Health Topics
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Healthy Living
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September 2011
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| Chocolate Face Packs |
| Shahnaz Husain |
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Using chocolate in skin treatments has caught on in a big way. You may wonder if this is just a gimmick, or a fad. Does chocolate actually benefit the skin? In the high-end spas and salons, chocolate facials are premium treatments. |
Research has shown that the cocoa content in dark chocolate does benefit the skin. It is said to be high in antioxidants, thus helping to delay the formation of ageing signs. It also helps to nourish the skin and make it soft and smooth. Chocolate is also said to induce relaxation, which is an advantage in skin treatments.
We have formulated a Chocolate range, which can be used in facials. It comprises of a scrub, a cream and a mask. The scrub for exfoliation contains coffee beans along with cocoa powder. These products also contain plant ingredients and oils, like walnut, aloe vera, almond oil, grapefruit, rose, etc.
The facial softens the skin, calms the senses and imparts a glow. The anti-oxidant properties of chocolate also help to rejuvenate the skin and preserve its youthful properties. To derive the benefits of chocolate skin care, chocolate face packs can be made at home, using chocolate or cocoa powder along with some kitchen ingredients. Plain chocolate can be powdered and used in the pack.
The Shahnaz Husain Chocolate facemask contains cocoa powder, cocoa butter and vegetable oils.It is geared to nourish and moisturize the skin. It also helps to produce an even colour tone. Like all chocolate products it also helps to induce relaxation.
Here are a few chocolate masks that you can mix at home:
Mix together three teaspoons cocoa powder and 2 teaspoons oats with egg white and one teaspoon each honey and curd. Adjust the ingredients, so that it is a thick paste, which does not drip. If it is too thin, add more cocoa powder. To make it thinner, add more curd or milk. For dry skin, add egg yolk, instead of egg white. First cleanse the skin and then apply the mask, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes with plain water.
For an oily skin, mix cocoa powder or chocolate with Fuller’s Earth or multani mitti, egg white and rose water. Apply on the face and wash it off when it is dry. In fact, fruit pulp can also be added to this pack. Ripe papaya would be ideal. It contains enzymes and helps to loosen dead cells and help their removal.It also helps to remove tan. Mashed banana can also be added to the pack, as it helps to tighten the skin.
You can also make a chocolate scrub at home. Mix cocoa powder with coffee powder, ground almond or walnut powder and curd. In fact, you can have a luxury treatment at home, using chocolate formulations. After cleansing, apply your homemade scrub. Leave it on for a few minutes.Then, moisten with water and rub gently on the skin with small circular movements. Wash off with water. Exfoliation with scrubs helps to remove dead skin cells and brighten the skin.
A chocolate nourishing cream can be used to massage the face with a little cold water, using outward and slightly upward movements. Massage with creams suits normal to dry skin. Wipe off with moist cotton wool.
After the massage, give the skin cold compress with chilled rose water and cotton wool pads. Then apply your Chocolate face pack, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. After 20 to 30 minutes, moisten with milk and then wash off with water. |
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Shahnaz Husain is a prominent Indian woman entrepreneur best known for her herbal cosmetics |
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