DIY Chocolate Beauty Treatments
Overloaded on Easter eggs? Stop scoffing and spoil your skin with a few DIY chocolate beauty treatments. You can make these in minutes using everyday bits and bobs you'll find in your kitchen cupboard. No need to spend loads of cash on weird ingredients from the health shop! Light a few candles and do the home spa thing or get the girls round and stick a chick flick on. They're great for a home hen party, too.
Beauty benefits of chocolate
Dark chocolate (anything above 70% cocoa solids) is best, so don't rush out and buy up all the reduced bags of mini eggs, even if you do love a bargain!
So, exactly what is it about chocolate that makes it good for the skin?
You need the good stuff. Decent quality dark chocolate contains strong antioxidants that protect skin from harmful effects of free radicals, those nasty little agents that attack healthy skin cells.
It also contains essential minerals like iron, copper, magnesium and zinc, great for the immune system and cell repair.
As well as vitamins A and D, some dark chocolate also contains B12, which is only in a handful of foods. Vitamin B12 is vital for brain function and the nervous system, and can help to prevent conditions like anaemia and heart disease.
Brain, body, skin - it's happy days for dark chocoholics!
Chocolate face mask
Did you know that chocolate can help hydrate, tone and rejuvenate the skin? Lots of spas are now offering chocolate facials. This DIY chocolate face mask will leave your skin as soft as a baby's bum! Just what the hen doctor ordered to beat tired, sluggish winter skin.
- Melt 50g of chocolate
- Add a handful of oatmeal or 3 tablespoons of brown sugar to gently exfoliate the skin
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil or honey
Blend together, apply directly to the skin and leave to harden. Remove with a clean soft cloth and warm water.
Chocolate hair mask
Winter is bad medicine for hair. Cold weather and central heating leaves it mega dehydrated, and prone to breakage and falling. Cocoa contains magnesium, which is brilliant for fighting hair loss. Ideal if you've got dry, thin or lifeless hair. This is one of my favourite DIY chocolate beauty treatments, as it makes your hair smell amazing!
- 50g of dark chocolate, melted (or 2 tablespoons of cocoa with a little milk)
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or natural honey
- 1 medium size banana
Mash the banana and then add the remaining ingredients and stir until it forms a sticky paste. Apply to the middle and ends of the hair, wrap in a towel and leave for at least 30 minutes. Rinse it off with tepid (not hot!) water.
Chocolate mint foot scrub
Summer is round the corner, and if you're planning a hen weekend at a big beach destination like Albufeira
, you'll want to show off your tootsies in flip flops or open-toe sandals.
- 8 tablespoons of white sugar
- 4 tablespoons of brown sugar or sea salt for particularly rough skin
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa or 50g of organic dark chocolate, melted
- 4 tablespoons of coconut, olive or almond oil
- 5 drops of peppermint oil
- 2 drops of vitamin E oil
Mix all the ingredients, put the sticky paste on with your fingers, pop on a pair of cotton socks, and leave it for 5 minutes. Remove with lukewarm water and have lovely moisturised feet!
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