Toners and antioxidants, coffee and cocoa are increasingly popular in beauty products. They are used both for their aroma and for their multiple properties.
Cocoa: a nourishing butter
“The cocoa tree produces fruits, the pods, which are first dried. Inside are beans which are fermented, then roasted and pressed, explains Émilie Jolibois, R&D manager of Aroma-Zone . A paste is then obtained, a mixture of butter and powder which is then separated. “
Cocoa butter is rich in saturated fatty acids, but very hard in consistency. “As it melts at 37 ° C, therefore at body temperature, it is ideal for making lip care products since it liquefies quickly on contact with the mucous membranes. On the other hand, to incorporate it in a fluid formula, it is necessary soften it by associating it with vegetal oils.” It is very nourishing and restorative. Cocoa powder contains caffeine, but in smaller quantities than coffee. It still has a toning effect. Also present are antioxidant polyphenols that help fight contreat the aging of cells. Rich in minerals such as magnesium, cocoa contributes to the proper cellular functioning of the skin. And its unique scent turns treatment into a real treat!
Coffee: a good stimulus
Born in Ethiopia, the coffee tree produces small, fleshy fruits that resemble cherries. It is in the kernels that the coffee beans hide. These are harvested, cleaned, dried, then roasted in order to develop their aromas. They are then ground and added with water to produce the most consumed drink in the world, behind the tea.
To caffeine concentration gives it an important energizing action. But this ingredient is especially essential in the formulas of anti-cellulite creams because it reduces fatty deposits via a lipolytic action. Coffee is also present in some anti-aging treatments. Indeed, “it is rich in chlorogenic and phenolic acids as well as in phytosterols, which all have antioxidant properties “, details Émilie Jolibois. Toning and firming, it stimulates the cutaneous microcirculation. “Coffee powder, or grounds, is also an excellent exfoliant “, continues our expert.
Less known, its vegetable oil, obtained by cold pressing unroasted seeds, is full of fatty acids with nourishing and restorative qualities.
