After 12 weeks, people who consumed cacao powder saw measurable improvements in skin hydration and fewer wrinkles. Lab tests showed cacao's antioxidants boosted hyaluronic acid production (which plumps skin) and ramped up collagen while blocking an enzyme that creates wrinkles.
Researchers tested cacao powder both in lab dishes using human skin cells exposed to UV damage and hydrogen peroxide, then ran a 12-week trial on people with aging skin to confirm the results.
Funding not disclosed in abstract