Cocoa Butter & Shea Butter

These butters are extracted from plants and are sought by the cosmetic industry to provide highly moisturising properties to body care lotions and creams.Health Revisited utilises both the therapeutic & physical properties of these exotic butters to produce our highly moisturising Aromatherapy Massage Bars and Natural Soaps. This information provided will give you a better understanding of the constituents and uses of these butters so you can understand their actions.

Cocoa Butter is well known as the edible fat used in the confectionery industry to make chocolate bars. It comes from the Cocoa Tree Seed Kernels and is a natural source of anti-oxidants due to the phenol content. This butter is a protective emollient that is able to reduce dryness and improve flexibility of the skin. Pregnant ladies often seek cocoa butter products as this butter is believed to help prevent stretch marks. Keeping the skin moisturised may assist to improve skin elasticity during pregnancy but will not be a guarantee against developing stretch marks. It is recommended that people use a natural moisturiser that will nourish skin and protect it as part of the body care regime.

Shea Butter comes from the nut of the African Karite Tree. The nuts are processed by traditional methods in local communities providing valuable incomes for women and children. The tree does not fruit until it is 15yrs old, so the trees providing these nuts are often more than 100 yrs old. These trees are valued and protected in communities because they generate a continual source of income. Shea butter has skin moisturising properties, contains natural sun screening properties and is used for wound healing. This butter is a natural source of Vitamins A & E.

Both Cocoa Butter & Shea Butter contain substantial amounts of Linoleic Acid. This is an essential fatty acid which our bodies are unable to produce, therefore it needs this fat provided. Essential fatty acids may be lacking in dry skin conditions, arthritic like symptoms, circulatory problems and poor wound healing. Essential fatty acids help maintain membrane function by keeping them fluid. Optimal membrane function can expedite the removal of toxins via the skin. The skin is a detoxifying organ which compensates when other eliminatory systems are not functioning adequately.