Cocoa Butter and Jojoba Skin Products

These two ingredients are power houses in terms of benefits to the skin and when combined together in skin products, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Many cosmetic companies have turned to cocoa butter as an ingredient in skin care such as Palmer’s and The Body Shop, who both recognized the benefits of cocoa on the skin as a moisturizer and healer.

Making your own skin products combining both cocoa butter and jojoba oil is very doable in your own kitchen and easy to make.

Cocoa Butter is an edible vegetable fat that is extracted from the cocoa bean. With a mild chocolate flavour and aroma, it is widely used in the kitchen for making chocolate,cakes and baked goods. Cocoa is also a well used ingredient in cosmetic toiletries, ointments and within the pharmaceutical Industry.

Jojoba Oil is the waxy oil that comes from the seeds of the Jojoba Plant. Native to southern California, southern Arizona and Mexico, the oil is commonly found in cosmetics products such as moisturizers, lotions, hair shampoos and conditioners.

Our skins change like the seasons and during the winter months, become drier.

Keeping the skin soft supple and moisturized is more important than ever during this time and it is often the time we pay less attention to body moisturising, with the mindset “out of sight is out of mind”.

More clothes are worn in the winter months hence we tend to not bother with the skin treatments we may well do religiously in the summer when more bare limbs and skin is visible.

Don't forget about those hidden areas of skin, particularly during the colder days the seasons bring. By applying a Cocoa Butter and Jojoba body butter, you will improve the elasticity, tone, and texture of the skin.

Lets now look at the benefits of these two wonderful ingredients:

• Minimizes Scars
• Prevents and Minimizes Stretch Marks
• Skin Softener
• Nourishes
• Locks in Moisture
• Improves Skin Tone and Texture
• Repairs Damaged Skin
• Rich in Antioxidants
• UV protection
• Helps Skin Disorders (Eczema)
• Relieves Itchy Skin

• Contains Vitamin E and B complex
• Contains the minerals Silicon, Zinc, Copper and Chromium
• Contains Iodine
• Antibacterial Properties
• Antifungal Properties
• Warts
• Canker Sores
• Cold Sores
• Athlete’s Foot
• Acne
• Being Researched As Possible Fuel Source
• Used instead of Whale Sperm Oil (banned since 1970’s)
• Anti Frizz in Hair

Ingredients:

4 oz Cocoa Butter

4 oz Jojoba Oil

2 oz Shaved Beeswax

5-15 drops Essential Oil (optional)

Things You Will Need:

Double Boiler

Glass Jar with lid

Spatula / Wooden Spoon

Method:

• Melt the cocoa butter and beeswax in the double boiler gently, to avoid burning.
• Stir in the jojoba oil and then the essential oil of choice if using.
• Pour into glass jar and allow to cool completely before putting on the lid.

Tips:

Ideas for essential oils are strawberry, vanilla, lavender, citrus, jasmine, and rose but you may use whatever fragrance you like or leave it natural.

Stuck for a gift to give? Why not make a batch of this body butter and give it as a gift. A great idea would be to give someone a bath or beauty set of homemade products using their favourite scent in bath salts, skin care and body care products.

Before using, always do a patch test on the inside of your elbow, to avoid any allergic reactions or irritations. Never use if allergy prone or have an allergy to beeswax, cocoa or Jojoba oil.

Apply sparingly to dry skin, paying particular attention to feet and elbows. As we get older our skin’s outer layer get’s thinner and produces less sebum or natural oil lubrication. Cocoa Butter and Jojoba provide that much needed oil.

Allow skin to absorb the body butter which will absorb well and not be overly greasy as you might expect, with it being“body butter”.