Who doesn't love soft, glowy skin with fewer lines?  Luckily, there are some pretty amazing natural and exotic ingredients that have proven to be very beneficial to skin. Cupuaçu seed butter (Theobroma grandiflorum) can help you get there. Pronounced “coo-poo-wa-soo”, the name translates to “food for the gods” and is abundant in the Amazon region of Brazil. Cupuaçu has played an important role in the history of Amazon cultures. Valued for its it’s taste, medicinal and topical uses, it’s been used to help skin conditions, digestion, and other health issues.

Historically, the theobroma fruit has been harvested by native people collecting fallen fruit from the the ground during the tropical rainy season. The fruit itself looks like a cross between a papaya and a coconut, and each contains large seeds roughly the size of hazelnuts. The seeds are cold pressed to create a creamy, highly emollient, moisturizing butter that is deeply penetrating. Thanks to high phytosterol levels, it has a naturally high water absorption capacity for long lasting moisture retention, making it ideal for dry skin and hair. Cupuaçu seed butter is also rich in antioxidants, including flavanoids, vitamins C, A, and B, five types of essential fatty acids, amino acids and minerals such as calcium and selenium. Applied topically, it soothes dry skin, is non-irritating, quickly absorbed, promotes smooth skin, reduces wrinkles and increases elasticity.   

Cupuaçu seed butter is a foundational active ingredient in Me & The Girls Alternative Skincare line and is featured in all of their award winning products for its superior performance.

Bar Beleza, for example, is a multi-tasking stick product that performs as a light non-greasy day moisturizer, a nourishing non-foaming oil cleanser and perfect all-in-one facial primer and conditioner for an immediate glow. Their cupuaçu seed butter is sustainably sourced, EcoCert Certified and Certified Organic by the USDA.  According to founder Sharon Hackney, “My skin is flawless...without "La Mer." In addition to this pretty impressive roster of skin benefits, it’s also apparently delicious, with a buttery texture and chocolatey-vanilla aroma that some claim is even better than chocolate.

top image: sunshinecity

other images: Me and the Girls