Does Palmers Cocoa Butter Lighten Skin? What I Wish I Knew!

Does Palmers Cocoa Butter Lighten the Skin? If you mean, lighten skin as in even out your skin tone, YES! But not lightening your total complexion as in bleaching. NO! Cocoa Butter is a natural moisturizer that evens your skin tone and won’t lighten or darken your skin.

Cocoa butter is a natural fat and doesn’t lighten skin or darken skin. Palmer’s is no exception. Well, some of Palmer’s line of Cocoa Butter formulas may contain skin-lightening substances. 

However, some people have wondered if Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lightens the skin or not. By lightening, they mean bleaching the skin, or better still changing the skin colour from dark to fair.

The answer is simple. No.

There are at least 10 different formulas of Palmers Cocoa Butter. And they are;

Top Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formulas

  1. Original solid jar cocoa butter
  2. Cocoa butter skin therapy oil with vitamin E
  3. Cocoa butter concentrated hand and body cream
  4. Cocoa butter for bust firming cream
  5. Cocoa butter firming skin lotion
  6. Cocoa butter tummy butter for pregnancy stretch marks
  7. Cocoa butter men face and body face lotion
  8. Cocoa butter foot magic
  9. Cocoa butter skin therapy oil rosehip with vitamin E
  10. Cocoa butter body lotion, fragrance-free 
ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Original Solid FormulaPalmer's Cocoa Butter Original Solid Formula
  • Heals & Softens Rough, Dry Skin
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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Moisturizing Body OilPalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Moisturizing Body Oil
  • Moisturizing Body Oil: This 24-hour Moisturizing Body Oil helps to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry, damaged skin, uneven skin tone, aging skin and fine lines and wrinkles
  • Special Formula: Made with Cocoa Butter to moisturize, Argan Oil to soften and condition, plus a blend of ingredients to hydrate and improve skin imperfections while promoting healthy skin cell rejuvenation
  • Finest Ingedients: We strive to use only the finest natural, raw ingredients to bring you soft, hydrated and beautiful hair and skin. We support sustainable production of Shea and Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil worldwide
  • Choose What's Real: Our beauty products and hair and skin treatments feature real high-quality, plant-based ingredients in formulas that really work to hydrate and soften, from lip balm to bar soap to body butter
  • Palmer's: Our Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Vitamin E product lines include creams, balms, lotions, oils and soaps for hand and body, face, lip, and hair care, pregnancy and stretch mark care
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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Skin Therapy Concentrated CreamPalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Skin Therapy Concentrated Cream
  • Daily Skin Therapy: This concentrated cream in a convenient travel sized tube is made with Pure Cocoa Butter and enriched with Vitamin E in a soothing emollient base, to help heal and soften rough, dry skin, smooth marks and scars, and tone skin
  • Special Formula: This excellent all-over-the-body moisturizer and after-tanning butter is especially ideal for hands, elbows and knees. Apply it immediately following exposure to the sun and wind
  • Finest Ingedients: We strive to use only the finest natural, raw ingredients to bring you soft, hydrated and beautiful hair and skin. We support sustainable production of Shea and Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil worldwide
  • Choose What's Real: Our beauty products and hair and skin treatments feature real high-quality, plant-based ingredients in formulas that really work to hydrate and soften, from lip balm to bar soap to body butter
  • Palmer's: Our Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Vitamin E product lines include creams, balms, lotions, oils and soaps for hand and body, face, lip, and hair care, pregnancy and stretch mark care
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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Bust CreamPalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Bust Cream
  • Firming Bust Cream: Our Cocoa Butter Formula Bust Cream with Vitamin E helps firm and tone around your bust area even after pregnancy and weight loss and helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks
  • Special Formula: This Bust Cream contains a unique blend of pure Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Vitamin E, plus Collagen, Elastin and other proven ingredients to help restructure the elastic fibers
  • Finest Ingedients: We strive to use only the finest natural, raw ingredients to bring you soft, hydrated and beautiful hair and skin. We support sustainable production of Shea and Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil worldwide
  • Choose What's Real: Our beauty products and hair and skin treatments feature real high-quality, plant-based ingredients in formulas that really work to hydrate and soften, from lip balm to bar soap to body butter
