Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, commonly known as Cocoa Butter, is derived from the seeds (beans) of the Theobroma cacao tree. This butter is highly valued in the cosmetic and personal care industry for its rich moisturizing, emollient, and skin-conditioning properties, making it a beneficial component in various skincare and hair care products.

Chemical Composition and Structure
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter contains a variety of bioactive compounds, including fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. These compounds contribute to its beneficial effects on the skin and hair, such as providing deep hydration, protecting against oxidative stress, and enhancing skin health. The specific composition includes:

Fatty Acids: Such as oleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid, which help to nourish and moisturize the skin.
Vitamins: Particularly vitamin E, which is known for its antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants: Help to protect the skin from free radical damage and environmental stressors.
Physical Properties
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter typically appears as a solid, pale yellow to light brown fat with a characteristic cocoa aroma. It melts at body temperature, making it easy to apply and absorb into the skin.

Cosmetic and Personal Care Applications
Moisturizing: The rich fatty acid content provides deep hydration, making it ideal for use in moisturizing formulations and products designed to maintain the skin's moisture balance.

Emollient: Cocoa butter helps to soften and smooth the skin, improving its texture and overall appearance. It is suitable for all skin types.

Skin Conditioning: This ingredient helps to condition the skin, enhancing its suppleness and elasticity.

Anti-Aging: Due to its antioxidant properties, cocoa butter helps to combat signs of aging by protecting the skin from oxidative stress and promoting a youthful appearance.

Healing: Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter is known for its healing properties, aiding in the repair of dry, cracked skin and soothing irritation.

Aromatic: Its natural, pleasant cocoa fragrance makes it a popular ingredient in cosmetic products for its aromatic properties.

Hair Care: In hair care products, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter helps to nourish and condition the hair, reducing frizz and enhancing shine and smoothness.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic and personal care products. It is non-irritating and suitable for all skin types. As a natural and biodegradable ingredient, it poses minimal risk to the environment when disposed of properly. Utilizing cocoa butter also supports sustainable practices by promoting fair trade and ethical sourcing in cocoa production.

Cosmetics - INCI Functions


Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.
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CAS: 84649-99-0 EC number 283-480-6