The Cacao Collection

As the first collection of Selfish Cultivation, the Cacao Collection represents the birth of this journey by pumping its first heartbeat. The cacao tree's scientific name Theobroma cacao translates to "food of the gods" in Greek .

Theobroma cacao

The Cacao tree is a tropical evergreen tree that grows between 20 and 40 feet tall and bears the cacao pod. The cacao pod contains about 20 to 60 cacao seeds that are surrounded by a white pulp. The cacao seeds are used to make everyone's favorite -chocolate. The pulp can be manipulated in smoothies, jelly, juice, and even alcoholic beverages.

Physically, cacao has many benefits for the skin. Not only does it improve blood circulation and is anti-inflammatory, it contains twenty times more the antioxidants in blueberries and is rich in iron and magnesium. Just the smell of the cacao may help calm your mood. Cacao is also linked to your heart chakra and has been used for centuries to open it up!

When I moved from New Jersey to Colorado, my skin had begun reacting to the high altitude and dry air. Although I had been working on a few different recipes, the Cacao Collection reigned supreme as it achieved the goal of providing maximum hydration and moisture as skin support through my migration to the Mile High city.

The Cacao Butter

When using the Cacao Butter, there is a burst of a chocolate aroma - all thanks to the cocoa butter and cacao powder working together harmoniously. I am proud to say that there are no added fragrances to any of the products in the Cacao Collection. As the Cacao Butter's base is made up out of cocoa butter and shea butter, a little bit goes a long way. Cocoa butter is a natural collagen booster and can improve skin elasticity. While shea butter is also a collagen booster, it is also anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, rich in vitamins A & E, and promotes cell regeneration. Some honorable mentions in the Cacao Butter are rice bran oil and almond oil. The rice bran oil contains ferulic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid, which brightens and evens your skin tone, deeply penetrates the skin while locking in moisture, and plumps up the skin at the same time as it protects your skin barrier, respectively. The almond oil is rich in minerals and encourages cell renewal.

The Cacao Mask

If you love mocha lattes, you'll love the Cacao Mask! Along with fresh aloe gel straight from the plant, the Cacao Mask contains coffee that works with the cacao powder to treat hyperpigmentation and acne. The soothing aloe heals and nourishes the skin, while providing maximum hydration. The coffee provides gentle exfoliation, increases blood flow which in turn increases cell renewal, and fights acne with its large amount of antioxidants and stimulates for the skin. As cacao is anti-inflammatory, this helps to soothe your skin if it is irritated by pollution or an infection. Be sure to keep your hands away from your face and refrain from popping your pimples to decrease your chance of infecting your skin with bacteria. Also, wash your hands thoroughly before starting your skincare routine!

The Cacao Balm

Rice bran oil

Are you always on the go and need a reliable lip moisturizer? Do you struggle with hyperpigmentation on your lips? Are you a smoker that wants to even the skin tone on your lips? Well, this is where the Cacao Balm comes in. In addition to the benefits of the cacao powder, it provides a light brown tint to cover up your skin discoloration. The honey in the Cacao Balm works as a humectant to draw in moisture for your lips. This recipe is very similar to the Cacao Butter, but contains additional oils to provide even more nourishment and seal in the moisture. Some of these oils include rice bran oil, black castor oil, and avocado oil.

Do They Work Together?

In order to make a functional collection, it was important to me to ensure that the products could be used together. When the Cacao Mask is paired with the Cacao Balm and Cacao Butter, there is potential to reach maximum hydration and moisture. Some places on your body to consider for the Cacao Mask and Cacao Butter duo are your legs, underarms, and feet to help with hyperpigmentation.

While the Cacao Mask can be used on your face, lips, and body, the Cacao Butter is recommended for your body only as the recipe is oil-based and it could clog the pores on your face. Please consult with your esthetician to ensure that your skincare routine supports the Cacao Mask's functions and can be in conjunction with your other products.

Thank you for reading about the collection that breathed life into Selfish Cultivation! I would love to hear about your experiences with our products. Fill out the product review form and receive an email with a coupon code for 15% off your next order. If you would like your review to remain anonymous, put N/A in the name and email address fields. Please be aware that you will not be able to receive a coupon code if I do not have your email address.