Cacao

A natural history

Cacao comes from the seeds of Theobroma cacao, a name that means food of the gods. Native to the rainforests of the Americas, it was cultivated and revered by the Maya and the Aztec, who whisked the beans into a sacred drink and prized them so highly the beans were used as money. Beyond the cup, the bean is rich in protective plant compounds, and it is this antioxidant cacao extract, not the butter, that we use here.

What it does for your skin

Cacao is dense in polyphenols, chiefly the flavanols epicatechin and catechin, antioxidants that help neutralize the free radicals behind visible aging. In a 24-week randomized, controlled trial, regular cocoa-flavanol intake improved skin elasticity and softened the look of wrinkles in photo-aged skin.^[1] In a formula, that antioxidant activity helps defend the complexion against daily environmental stress while keeping skin calm and comfortable.

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