Cacao
Raw chocolate is an excellent topical skincare ingredient for dull undernourished skin. Cacao is a superfood with antioxidants and powerful phytochemicals essential to skin repair—the combination of nutrients in Cacao aid the skin in recovery and hydration.
A cacao mask is a great nutrient boost with visible topical effects. Dry, powdered cacao and cacao seed oil are common for topical use. While this isn’t the most sustainable crop, it is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way! Cacao can be sustainably sourced from small fair-trade farms as well.
How does cacao help the skin?
Cacao is excellent at facilitating healing and gently nourishing the skin. Cocoa pod extract was actually found to inhibit the top skin aging-associated enzymes collagenase, elastase, and tyrosinase (1).
Raw cacao naturally contains magnesium, zinc, iron, antioxidants, and powerful phytochemicals like caffeine and catechin. Theobromine is another skin-loving phytochemical found in chocolate. This alkaloid is a vasodilator that widens blood vessels to allow for increased blood flow. This helps vital nutrients to nourish the skin without the help of added penetration-enhancing ingredients.
What are the visible effects of cacao?
Plumped skin
Increased blood flow
Increased hydration
How can I incorporate cacao?
You can use food-grade cacao (not cocoa or hot chocolate!) in a D.I.Y. mask, as an internal supplement, or even as a skincare product! Plant-based and food-based ingredients are commonly used to treat the skin, even in professional offices. Add cacao to your skincare regimen to boost nutrients and antioxidants.
A quick and easy cacao mask recipe:
1 part Cacao powder
1 part Oat powder**
1/2 part Honey
1/2 part yogurt or water
** Blend oats into a powder, or you can substitute with arrowroot, bentonite clay, or less cacao!
You can apply this mask once a week, after cleansing and before moisturizing. Always do a patch test, especially if you have sensitive skin. The skin can react to caffeine, theobromine, or histamine response-inducing ingredients. Even raw and plant-based ingredients can cause a reaction.
There are several cacao-containing products ranging from professional grade to clean beauty. I love recommending Earth Harbor products to my clients, especially those committed to a more holistic regimen.
The Cacao Cove Mask by Earth Harbor contains superfoods like raw cacao, coconut, activated coconut charcoal, and blue-green algae. I find this formulation to be gentle and supportive of overall skin health. This mask also makes a great gift since it’s a versatile product for all skin types.
Agudelo C, Bravo K, Ramírez-Atehortúa A, Torres D, Carrillo-Hormaza L, Osorio E. Chemical and Skincare Property Characterization of the Main Cocoa Byproducts: Extraction Optimization by RSM Approach for Development of Sustainable Ingredients. Molecules. 2021. mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/24/7429/html
Scapagnini G, Davinelli S, Di Renzo L, et al. Cocoa bioactive compounds: significance and potential for the maintenance of skin health. 2014 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145303/
Dini I, Laneri S. The New Challenge of Green Cosmetics: Natural Food Ingredients for Cosmetic Formulations. Molecules. 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145303/