skincare from the vine™

Benefits of Chocolate For Your Skin

Indulging in a chocolate facial mask is a luxurious experience that can feed your senses and your skin at the same time!

If we ever needed any reason to indulge in chocolate, the news is out that eating dark chocolate with a high flavanol content reduces the risk of certain cancers, is good for your cardiovascular system and can increase blood flow to the brain. 

It also contains ingredients that are beneficial to your skin, so you can indulge in this little luxury inside and out.

Studies have shown that cocoa flavanols taken internally at 326 milligrams per day reduce UV sensitivity and increase skin density, texture and hydration. Good enough for me!

 

What can chocolate do for your skin when applied topically?

 

Cocoa health benefits for skin: 

 

  • High antioxidant content

The level of antioxidant compounds in cocoa is higher than that of green tea, black tea or red wine, according to a study conducted by the Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University.

High antioxidant chocolate facial benefits include cell repair and cell damage prevention. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells. 

 

  • Increased blood flow

Consumption of high-flavanol cocoa can help improve the appearance of skin by improving the function of blood vessels, increasing blood flow, increasing hydration, decreasing skin roughness, and helping to increase defense against UV damage.

See: Medical News Today

Topically, this increased hydration calms and soothes skin, infusing it with:

 

  • Vitamin Content

Dark chocolate contains Vitamins A, B12, B-complex, D and E, great for absorption of calcium, tissue growth, and releasing energy.

 

  • Mineral Content

Chocolate contains copper, iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc for the promotion of cell growth, the repair of tissue and the absorption of nutrients. Cocoa is also a rich source of sulfur, also known as the beauty mineral, necessary for healthy skin.

The benefits of the cocoa bean vary by the processing methods, with dark chocolate having the highest amount of antioxidants. Cocoa powder health benefits are not quite as high, but contains more of the "good stuff" than milk chocolate. Either dark chocolate or cocoa powder can be used for a chocolate facial mask, but cocoa is easier to mix!

 

For more infor mation about how diet can help OR harm your beauty, 

Read: The Beauty Diet: Looking Great Has Never Been So Delicious

 

 

 Mix up a decadent cocoa beauty treatment at home!

 

Cocoa Beauty Treatment Mask:

 

This mask contains calcium, honey and added vitamin E for a rich skin cocktail of benefits and nutrients.

  • 1/4 C cocoa powder
  • 1 T honey
  • 1 T plain yogurt
  • 1 pierced and drained vitamin E capsule

 

Blend and apply to your face for 10-20 minutes. Breathe deeply! 

 

 

Reference: Natural Remedies for Skincare