  • Palmer's: Our Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Vitamin E product lines include creams, balms, lotions, oils and soaps for hand and body, face, lip, and hair care, pregnancy and stretch mark care
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Palmer's Skin Firming Lotion BottlePalmer's Skin Firming Lotion Bottle
  • After Pregnancy & Weight Loss.
  • This unique formula is specifically designed to restore your body to its natural, original firmness.
  • This unique formula is specifically designed to restore your body to its natural, original firmness.
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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter For Stretch MarksPalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter For Stretch Marks
  • Pack of 2, Each 4.4 oz
  • Penetrates as deep as the dryness and helps restore vital moisture
  • Recommended for stretch marks during and after pregnancy
  • Smoothes marks and tones skin
  • Clinically and dermatologically tested
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Palmers Cocoa Butter Men Lotion Body & FacePalmers Cocoa Butter Men Lotion Body & Face
  • 1 Piece - 8.5 Ounce (251ml)
  • With Vitamin E
  • Fast Absorbing
  • Fights Dry Skin
  • Fresh Scent
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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Foot Magic Moisturizing CreamPalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Foot Magic Moisturizing Cream
  • Foot Cream: Soften and smooth even the roughest and driest skin with Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Foot Magic. This intensely moisturizing lotion provides a deep penetrating treatment for the feet and heels
  • Natural Factors: Cocoa Butter is a rich natural moisturizer that leaves skin soft and silky while antioxidant Vitamin E helps give skin a more even and toned appearance. Peppermint Oil revitalizes sore, tired feet
  • Finest Ingedients: We strive to use only the finest natural, raw ingredients to bring you soft, hydrated and beautiful hair and skin. We support sustainable production of Shea and Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil worldwide
  • Choose What's Real: Our beauty products and hair and skin treatments feature real high-quality, plant-based ingredients in formulas that really work to hydrate and soften, from lip balm to bar soap to body butter
  • Palmer's: Our Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Vitamin E product lines include creams, balms, lotions, oils and soaps for hand and body, face, lip, and hair care, pregnancy and stretch mark care
Check Price
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Moisturizing Body Oil with Vitamin E, Rosehip FragrancePalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Moisturizing Body Oil with Vitamin E, Rosehip Fragrance
  • Moisturizing Body Oil: This 24 hour Moisturizing Body Oil with Rosehip fragrance helps to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry, damaged skin, uneven skin tone, aging skin and fine lines and wrinkles
  • Special Formula: Made with Cocoa Butter to moisturize, Argan Oil to soften and condition, plus a blend of ingredients to hydrate and improve skin imperfections, and promote healthy skin cell rejuvenation
  • Finest Ingredients: We strive to use only the finest natural, raw ingredients to bring you soft, hydrated and beautiful hair and skin; We support sustainable production of Shea and Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil worldwide
  • Choose What's Real: Our beauty products and hair and skin treatments feature real high quality, plant based ingredients in formulas that really work to hydrate and soften, from lip balm to bar soap to body butter
  • Palmer's Skin Care: Our Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Vitamin E product lines include creams, balms, lotions, oils and soaps for hand and body, face, lip, sun care, hair care and pregnancy and stretch mark care
Check Price
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Fragrance Free Lotion Pump BottlePalmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Fragrance Free Lotion Pump Bottle
  • Deep HYDRATING lotion: this 24-hour cocoa butter daily Moisturizing Body lotion is fragrance free & Provides deep, soothing hydration for all skin types, from normal to dry to eczema prone skin.
  • Special formula: this lotion is made with cocoa butter to naturally moisturize & Vitamin E to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks & Skin.
  • Finest Ingredients: we strive to use only the finest natural, raw INGREDIENTS to bring you soft, hydrated & beautiful hair & Skin. We support sustainable production of Shea & Cocoa butter & Coconut Oil worldwide.
  • Choose what's real: our beauty products & hair & Skin treatments feature real high-quality, plant-based ingredients in formulas that really work to hydrate & soften, from lip balm to bar Soap to body butter.
  • Palmer's: our cocoa butter, coconut oil, Shea butter, olive oil, & vitamin E product lines include creams, balms, lotions, oils & soaps for hand & Body, face, lip, sun care, hair care & pregnancy & Stretch mark care.
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For the sake of simplicity, I’ll just discuss the solid Palmers Cocoa Butter.

