Cocoa Butter for Tanning

Can you use cocoa butter for tanning?

Cocoa butter might be a new buzz word in a lot of skin care products on the market today, but this fatty acid, antioxidant-packed ingredient has been used in multiple ways for millennium! 

And while many of us may first think of chocolate bars and hot drinks, the rich, creamy cocoa butter is actually really great for skin and hair. But does this mean it’s good for tanning?

We decided to take a look at some products containing cocoa butter, and learn what it’s for and if it will make our tans darker. 

Top Cocoa Butter for Tanning or Moisturizing Products

Image	Product	Features	Price
Editor"s Choice	Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Lotion w/ Cocoa Butter	REEF SAFE Sunscreen Without oxybenzone and octinoxate Aloe vera enriched Skin-nourishing antioxidants, very water resistant	Check Price
#2	Personal Care Cocoa Butter Lotion	With Vitamin E Helps Soothe Help Prolong Your Tan & Prevent Peeling	Check Price
#3	Vaseline Cocoa Radiant	Help heal dry and dull-looking skin Pure cocoa butter Recommended for daily use	Check Price
#4	Palmer’s Natural Bronze	Combination of pure cocoa butter and vitamin E Gradual tanning moisturizer A natural looking glow for all skin tones	Check Price
#5	Sky Organic’s 100% Cocoa Butter	Transform even the roughest, driest areas into soft and silky skin. Helps improve the appearance of imperfections on the skin 100% raw and unrefined	Check Price

The Rich History of Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is nothing new to human civilization. Native to the equatorial regions of the Americas, it has long been a common ingredient used for food and beverage, as well as in hair care products, lip balms, and of course for skin. Some historical sources believe cocoa butter has been consumed and used by humans since at least as early as 460 AD. And, it’s still around; that’s a good sign for the benefits of cocoa butter!

Later, in 1828, a Dutch chemist, C.J. van Houten, patented a process for pressing the fat (a.k.a. the cocoa butter) out of cocoa beans that had been previously ground and roasted. This led to the creation of cocoa powder, which greatly influenced the future of chocolate. Following van Houten, in 1847 England, Joseph Fry produced the first chocolate bar as we know it for eating in the modern world today and the rest is a long, sweet history!  

But, when it comes to skin, cocoa butter before processing to powder is the answer. After all, the fatty, creamy texture is what makes cocoa butter so beneficial for moisturizers and lotions. The sweet, chocolatey aroma is simply a fun by-product. 

So What is Cocoa Butter?

Put simply, cocoa butter is a type of vegetable fat extracted from cocoa beans. Raw cocoa butter, when seen in bulk, comes in pale yellow chunks that look a lot like chunks of soap or white chocolate. To be used in skin care products or for food, it first needs to be melted at a temperature between 93-101° F. Once it is a creamy liquid it can be mixed into a variety of products. 

Does Cocoa Butter Make You Darker?

Cocoa butter is packed with goodness for keeping skin healthy and happy. However, cocoa butter is not necessarily an ingredient that will make you tan faster or darker. 

But don’t throw it out just yet. If you are striving for a healthy glow, cocoa butter is good for tanning maintenance as it will help keep your skin nourished and hydrated, which in turn helps to prolong and enhance the tanning effects.  

3 Benefits of Cocoa Butter

1. Mega Moisturizing

Cocoa butter is a core ingredient in many skin moisturizers and  for good reason. Cocoa butter is made up of essential fatty acids which form a top, protective layer on the skin, locking in moisture and preventing the skin from drying out. If you’re spending a lot of the time in the sun, which is very drying to the skin, cocoa butter is great to help moisturize the skin and prolong the tan that forms.

2. Reduce Scars and Stretch Marks

Women and midwives throughout time have sung the praises of cocoa butter for reducing the look of scars and stretch marks because of its deeply nourishing and hydrating effects. It also contains lots of Vitamin E, one of the superstar ingredients for healing skin. Because of this, cocoa butter is a recommended ingredient for moisturizers used by pregnant women and those with healing scars. 

