Cocoa Butter in Skincare: Deep Moisture with a Silken Touch
Jakob Slabbert
If you’ve ever used a cocoa butter body lotion, you already know the feeling—velvety skin, a soft chocolate scent, and that lingering sense of nourishment. But cocoa butter is more than a sensory indulgence. It’s one of nature’s richest moisturisers, and a centuries-old staple for smoothing skin, evening tone, and supporting elasticity.
In this article, we explore the real benefits of cocoa butter in skincare, whether it can prevent stretch marks, and why we choose to include it in Aardvel’s skin-focused rituals.
What is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is the creamy fat extracted from cacao beans—the same plant that gives us chocolate. When cold-pressed and left unrefined, cocoa butter offers a nutrient-rich butter that melts at body temperature and forms a soft, breathable layer on the skin.
It’s particularly high in:
-
Stearic and oleic acids – deeply moisturising fatty acids that help lock in hydration
-
Vitamin E – a powerful antioxidant for skin healing and softening
- Natural phytochemicals – plant compounds that may support skin elasticity
Because of its stable structure and skin compatibility, cocoa butter is commonly used in balms, body creams, and scar care products.
We use unrefined cocoa butter in our Skin Cream Blok for its naturally emollient texture and its ability to leave the skin plump and radiant—without any water-based fillers or synthetic emulsifiers.
Skin Benefits: Rich, Nourishing and Protective
Cocoa butter is a skin saviour—especially for those who struggle with chronic dryness, flakiness, or exposure to harsh climates. When applied topically, it:
✔️ Forms a protective barrier to lock in moisture
✔️ Softens rough or scaly patches (elbows, knees, heels)
✔️ Helps restore a healthy glow to dull skin
✔️ Provides antioxidants that help slow visible signs of ageing
Its thickness makes it ideal for full-body application after bathing, especially when skin is still slightly damp.
In our Skin Cream Blok, we pair cocoa butter with South African rosemary and wild buchu—herbs known for their calming and clarifying properties. The result is a moisturising bar that delivers long-lasting hydration and a gentle herbal scent.
Can Cocoa Butter Prevent Stretch Marks?
This is one of the most common questions we receive about cocoa butter. And while it’s beloved by many mothers and bodybuilders, here’s what the research says:
There’s no proven evidence that cocoa butter can prevent stretch marks entirely. However, it may improve skin elasticity, which can reduce the severity of marks as the skin stretches. More importantly, keeping the skin moisturised during rapid change (like pregnancy or weight shifts) can ease tightness, reduce itchiness, and support the skin’s ability to repair itself.
So while cocoa butter won’t eliminate stretch marks overnight, its regular use can certainly help your skin feel stronger, more resilient, and well cared for. That alone makes it worth including in your body care ritual.
Is It Suitable for All Skin Types?
Cocoa butter is deeply emollient, and best suited for:
✔️ Dry or flaky skin
✔️ Mature or sun-exposed skin
✔️ Normal skin types during dry seasons
Because it’s quite rich, it may be too heavy for facial use—particularly if you have oily or acne-prone skin. We recommend applying it primarily to the body, or looking for lightweight formulations if using near the face.
Our Skin Cream Blok offers all the richness of cocoa butter—without heaviness or greasiness. Use it post-shower, or carry it with you for soft hands and elbows on the go.
Why We Use Cocoa Butter
At Aardvel, we don’t just select ingredients for trend or scent—we choose them because they deliver real, sensory, and skin-supportive benefits.
Cocoa butter is one of the most timeless moisturisers nature has to offer. In its pure, unrefined form, it feels indulgent and grounding—a gentle reminder that skincare can be both luxurious and essential.
Combined with botanical extracts like rosemary and buchu, cocoa butter becomes more than just a moisturiser. It becomes part of a ritual—one that supports skin health, reconnects us to nature, and simplifies how we care for ourselves.
Discover the beauty of simplicity. Explore our full collection, crafted with raw butters and plant intelligence.
References
- Kandola, A. & Rush, T. (2024). Cocoa butter: Benefits, uses, and side effects. Medical News Today.
- Vij, A. (2023). The Health Benefits of Cocoa Butter. Cleveland Clinic – Health Essentials.
- American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.). Stretch marks: Why they appear and how to get rid of them.
- Draelos, Z. D. (2007). Efficacy of moisturisers in treating xerosis. J Am Acad Dermatol.
- Palmer’s Product Research. Cocoa Butter and Length Retention in Hair and Skin.
