Since I was a little girl, I’ve always watched my mom massage Palmer’s Cocoa Butter all over her body, including her face. She takes a small washcloth, dips it into the butter in circular motions, and briskly applies it to her skin. She is approaching 60 now, without one wrinkle in sight on her perfectly soft, youthful-looking skin. When she wasn’t looking, I would stick my little finger into the jar and bore a hole through the butter, because I liked the way the smooth texture felt against my skin. To this day, she still inquires about the mysterious hole that used to show up in her cocoa butter years ago.

Just the other day, as I thought about writing about the benefits of cocoa butter, I decided to sneak into her room and bore a hole through her butter the way I did when I was a kid for, um, research purposes. Do you see the trouble you all make me get into? The soft, creamy, lightly-scented cocoa butter brought back memories of my childhood, and I walked out of her room with supple, silky hands.

Cocoa butter is the natural vegetable fat that is extracted from the residue of fermented cocoa beans, the fruit of Cacao Trees which is located mostly in tropical jungles, and is traditionally used to make chocolate products. It has a soft, chocolate aroma, and has been used in skin care for years.

Nothing beats the moisturizing properties of cocoa butter, which melts as soon as it makes skin contact and is absorbed very quickly. It creates a second skin for your body, since a thin layer of oil is left behind, acting as a barrier between skin and the environment, making it the perfect choice for people who suffer from dry skin condition such as eczema and dermatitis. It can also be applied to burned skin to soothe irritation, and the appearance of scars. It is also acclaimed for its ability to prevent and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. The butter is also known for its ant-aging properties, so I think my mom has the right idea, applying it onto her face every night. Like I said, the woman has absolutely no wrinkles. Here are my favorite Cocoa butter products you may want to give a try:

1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Original Solid Formula – My mom uses this every day to keep her skin moisturized. It’s also great to use for stretch marks, burns, and to reduce the appearance of dark spots.
2. Dove^® Nourishing Care Shea Butter Beauty Bar – I suffer with eczema, especially during the cold winter months. This soap leaves my skin silky smooth, and keeps skin flare-ups at bay.
3. Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Stick – I always have a small stick of coca butter in my bag at all times. It comes in handy to treat dry skin, tame unruly flyaways, and condition cuticles.
4. Cococare Lip Balm Cocoa Butter – Keeps lips soft, supple and protected with this lip balm.