Cocoa & butter spread (Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula)

Member Name: doncasteryb

Product:	Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula
Date:	12/07/09 (225 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fragrant free option, works exceptionally well over time

Disadvantages: Can be quite expensive, but get to Sainsburys for a bargain

This unique combination of cocoa butter with vitamin E has proven to be an excellent all over moisturiser with hidden talents. I originally used the product a few years ago on the advice of a friend that it was renowned for reducing the appearance of scars. As I am prone to mild acne and have some markings which I am paranoid about, I gave it a try. I used it quite frequently at the time, but totally forgot about it until yesterday. Doing some grocery shopping, I noticed this product and saw that it was fragrant free - the one i used to get had a distinctive aroma (sweet and like chocolate, which isn't a bad fragrance, but I thought i'd give this fragrant free formula a chance). It still has the same creamy coloured appearance and the texture is just dreamy - it glides out of the bottle into my hand.

Palmers are well known for their shea butter and cocoa products - I have browsed their website and seen the extensive range they have from body care, to face and lip care. The only products I have seen on the high street are this fragrant free formula and the original but I'm sure you could order any other of their products from abroad or from more beauty based shops.

The essential ingredient of Vitamin E, due to its antioxidant quality protects the skin from harmful elements such as pollution. It's water soluble - meaning that using this in excess poses no danger (I have been tempted to bathe in the fragrant one, but have refrained, lol).

The other extensive ingredients are: Water, theobroma cacao (cocoa) extract, mineral oil, glyceryl stearate, propylene, glycol, cocoa nucifera (coconut) oil, behentrimonium methosulfate, cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, elaeis guineensis (palm) oil, petrolatum, dimethicone, hydroxyethylcellulose, theobroma cacao, seed butter, tocopheryl acetate, rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, chamomilla, recutita flower extract, microcrystalline wax, PEG-8 stearate, methylparaben, propylparaben, yellow 5, orange 4. (For those of you who are interested in the finer details, my main goal was to find a product that worked)

This formula comes in a 250ml bottle with the Palmers logo engraved on both the front and the back. The design itself is not very distinctive as some brands such as Nivea can be, but it is low key and I like it that way. I bought mine from Tesco for a decent £2.73. Having just checked, I have found that Sainsbury's are selling this product for £1.73, valid until 04/08/2009 - I guess I better get my skates on and get it from there!

It can work wonders on stretch marks and generally has a toning effect on the skin. Apparently excellent for use after tanning, which has never been a reason for use for me. I mainly use it on my face as a general moisturiser and find that it gets absorbed pretty quickly, leaving me able to apply some foundation, and get going.

In terms of long term effects, I recall when I used it extensively, it did make my scars appear lighter and blend in to the general colour and contours of my skin. This was after months of continous use - once or twice daily. Why did I stop using it, you may ask......to be honest, I think I moved over to Bio-oil, which produced similar results but I found to be quite expensive, so I returned to my natural home of Palmers.

One possible disadvantage which you may find with any cream is that it can become congealed in the area between the lid and the bottle, which can make it awkward to get it out. I find that a bit of perseverance sorts this out - not a reason to not invest.

Having been in production for the past 160 years, the American based E.T. Browne Drug Company appears to have a niche with this type of product. The only alternative products I have been able to find with a similar cocoa ingredient are from the USA, from lesser known companies. For me personally, there is no other product, and I will continue using this from this day forth!

Summary: Softens, smoothes and relieves dry skin.