Wouldn’t it be great to hear that chocolate was actually good for you? Guess what? It is! Especially when it comes to skincare. Before you go devouring every piece of chocolate in your pantry, you should know the basic information about how this delicious treat actually helps your skin.
For the longest time it has been believed that chocolate was the cause of many skin problems, most notably acne. While this argument has lost some of its scientific backing, the fact is that chocolate may actually improve skin’s smoothness and fight wrinkles when used in another fashion. Most people are surprised by this information, due to the fact that chocolate is not seen as a health food thanks to all the modern manufacturing that goes into candy bars. Chocolate, however, is food of the earth and it has skincare benefits that people can take advantage of.
Chocolate’s main ingredient is the cocoa bean, which is packed with antioxidants like flavonoids, procyanidin and resveratol. antioxidants have powerful abilities to protect our bodies and promote good health. Studies have shown that antioxidants in food reduce the risks of many kinds of illnesses, like heart disease and cancer. While those are the more serious conditions it can treat, chocolate also has high levels of cell-protecting antioxidants that promote healthy skin; in fact, natural cocoa contains more antioxidant compounds than green tea, blueberries and red wine. So how do these antioxidants affect your skin?
The antioxidants in chocolate fight damaging free radicals from hurting our skin’s elastin, collagen and other essential proteins. Chocolate also contains a large amount of cocoa butter, an ingredient that is often used in topical moisturizers as an anti-inflammatory and skin softener. So now that Hershey bar is looking pretty good, but be warned that not all chocolate is created equal. White chocolate has no flavanoids at all, so it does not provide any antioxidants. Milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants. The best kind of chocolate to eat is dark, with at least 30% natural cocoa.
Many nutritionists and doctors believe that the high concentration of antioxidants in cocoa will benefit people the most through their diet, but it is possible to reap the powerful affects of chocolate externally.
Chocolate facials have become increasingly popular over the years as more and more people are jumping on the antioxidant bandwagon. Even celebrities like Madonna and Victoria Beckham are giving into the chocolate facial craze. Generally skincare spas will offer chocolate facials, but some dermatologist will use products that contain cocoa to treat certain skin ailments. A number of spas around the country are offering chocolate skincare treatments, including wraps, scrubs and facials. A bonus apart from the smooth, wrinkle-reduced results of chocolate facials is that some are edible, so you can lick up all the antioxidant goodness, gaining even more healthy nutrients.
There are a number of spas that offer these chocolate skincare treatments, so take a look at our network to find a spa or skincare clinic close to you. Specialists and dermatologists are available to provide information on how chocolate can improve your skin. To learn more about chocolate facials, or to set up a consultation with a skincare professional, contact us today.