter
- 10–15 drops essential oil (such as lavender or geranium for extra skin benefits)
Instructions
- Melt the cocoa butter, coconut oil, and shea butter together in a double boiler.
- Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
- Stir in the essential oils.
- Pour into a container and allow it to solidify at room temperature, or refrigerate for faster setting.
- Use your cream as needed on dry skin areas, particularly after showering or before bed.
Create a thick, emollient foot cream by using cocoa butter as the base. Add peppermint oil for its cooling effects and tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties, making a cream that’s perfect for refreshing tired feet.
9. Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark Lotion
Because of its skin-healing properties, cocoa butter is popularly used in lotions aimed at reducing the appearance of stretch marks. Combine it with vitamin E oil and rosehip oil for a potent blend that can help improve skin elasticity and reduce scarring.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup cocoa butter
- ¼ cup vitamin E oil
- ¼ cup rosehip oil
- Optional: 10 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Gently melt cocoa butter over low heat in a double boiler.
- Remove from the heat and stir in vitamin E and rosehip oils.
- Add essential oil if using, then pour the mixture into a container.
- Allow to cool and thicken before applying your lotion to stretch marks daily.
10. Cocoa Butter Hand Cream
Cocoa butter can be used to make a protective hand cream, ideal for those who frequently wash their hands or who experience dry skin in the winter. Mix it with calendula oil and a bit of lanolin to create a barrier that locks in moisture.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup cocoa butter
- ¼ cup calendula carrier oil
- 2 tablespoon lanolin
- Optional: 5 drops essential oil for scent
Instructions
- Melt cocoa butter and lanolin together in a double boiler.
- Stir in calendula oil and essential oil if using.
- Pour the mixture into a jar or tin and allow it to solidify.
- Apply the cream generously to your hands, especially after washing.
These recipes provide a variety of ways to incorporate cocoa butter into your skincare routine, each tailored to specific needs and benefits.
11. Cocoa Butter Lotion Bars
Super-hydrating lotion bars remain solid at room temperature but start to melt when rubbed on the skin, leaving behind a thin layer of moisture. Cocoa butter is a must-have ingredient to keep things from melting—plus, it smells amazing!
These massage bars make at-home massage easy, and the addition of magnesium makes them perfect for use before bed.
Cocoa Butter Bath Recipes
Dry, itchy skin will benefit from these super-moisturizing, soothing bath recipes. Adding cocoa butter will leave your skin hydrated and soft.
12. Cocoa Butter Bath Melts
Bath melts are a wonderful way to infuse your bath water with moisturizing oils, along with a delicious scent. Bonus points: unlike bath bombs, bath melts are almost impossible to mess up, and they take just about an hour to make.
You can even make festive ones by using holiday soap molds and switching up the essential oils.
Ingredients
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- Essential oils of your choice (like lavender or vanilla for relaxation)
Instructions
- Melt the cocoa butter and coconut oil together in a double boiler.
- Remove from the heat and add a few drops of your chosen essential oil.
- Pour the mixture into silicone molds and allow it to cool and harden.
- Once solidified, pop a melt into your bath as it fills, and enjoy the silky, moisturizing water.
13. Cocoa Butter Bath Salts
Cocoa butter bath salts combine the therapeutic benefits of bath salts with the moisturizing properties of cocoa butter. Combine Epsom salt, cocoa butter, and almond oil to make the best bath salts you’ve ever tried.
To take it to the next level, add flower petals, citrus zest, or essential oils into the mix.
14. Cocoa Butter Bath Bombs
Bath bombs create a fizzy, fun, and luxurious bath experience. And our secret to making perfect bath bombs that maintain their shape and pop easily out of the molds is a solid fat like cocoa butter.
15. Cocoa Butter Soap
In soap making, cocoa butter can be used to create a hard, moisturizing bar. It lends its creamy lather and conditioning properties to this turmeric soap, making it gentle and nourishing for the skin.
Add cocoa butter to your next batch of homemade soap for a recipe that cleans and softens at the same time.
References
References
Quek RYC, et al. Effects of cocoa butter and cocoa butter equivalent in a chocolate confectionery on human blood triglycerides, glucose and insulin. Foods. 2020.
Scapagnini G, et al. Cocoa bioactive compounds: significance and potential for the maintenance of skin health. Nutrients. 2014.
De Feo M, et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of cocoa: a review on future perspectives in treatment of pain. Pain Ther. 2020.
Jia CH, et al. Evaluation model for cocoa butter equivalents based on fatty acid compositions and triacylglycerol patterns. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2019.
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