Cocoa and Skin Health: What the Science Says—and How Morning Being Fits In

Chocolate consumption is often associated with acne, but recent studies suggest that when consumed in its purest, most nutrient-dense form, it can support skin health from the inside out. From improving hydration and reducing wrinkles to protecting against sun damage, cocoa may be a natural ally in maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion.

Let’s explore the research—and how Morning Being fits into this story.

Cocoa: A Skin-Boosting Superfood?

Cocoa, derived from the Theobroma cacao tree, is packed with flavanols, polyphenols, and other antioxidants. These natural compounds help protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays, aging, and environmental stressors. But unlike topical creams, consuming cocoa works from the inside out.

🔬 What the Research Says

1. Photoprotection from UV Damage

High-flavanol cocoa may help the skin resist damage from sunlight.

• In a 12-week clinical trial, women who consumed 326 mg/day of cocoa flavanols showed a 15% reduction in UV-induced redness (erythema) after 6 weeks and 25% after 12 weeks—compared to those who took low-flavanol cocoa (27 mg/day) [1].
  

• Another study found that high-flavanol cocoa increased dermal blood flow and oxygen saturation, improving the skin’s resilience to UV radiation [2].
  

• These effects are measurable by an increase in MED (minimal erythema dose)—the amount of UVB needed to redden the skin [15].
  
  

How it works: Cocoa flavanols act as antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals caused by UV rays and improving blood flow, which helps nourish and protect skin tissue.

2. Improved Skin Hydration

Cocoa appears to increase the skin’s ability to retain moisture.

• A 2024 study showed that consuming 4g of cacao powder daily for 12 weeks led to a 4.48% increase in facial moisture, compared to just 2.99% in the placebo group [3].
  

• Cocoa also promoted hyaluronic acid production in skin cells, a molecule essential for keeping skin plump and hydrated [3].
  
  

How it works: Cocoa stimulates hyaluronic acid and enhances antioxidant enzymes that support skin moisture and repair.

3. Reduction of Wrinkles and Better Elasticity

Long-term cocoa ingestion may reduce visible signs of aging.

• A 24-week double-blind study found that women supplementing with 320 mg/day of cocoa flavanols experienced a significant reduction in wrinkles and an improvement in skin elasticity [4].
  

• In the same study, the average wrinkle depth (measured by skin roughness Rz) decreased by 8.7 percentage points.
  

• Another 2024 study confirmed a reduction in periorbital (around the eyes) wrinkles with cacao powder [3].
  

• Supporting evidence from animal models shows cocoa extract reduces UVB-induced wrinkles as well [5].
  
  

How it works: Cocoa may block MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks down collagen, while promoting collagen production, crucial for skin firmness [8].

4. Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Support

Cocoa’s most well-documented role is in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation—both major contributors to aging and skin damage.

• Polyphenols in cocoa neutralize ROS (reactive oxygen species), which damage skin cells [6].
  

• Cocoa can also down-regulate NF-κB, a molecule that turns on genes involved in inflammation [6,22].
  
  

5. Potential Support for the Skin Barrier

Although not as well studied, cocoa may indirectly help preserve the skin’s protective barrier by improving hydration and reducing inflammation.

• The 2024 study noted a trend toward lower transepidermal water loss (TEWL), suggesting stronger barrier integrity [3].
  

• Another review on oral antioxidants supports this link between systemic hydration and barrier health [17].
  
  

📊 Summary of Key Findings

🍫 But Not All Cocoa Is Created Equal

To get these skin benefits, quality matters:

• High-flavanol cocoa (like raw cacao or dark chocolate ≥70%) is best.

• Commercial chocolate may be heavily processed and stripped of flavanols—and often loaded with sugar and fat [18].

• Most chocolate/cocoa products contain heavy metals like cadmium and mercury, so look for products that are third-party tested.
  
  

🥄 Morning Being: Cocoa for Skin, Mind, and Metabolism

This is where Morning Being comes in.

It’s a science-backed, morning brew formulated to support your energy, metabolism, and long-term health—but many of its ingredients also nourish your skin from the inside out.

✅ What’s Inside?

• Cocoa extract—concentrated cocoa blend rich in polyphenols, flavonols and theobromine.

• Epicatechin—a potent flavanol linked to circulation and antioxidant activity

• Moringa—rich in skin-supportive polyphenols, vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory compounds

• Electrolytes—essential for whole body hydration.
  
  

💡 Why It Works for Skin

• Photoprotection: Cocoa flavanols help protect your skin from UV damage [1, 2, 15].

• Hydration and Wrinkles: Morning Being contains cocoa in a dose shown to increase skin moisture and reduce wrinkles [3, 4].

• Collagen Support: By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, it helps maintain skin structure over time [5, 6, 22].
  
  

🌞 A Skincare Routine You Can Drink

Morning Being isn’t a beauty product. But it might be one of the best ways to support your skin from within—without needing 12-step routines or harsh topicals.

It’s a delicious, daily ritual that:

• Gives you clean energy

• Supports focus and mood

• Helps your skin stay youthful, hydrated, protected from UV, and resilient over time
  
  

Final Thoughts

Cocoa is more than a treat—it’s a plant with serious science behind it. When consumed regularly in the right form, cocoa can support skin health by:

• Protecting against UV damage

• Improving hydration and elasticity

• Reducing wrinkles

• Supporting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways
  
  

Morning Being brings these benefits together in one easy, chocolatey morning drink—no sugar, no caffeine crash, just real results backed by research.

References 

1. Scapagnini G, et al. Nutrients. 2014;6(8):3202–3213.
   

2. Heinrich U, et al. J Nutr. 2006;136(6):1565–1569.
   

3. Lee SG, et al. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024;46(11):12574–12587.

4. Yoon HS, et al. J Nutr. 2016;146(1):46–50.
   

5. Kim JE, et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2016;136(5):1012–1021.
   

6. Scapagnini G, et al. Nutrients. 2014;6(8):3202–3213.
   

7. Mogollon JA, et al. Nutr J. 2014;13:66.

8. Edwards N, et al. PMC. 2018;Article ID 6213755.
   

9. Medical News Today. 2023. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/benefits-of-cocoa-powder

10. Tan TYC, et al. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):2909.