Cocoa re-emerges as beneficial skin care ingredient

Introduced into its Botanicals range, the new Chocolate Extrapone line will make use of the cocoa extracted from the Theobroma Cacao (cocoa) tree and provide a vital source of nutrients to the skin. As female consumers become more critical about beauty manufacturers complicated marketing strategies and ingredient lists, many are now looking to have the same simplicity as they receive in their natural food produce. Symrise are capitalising on this consumer need and are marketing the versatility of chocolate. It is not only a food ingredient, but also a safe and beneficial ingredient in skin care products. Research has found that chocolate is not only rich in polythenols but has a high quality and quantity of anti-oxidants, compared to other foods. Anti-oxidants contained in the cocoa shell help delay the signs of ageing, keep skin healty, activate fat-burn and have a psychologically stimulating effect. The company has stated that the ingredient shows positive results in cosmetics whether it is the sole ingredient or accompanied by others, such as mint, rose, and vanilla. Many companies have already bridged the food and cosmetics gap by using chocolate as a principle ingredient in its products. Paris based company Zelda Gavizon used it in its 'Chocolatherapie' treatments. Zelda Gavizon spokesperson Gabriel Jacquet stated, 'Cocoa has a lot to give, the Cocoa pod has over 800 complex molecules with 30 of them being beneficial to the skin.' ​​A recent report by market research company, Organic Monitor, estimated that the European market for natural and organic cosmetic products is currently growing at 20 per cent a year, and is set to surpass a value of €1bn. The increased market activity is likely to give way to big changes, including the rise of food based cosmetics.