Skincare Benefits of Cold-Pressed Body Butters

Cold-pressed body butters, such as cocoa, mango kernel and coconut, have amazing moisturising and nourishing qualities for the skin. It is very important however, to ensure that they are made and kept at temperatures below 40C. If oils and fats are heated above this level during the manufacturing process, most of the antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and the life force in the ingredients are destroyed. A good example of this is cold-pressed olive oil, which has long been considered a topical remedy for wrinkles and facial lines. Not surprisingly, olive oil is the best source of raw vitamin E. However, it is also is extremely sensitive to temperature and light and becomes completely corrupted when heated.

This point is so important, that we will elaborate a little more. Heated oils and fats when used in skincare products –even in the so-called most natural ones- are actually one of the worst offenders to skin beauty. They contain highly toxic transfatty acids, which may be absorbed into the cell membranes, causing them to become porous and weak. Heating oils and fats also leads to the creation of free radicals, which are unstable oxygen molecules that have lost an electron. Collagen, a protein molecule that constitutes 80% of the dermis, is particularly susceptible to free radical damage, which includes wrinkles, lingering scars and stiff collagen.

In contrast, cold-pressed fats and oils kept at low temperatures help to beautify the skin, strengthen the cell membranes and restore nutrients to the tissues.

Here are the skincare benefits of some body butters, which we emphasize, need to be cold-pressed and kept at low temperatures for them to be truly effective:

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is great for repairing dry skin, wrinkles and damaged skin. It helps to regenerate skin cells and restore elasticity thanks to its high levels of antioxidants and minerals. Cocoa butter promotes healthy and smooth skin and is particularly good as a protection against the weather.

Mango Kernel Butter

Mango kernel butter has a very rich and smooth feel to it. It is obtained by cold-pressing the kernels of the mango fruit. Due to its high levels of unsaponifiables, emollient properties and high oxidative ability, raw mango butter has skin regenerative qualities and is therefore great for dry, chapped lips. It may also provide some protection against UV radiation.

Red Palm Butter

Applying red palm butter to your skin is an immensely pleasurable experience. Because it is so rich in vitamin A and E, it is a great skin moisturiser and is also good for healing conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis scarring and stretch marks. It has a rejuvenating effect on the skin, repairing dry and sun damaged skin as well as reducing sun sensitivity.

Coconut Butter

Coconut butter helps reduce skin inflammation and is soothing and healing to wounds and rashes. It also makes a wonderful hair conditioner and has the ability to strengthen the structure of damaged, devitalized hair by lubricating and softening the hair shaft by re-mineralising the hair with magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron. Massage the butter gently into the scalp and hair and leave for at least an hour before shampooing out.