Cocoa butter is a versatile ingredient used in both cooking as well as health and beauty products. Cocoa butter is great for the skin, but is cocoa butter good for eyelashes?
Yes, cocoa butter can be good for eyelashes as it contains fatty acids and antioxidants that hydrate, protect against the sun and stop dryness. Furthermore, cocoa butter contains plant compounds called phytochemicals which can help improve blood flow to the skin and hair.
Benefits of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter, also known as Theobroma oil, is a vegetable fat made from cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is often found in skin care products and lotions and holds many benefits for your skin.
These include:
- Vitamin E which supports vision and brain functions
- Improves blood flow to skin and hair
- Improves elasticity
- Eases itching
- Hydrates
- Provides a protective barrier against dry weather conditioners
- Protect against sun damage
- Skin healing properties
- Contains choline which can help reduce liver disease symptoms
- Strengthens the hair shaft
- Adds volume and strength to fine hair
- Makes hair more manageable
3 Reasons Cocoa Butter Is Good For Eyelashes
Contains Vitamin E
Cocoa butter contains vitamin E which not only supports the health of your skin but also your brain, vision, and blood circulation.
Vitamin is considered an antioxidant and it can therefore help protect against cellular damage caused by the effects of free radicals. It is therefore also known to contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Moisturizes
Cocoa butter is composed of a variety of fatty acids and therefore has the ability to moisturize and nourish the skin and hair.
This also helps to improve elasticity which can help skin look younger as well as prevent hair breakage.
The large amount of fatty acid content also forms a protective barrier which helps to lock in the moisture in dry conditions.
Protects Against Sun Damage
The moisturizing barrier created by cocoa butter also helps to protect your eyelashes against sun damage.
Sun damage can cause dry lashes, itching, and even discoloration.
Moisturizing your lashes with cocoa butter can help prevent dryness and issues related to sun exposure.
Can Cocoa Butter Help Grow Eyelashes?
Cocoa butter may be able to help grow eyelashes if used regularly. This is because cocoa butter contains vitamin E which has been proven to help improve hair growth in people with hair loss.
It is however not known exactly how long you would need to apply or consume cocoa butter for and it would be more effective for you to take Vitamin E supplements if you were looking to combat hair loss.
How To Use Cocoa Butter For Eyelashes
Always make sure to do a patch test first in case you suffer from any allergies. Also, make sure that ingredients or products never get into your eyes.
Have water ready in case your eyes begin to burn and tissue to wipe away any excess product.
Always be careful before applying any product near your eyes.
Here are three ways to use cocoa butter on your eyelashes:
1. Apply Cocoa Butter Directly To Eyelashes
Buy yourself some all-natural cocoa butter and apply it to your eyelashes once a day.
Instructions
- Place a small piece of tissue underneath your eye
- Close your eye
- Use your finger to slowly apply a small amount of cocoa butter downwards onto your lashes
- Wipe off any excess product
Be careful not to rub your eyes.
2. Apply Vaseline Petroleum Jelly With Cocoa Butter
Similar approach but a different product.
If you don’t happen to have cocoa butter at hand, try Vaseline that contains cocoa butter. This product helps to rejuvenate dry skin and offers a moisturizing protective barrier.
Instructions
- Place a small piece of tissue underneath your eye
- Close your eye
- Use your finger to slowly apply a small amount of vaseline downwards onto your lashes
- Wipe off any excess product
Be careful not to rub your eyes.
3. Eat it
Perhaps the most preferable way – you can also eat yourself to some cocoa butter. Enter chocolate.
Eating chocolate doesn’t actually have to be a bad thing.
A 2009 study concluded that “patients who reported eating chocolate twice or more per week were 66% less likely to suffer a cardiac death compared to those who reported never eating chocolate”.
Of course, you shouldn’t just start eating a couple of chocolate bars per day.
Most chocolate has a very high calorie and fat content and you want to be prioritizing chocolate that is low in sugar and has a high cocoa quantity.
If you have the time, you can even try to make these homemade keto chocolate bars for your cocoa butter fix.
Risks And Warnings Of Using Cocoa Butter
In general, cocoa butter is considered to be safe to use on both hair and skin.
However, if you suffer from allergies related to chocolate, cocoa butter, or any other ingredients found in cocoa butter, you may experience an allergic reaction or a rash.
If you suspect any allergies, do not attempt to use cocoa butter in your beauty routine.
A 2014 study revealed that one particular skincare product containing cocoa butter contained chemicals with anti-estrogenic activity.
This means that the product reduced the effects of estrogen, the female hormone, on the body.
The concern was how the product may affect women still going through puberty.
It should be noted that the study related to a product containing cocoa butter and not cocoa butter in its raw form.