Cocoa butter smooths and softens skin, so it's a common ingredient in many store-bought beauty products. If you have some pure cocoa butter, you may want to melt it down and turn it into a homemade treat of your own. With a few spoonfuls of cocoa butter, for example, you can make lip balm, body lotion and other salon-quality luxuries.
Microwave
Put cocoa butter in a heat-safe glass mixing bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave; do not cover.
Microwave the cocoa butter for 20 to 30 seconds.
Stir the cocoa butter with a spoon. If the cocoa butter isn't fully melted, keep microwaving it at 10 second intervals until fully melted. Let the cocoa butter cool before using it.
Double Boiler
Fill a pot or saucepan about halfway with lukewarm water, and set on the stove.
Position a heat-proof mixing bowl within the rim of the pot or saucepan; the bowl should be large enough to fit snugly within the rim without touching the water. Turn the stove on to the lowest heat setting.
Add the cocoa butter to the bowl. The cocoa butter will begin to melt as the bowl traps steam form the simmering water.
Stir the cocoa butter with a spoon as it melts. Continue stirring until the cocoa butter is fully melted.
Remove the pot from the heat and turn the stove off. Allow the cocoa butter to cool before touching it.
Tip
To make your own chocolate cocoa-butter lip gloss, combine 1 teaspoon cocoa butter with the oil from one vitamin E capsule. Add 1/4 teaspoon grated chocolate. Melt the ingredients together, then stir well. Allow to cool before applying.
Warning
Use caution when handling melted cocoa butter. It can burn you if it's hot.
References
Writer Bio
Melissa King began writing in 2001. She spent three years writing for her local newspaper, "The Colt," writing editorials, news stories, product reviews and entertainment pieces. She is also the owner and operator of Howbert Freelance Writing. King holds an Associate of Arts in communications from Tarrant County College.