To understand why Palmer’s Cocoa butter doesn’t lighten your skin, you must first understand what cocoa butter is.

What is Cocoa Butter?

Cocoa butter is an organic butter that is extracted from the seeds of the cacao plant. It’s from this same plant that we get chocolate and cocoa powder.

First, the farmers would harvest the ripe cacao fruit, and then ferment the seeds for about 4 days. After fermenting it enough, they’ll dry it either in the sun or in a special drying machine.

When the seeds are dried to their satisfaction, these farmers would roast the seeds to develop the flavor. The roasting process also makes it easy for the hulls to be removed from the cocoa beans, leaving the nibs. They remove the hulls and then grind the nibs into a paste. This paste is what they call chocolate liquor.

You see, this liquor is so thick, in a similar consistency as groundnut paste. It is from this paste that they squeeze out the butter, leaving the brown residue behind.

Like I said earlier, chocolate is extracted from cacao seeds. So the residue that remains after removing the cocoa butter is what is used in making chocolate and cocoa powder. This explains why cocoa butter has that rich chocolatey scent.

Natural cocoa butter is so rich in fatty acids and phytochemical, and that’s why people have relied on it to provide moisturizing effects on the skin. The phytochemical are responsible for fighting bacteria and fungal infections, and they also enhance blood circulation. 

I guess that’s why people believe that it can cure various kinds of skin diseases.

However, there isn’t any scientific proof to back this claim.

Those claims are just fictional; we could say it’s just stereotypical. Even though there isn’t enough scientific evidence backing the healing properties of cocoa butter, there are some indisputable benefits of cocoa butter to the skin.

Also Read: What is Cocoa Butter: Benefits, Uses, Characteristics and Side Effects

What is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter?

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula is a concentrated cream made with pure cocoa butter. It is enriched with vitamin E in a soothing emollient base, and it is an excellent moisturizer that could be applied all over the body.

It is stiff and looks like margarine. Even though it’s solid and waxy, it melts easily when you rub it between your palms. This makes it easier to apply to the skin. It’s not greasy, but when you use too much of it at a go, it feels sticky on your clothes. You need only a little at a time to get your desired results. 

Black people have used natural cocoa butter on their skin for decades now. Does it mean that black people can use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter too?

Also Read: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula: Everything You Need to Know!

Palmers Cocoa Butter on Black Skin

Black skin is known to be unique to other skin tones. It is delicate; it wrinkles easily because its elastin gets destroyed easily.

For these reasons, some people are skeptical about using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter on black skin. I did a little research, and I’m sure my findings would help clarify your doubt. 

Let’s see how it affects African and African-American skin.

Also Read: 18 Best Cocoa Butter Lotion for Black Skin: For a Natural and Perfect Skin!

Is it good for African skin?

People have long assumed that cocoa butter is a moisturizer for black people. This is false because I know a lot of black people who don’t use cocoa butter.

Well, we can’t blame them too much for their conclusion, because their assumption could be because of the origin of cocoa butter.

Also Read: Does Nivea Nourishing Cocoa Darken The Skin?