3. Anti-Aging and Anti-Inflammatory

Furthermore, the high amounts of antioxidants and polyphenols found in cocoa butter have been linked to reducing signs of aging as well as inflammation caused from skin irritation and sun damage. For those of us spending a lot of time in the sun, this is another great reason to keep cocoa butter in your skin care lineup!

Does Cocoa Butter Protect You From the Sun?

So now that we know cocoa butter isn’t great for getting darker, does it at least protect skin from the sun? The answer is as plain and simple as milk chocolate, NO.

Unfortunately, cocoa butter does not contain any agents that will protect the skin from the sun. So, be sure when using cocoa butter in the sun to use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher in conjunction for ultimate protection.

Is Cocoa Butter Good for Sunburn?

Cocoa butter may not protect the skin from the sun, but if you are overexposed or get a sunburn it will absolutely help hydrate dry skin while calming irritated, inflamed skin as well. So, definitely use cocoa butter on sunburns!

Top 5 Cocoa Butter for Tanning or Moisturizing Reviews

Here are some of the Cocoa Butter Products We Love for Tanned or Tanning Skin!

Because cocoa butter is good for the maintenance of tanned skin by deeply nourishing and helping to prolong the length of the tan, we love products that contain this ingredient.

However, alone it is not great for accelerating the tanning process and making skin so darker. So, in some cases we like products that include ingredients for both. 

#1: Hawaiian Tropic Island Tanning Lotion with Cocoa Butter

Last update on 2023-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This cocoa butter for tanning, Hawaiian Tropic has been formulating sun-savvy, skin-happy products since 1969 and draws on a lot of good quality ingredients to do so.

The tanning lotion with cocoa butter is a happy medium of nourishing and moisturizing while enhancing your tan. It even contains SPF 8 for a little added skin protection.

And, its rich coconut scent is sure to whisk you away to a tropical island getaway!

#2: Personal Care Cocoa Butter Lotion with Vitamin E

Last update on 2023-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Personal Care cocoa butter lotion is not formulated to help with tanning, but instead to soothe dry, irritated skin. This is a great product for post-sun maintenance to nourish skin and hydrate after a day of sun exposure.

It is also ideal for pregnant women wanting to prevent stretch marks and those with healing scars.

#3: Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant

Last update on 2023-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant is super nourishing and great for everyday use on all skin types.

Known for its mega hydrating effect, it does not specifically help with tanning, but rather evens out skin tones, plumps up dull skin and helps your natural skin to glow because it is hydrated and healthy.

It goes on super creamy and your skin will feel smooth right away. It has a light scent that doesn’t last long, this one is great for morning and evening application!

#4: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter with Natural Bronzer

Last update on 2023-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

When it comes to a gradual self-tanning product that provides the benefits of cocoa butter, Palmer’s brings it all to the table… or beach 🙂

The cocoa butter with added vitamin E will keep skin happily moisturized, while added self-tanning ingredients help the skin to build a natural looking tan over just  a few days.

This is a one-stop shop to build AND maintain a glowing tan. It goes on smooth and streak-free and the color appears as a natural bronze, not orange like other self-tanning products, which is even better.

#5: Sky Organics 100% Raw and Unrefined Cocoa Butter

Last update on 2023-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

For those looking purely for tan maintenance and luxuriously healthy skin, the Sky Organics cocoa butter is the way to go. It is 100% raw which means it will be solid and chunky when you scoop it out of the jar.

But, once it’s in your hand it will begin to melt and become oily and easy to apply. It has a sweet, chocolatey scent and leaves your skin feeling creamy and plump. This is perfect for post-sun and post-shower moisturizing.

Being 100% cocoa butter also makes it great for stretchmarks and scars. Use lavishly!

That’s all for our cocoa butter for tanning or moisturizing products.  

Cocoa Butter for Tanning Wrap-Up

So, now that we know cocoa butter is great for maintaining healthy skin and therefore, healthy glowing tans, we can keep an eye out for those products that contain this nourishing ingredient.

Remember, when it comes to getting darker, cocoa butter alone will not make you darker or protect your skin from the sun.

Therefore, if you’re using only cocoa butter on your skin for tanning be sure to couple it with tanning lotions and sunscreens for added effects. 

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