Cocoa butter: To ease winter woes
- 07 Jan 2021
Cocoa butter helps moisturise your skin, manage your hair, and is an excellent source of antioxidants.
It also helps in boosting your immunity and helps to maintain a healthy heart. Dr Geeta Grewal, cosmetic surgeon and beauty and wellness expert, lists down some of the best uses of cocoa butter, reported by IANS.
Solution to Mouth Sores
If you are prone to have painful mouth sores or your lips develop recurring blisters, use a bit of cocoa butter to keep them moisturized and it will also reduce the chances of recurring. Apply every day and soon you can overcome this problem.
Attractive Brunettes
If you want to make your brunettes attractive by adding some sheen and a tint of colour to the hair, a cocoa hair mask is something to try out. Mix a cup of pure aloe vera gel, 1/2 cup of pure cocoa powder and 1/4 cup of honey, 1 tablespoon of favorite conditioner (like Suave Coconut). Mix the ingredients in a bowl and you're left with a bouncy, shiny and great smelling chocolate treatment for brunettes.
Helpful for removing Stretch Marks
If your skin is having stretch marks then cocoa butter is the best way to lighten its mark. Cocoa butter is a thick genuine fat that dissolves at body temperature. Clean the stretch mark part of your skin by soap and let them dry by way of a towel.
Apply sufficient amounts of cocoa butter to wrap your stretch marks. Massage the cocoa butter onto your skin in spherical movement until and unless it's soaked up. It's an easy and home treatment to overcome the stretch marks whether it is due to increasing fat or pregnancy.
Freedom from Frizzy Hair
You can use cocoa butter to style your hair and keep frizz away as well. Especially in winter one tends to have rough hair, to make it shiny and overcome the frozenness just rub a small amount of cocoa butter in your palms, and smooth over. You can mix a bit of coconut oil or an essential oil with it to give it a scent as well.
Cures Skin Replenish Problems
If you have any skin replenishing problem like burns, eczema or an infection then rub a small amount of pure cocoa butter into burnt skin to overcome the bruises. Make sure it doesn't contain any alcohol, fragrances or other additives that end up making the skin even more inflamed and sensitive. It should be pure.
Lightens the Scars
You can get a smooth texture to your skin as cocoa butter enters the dermis of the skin and helps to fade the scars, marks or sun spots on the skin. It has rich anti-oxidizing properties and it is popular for effectiveness in skin care routine. It has calming properties which have nutritional value and can be easily absorbed. Cocoa butter contains vitamin E, and helps in repairing the skin.
Smoothes Shaves
Prefer cocoa butter for a smooth and non-irritating shave. While shaving mix a bar form of cocoa butter with shave lotions that's absolutely according to your preference. Cocoa butter is good for skin especially when you are shaving in winter, skin becomes rough and dead. So, it will leave your skin incredibly smooth.
Heals Cracked Skin
If your skin is sensitive in winter then try cocoa to heal dead and peel skin. Especially the skin of hands and legs are sensitive and are cracked as it lose its moisture, apply some cocoa butter and nourish your cracked and dry skin within a week.
Upgrades Immunity
As research shows that cocoa butter is helpful in boosting one's immune system. Incorporating more cocoa butter into your diet and lifestyle can also encourage hormonal balance. Some of the medical conditions in which it benefits are mood disorders, heart disease, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and many more.
Relaxation
If you are so tired or want to unwind from a stressful day go for a long bath, cocoa butter is an amazing addition to a warm bath. Not only will you enjoy the deep, rich scent of vanilla and chocolate, but your bath becomes a silky smooth haven from life's stress. Drop about 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter in the warm water or you can add and spice up your bath by adding your favorite oil and feel the stress melt away. Same thing can be done for foot soak to heel the dry feet.
Good for Heart Health
Cocoa butter reduces the risk of heart attack as it helps with fat metabolism. Recent research is disputing the previous mindset that all fats are bad but we can introduce healthy fats into our diets by adding cocoa butter in our diet. The polyphenolic component of cocoa butter is not bad for heart patients as it can be preferred in the diet.