Origin of cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is normally found in Southern and Central America, and in Africa, it is common in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. It turns out that the cacao plant thrives better in tropical regions.

With this natural moisturizer growing in your territory, it makes sense that you’ll use it as your primary skin moisturizer. That’s one reason why people associate it with black people. Apart from being easily available to blacks, it has special benefits that are very useful to black skin.

As I pointed out earlier, black skin is unique. It has certain characteristics that other skin tones have less of.Among these characteristics is that black skin is more prone to looking ashy when it is dry. This happens because dead skin is lighter in colour, and hence it is easier to see on dark skin.

The cocoa butter in its rich formula like Palmer’s really tame down the dry and ashy look, leaving the skin soft and silky. In the end, it prevents dryness and scaliness of the skin.

That’s another reason why black men and women rely on it that much. How about the African-American skin? Can they use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter too?

Also Read: Growing Cocoa Plant at Home: A Quick Guide!

Is it good for African-American Skin?

African American skin behaves like any other black skin.

It tends to become ashy when it’s dry. Another characteristic is that the elastin in black skin loses easily. Elastin is the substance in the skin that makes it firm and elastic.

You know what elastic is;  that thing in the waist of skirts that prevents it from falling from your body. It stretches when you pull it and then returns to its original shape when you release it.

When the elastin in the skin becomes loose, just as in the case of the elastic in your skirt, the skin begins to sag, and then wrinkles follow. This is one reason why cocoa butter is good for black skin. It helps the skin produce more elastin, thereby maintaining the skin’s elasticity for a long time.

Black skin is black skin, whether African or African-American. If it’s okay for one black skin type, it’ll be suitable for the other black skin. The difference that we’d say exists between these two regions and their skin tones would probably be the weather conditions.

In Africa, there is no winter season. However, you’d see the winter season in America.

Our black friends in America would especially need the palmers cocoa butter in winter because it is during this time that the skin dries out the most. Therefore, African-American skin can use Palmer’s Cocoa butter. You might be wondering if you can use it too if you have white skin.

Also Read: Best Cocoa Butter For Skin: Great For All Skin Types!

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter on White skin

If you have white skin, you can use it too. Consider this.

No matter where you come from or your skin tone, your skin would have the same composition as any other skin around the world. The skin would always be skin.

Just as eyes would be eyes and nose would continue to be the nose, or stomach would be stomach everywhere you go, the same way skin would be skin no matter the colour or the type. That’s why people with white skin can also use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter was produced mainly from pure natural cocoa butter. Therefore, it should not have any bad effect on your skin. However, I saw a review recently on YouTube about someone complaining that Palmer’s cocoa butter gives a slight tan. Even a few people complained the same on Quora. What about that?

Also Read: Does Cocoa Butter Lighten Skin?

Does Palmers Cocoa Butter Darken Skin?

The simple answer is no! People have indeed noticed their skin develop a tan after using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. Yeah. It’s not surprising! To understand, let’s look at what causes a tan.

You would be tanner or lighter depending on the amount and type of melanin you have in your skin. Melanin is simply a pigment that determines the colour of your eyes, skin, and hair.

The more melanin you have, the darker your skin would become. Your melanin composition is mainly a result of genetic factors. However, the ultraviolet rays from the sun also play a huge role in this regard.

According to science, the more time you spend in the sun, the more melanin your skin would produce. That’s one of the reasons why staying in the sun for a long time causes hyperpigmentation. It’s also the reason why here in some places in Africa, such as Ghana, you’ll see someone with a darker face and hands, but then their stomachs are fairer.

As for me, I noticed that around my wrist where I wear my leather watch is lighter than the rest of my arm. With these experiences from the sun, what do you think would happen if you use Palmer’s Cocoa Butter and then spend time in the sun?

That’s why some people get a slight tan; they don’t apply sunscreen on, and they spend too much time in the sun. You should be fine if you avoid the sun as much as possible.

