Solid lotion bars are cocoa butter’s structural specialty. The sharp melting curve (34–38°C) means the bar holds shape in the hand and melts cleanly on skin contact. This is the format where cocoa butter’s harder structural profile becomes a feature, not a constraint.
Why this ingredient for this application
Cocoa butter delivers two things shea butter cannot: structural integrity at ambient temperatures up to ~28°C, and a sharp melt point that makes the bar feel “professional” on skin (no greasy lag). Combined with shea and beeswax, cocoa butter is the spine of any room-stable solid skincare format.
Spec & inclusion
Inclusion: 30–45% cocoa butter as the structural fat. Pair with 25–40% raw shea butter (spread + skin-feel), 15–25% beeswax (structure + melting curve), 5–15% carrier oil. Optional 0.5–1% essential oil. Pour into silicone moulds at 60–65°C, allow to cool 4–6 hours at room temperature before demoulding.
Formulation notes
Cocoa butter has a comedogenic rating of ~4 (medium-high). For face-targeted bars (“facial cleansing bars,” “facial moisture bars”) consider whether your target customer is acne-prone; if yes, reduce cocoa butter to 15–20% and use kokum butter or mango butter for structural reinforcement instead. Body bars: cocoa butter is fine and indeed preferred.
Sourcing & documentation
Every shipment includes a per-batch Certificate of Analysis with the appropriate grade panel, a phytosanitary certificate issued in Cotonou, and named cooperative attribution. Food grade and cosmetic grade availability varies by ingredient — see grade differences.