Cocoa Butter vs Coconut Oil

Cocoa Butter vs Coconut Oil – Which to Use for Skin Care

If you want healthy, beautiful skin, you likely have heard that using coconut oil or cocoa butter can offer several benefits. When you compare cocoa butter vs coconut oil, you might wonder whether one of these natural products might offer some advantages over the other. Here are some great reasons why you might want to consider adding these natural substances to your daily regimen so that you can achieve the beautiful, healthy glow you want.

What is cocoa butter?

Cocoa (or cacao) butter is a fatty substance that is sourced from cacao beans. The beans are harvested and roasted before they are stripped and pressed to separate out the butter. Phytochemicals that are contained in cacao butter and cocoa are thought to provide health benefits for your skin and body.

Benefits of using cacao butter in your skin care regimen

Cacao butter is rich in fatty acids. This provides it with the ability to nourish and hydrate your skin and improve its elasticity. The fat contained in cacao butter helps to protect the skin and help it to retain moisture.

The phytochemicals in cocoa butter are believed to improve the flow of blood to your skin. They also help to protect against damage from the sun and to slow the aging process. Cacao butter can be used to smooth wrinkles and scars. Many women use cacao butter lotions to help to prevent stretch marks during and after pregnancy. Stretch marks are caused and created by the tearing of the skin dermis.

They are most commonly associated with pregnancy when rapid weight gain causes the skin to stretch quickly. However, stretch marks can also occur in response to a rapid growth, such as during puberty. Although they look like long, thin bruises to start with, over time they do fade and resemble whiteish lines. They can also be red-ish lines. The whiter lines are typically flat and the reddish ones are typically raised. No stretch marks look exactly the same- with skin color playing a big part in the mix. Generally- they range from white to red to brown.

For many women, stretch marks can negatively impact self-esteem.

It really is a shame because all bodies are so beautiful. But we understand that many women want to fix their stretch marks. There are medical procedures that can remove stretch marks. Some people opt to have laser surgery to remove stretch-marked skin. Tummy tucks are another option, along with microdermabrasion and endermologie. All these options are expensive and come with health risks. For this reason, finding a natural alternative is highly desirable.

Although it isn’t possible to completely remove stretch marks naturally, applying raw Shea butter can diminish their appearance and help to prevent their development. Shea butter is rich in vitamin A which helps to increase skin elasticity.

If you regularly apply Shea butter across your tummy during pregnancy, it’s possible to reduce the formation of stretch marks. Vitamin A helps the skin to become more supple and better accommodate the increase in weight and stretching that occurs throughout pregnancy.

If you already have stretch marks, applying unrefined Shea butter two to three times a day can work to significantly reduce their appearance.

It’s very important that when you’re selecting Shea butter for stretch marks that you only use a premium Grade A product. 100% raw and unrefined.

At Addi Naturals we use the highest quality products, so your skin will benefit from the richness of vitamin A and E to properly heal your skin. Our products are so pure you won’t deal with the “nasties” that come in a lot of store-bought butters and lotions. With anti-inflammatory properties, our Shea butter can help to minimize the redness associated with newly formed stretch marks. The moisture and rejuvenating properties help to smooth the skin surface and make it look and feel youthful again.

It might also help to heal rashes caused by dermatitis and eczema. Finally, cacao butter is great for sensitive skin and has a richly sweet scent that can add an uplifting feeling.

What is coconut oil?

Coconut or copra oil is derived from the meat or kernel of coconuts from the coconut tree. This edible oil is known as a superfood, but it also offers benefits for your skin.

Because of the composition of fatty acids contained in coconut oil, it is a good moisturizer that can help to soothe dry skin. It also has antimicrobial properties that allow it to protect your skin from microorganisms. Coconut oil also has anti-inflammatory properties, allowing it to reduce inflammation and speed wound healing.

Finally, the antimicrobial properties of this oil might help to fight acne.

Types of Coconut Oil

Different types of coconut oil are available, and people classify them by their production process. The two main types are virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oil.

Virgin coconut oil is made from fresh coconuts, and it may be richer in antioxidants and polyphenols. Refined coconut oil is made from dried coconut meat.

Refined coconut oil may go through more processing steps, including machine pressing to obtain the oil. Some producers may use chemical solvents, deodorizing, and bleaching.

The type of coconut oil also depends on the extraction technique. When producers obtain the oil without using heat, they refer to it as cold-pressed coconut oil. This type may be richer in nutrients. If the extraction process uses steam or heat to press the oil out of fresh coconut meat, this results in expeller-pressed coconut oil. Generally, the least processed types of coconut oil, such as cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, are the more healthful options.

Cocoa butter vs coconut oil: The verdict

While cocoa butter might come out on top for the benefits it offers to your skin, coconut oil also offers several benefits. Using both of these natural products in your skin care regimen might help you to derive greater overall benefits than using one alone. Addi Naturals offers a wide selection of natural ingredients for skin care.

To learn more about the benefits of cacao butter or coconut oil products for skin, contact us today or browse our catalog of great natural products for your skin.