Now that you’ve seen what Palmer’s Cocoa Butter is and what skin tones can use it, let’s see how it benefits the skin, whether black or white.

Also Read: Does Cocoa Butter make your Skin Darker?

Benefits of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter

Cocoa Butter in its natural form has been trusted to have a lot of benefits to the skin. But what about Palmer’s Cocoa Butter? It claims to have some special features that are similar to natural cocoa butter. Let’s see.

  1. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter creates a protective barrier on the surface of the skin, and this helps to lock in moisture and protects the skin from too much direct sun exposure.
  1. The fatty acids in Palmer’s Cocoa Butter soften the skin and relieve rough and dry skin or spots.
  1. When you apply it consistently for a long time, it would eventually smooth out marks and scars. Of course, it is written on the packaging that it helps get rid of stretch marks and scars. However, ardent users say it only improves their appearance, not eliminates them.
  2. Its formula helps to hydrate dry skin throughout the day because it retains moisture a lot in the skin.
  1. Has vitamin E which helps protect the skin from free radicals.

Also Read: Cocoa Butter Benefits for Skin: A Quick Guide!

Best use of Palmers Cocoa Butter

Apart from using it as a moisturizer, I haven’t seen people using it in any special way. Maybe you can tell me how you use it in the comments section. It’ll be an insightful addition.

However, Ziporah from Nigeria says she used Palmers Cocoa Butter on her tummy during pregnancy, and this helped to reduce the amount and appearance of stretch marks on the stomach.

I saw a few reviews on Youtube about people using it in the same way. Well, I can’t say much about that, because I haven’t been pregnant before, and I haven’t used it to prevent stretch marks either. Again, please tell me your experience in the comments. I’d love to hear it.

No matter how fabulous a product would be, it’ll have those factors that won’t make you award it 100 percent or five over five in reviews. Let’s see some downsides of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter.

Also Read: Can you Eat Cocoa Butter? Uses, Health Benefits and Side Effects!

Common Fails And Disadvantages of Palmers Cocoa Butter

  1. Palmers Cocoa Butter smells so great, and that’s one of its disadvantages. You see, if you are someone who is allergic to the strong smell, or you don’t want moisturizer interfering with your perfume, you definitely won’t like Palmer’s Cocoa Butter.
  1. Unlike Nivea cocoa butter, Palmers takes time to absorb. I guess we’d blame its thick buttery consistency for that. This is not to say that it takes forever to absorb, but it takes a little longer compared to other brands.
  1. It has no SPF in it. Therefore, if you apply it without sunscreen and then head off right into the sun, then get ready to fry your skin into a tan!
  1. On the packaging, it claims to heal eczema and stretch marks. However, there hasn’t been any evidence to support this.
  1. Another disadvantage is that those with oily skin would have over moisturized skin when they use it, and might end up clogging your pores. Therefore, use it with discretion if you have oily skin.

Also Read: Is Cocoa Butter Bad for Your Face: What I Wish I Knew!

Now it’s your turn… 

Palmers Cocoa Butter is a great alternative to pure natural cocoa butter. Indeed, Palmers Cocoa Butter is in various forms. There are formulas for men, pregnant women, skin lotion, massage oil, just to name a few. 

If you have dry skin, then you’ll never go wrong with the original solid jar Palmers Cocoa Butter. And if you have oily skin, then you can go ahead and use the lotion.

The key is to know which one works for your skin type because picking the right formula for your skin type is the most effective way to handle skin problems in the future.

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AUTHOR
Hello! Sedi here... I love cocoa and everything that comes out it even more! Chocolate, butter, paste, etc... Picture this: I have very sensitive and dry skin, and as a result, I develop dark spots, especially on my legs, at the slightest provocation. To get rid of it, I have been using cocoa butter for more than a decade. My dark spots are gone; my skin tone is even! When I'm not writing, you'll find me reading, working out, and advocating for plastic-free earth.