Chocolate. Even seeing that word makes your mouth water. There are so many positive claims related to chocolate. It's good for your health, and it lifts your mood. It also makes your skin glow.
Flavonoids found in cocoa have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and according to German scientists, these friendly flavonoids can also help protect the skin from UV rays. In addition, cocoa butter in chocolate, when applied to the skin, helps hydration, smoothens out wrinkles and reduces stretch marks and scars.
Cocoa butter also penetrates better into the skin, as it is easily absorbed. The high vitamin E content makes it an amazing way to repair and renew skin.
So that means chocolate is good to eat, good to use on the skin, and what's more, it is good to smell. Researchers have found that visual motor speed increased in those breathing in the chocolate scent, meaning they could process visual information more quickly, and consequently complete office tasks faster. In the research, those inhaling air scented with chocolate demonstrated better control of their impulses, made fewer mistakes, had fewer accidents and exhibited less annoying behaviour.
You might have heard that chocolate causes acne, but there is no scientific data to support that claim. However, many chocolate products are loaded with refined sugar, and that can be bad for the skin and your health in general. Dark chocolate is a healthier option.
If you are feeling a little low and your skin is dehydrated, try a DIY chocolate facial mask. Mix dark cocoa powder (not the ready mix that contains sugar), honey, milk and oatmeal to create the right consistency (as in the thickness that is not too gooey or drips off your face) and leave it on the skin for 15 minutes. If you do not have cocoa powder, melt a bar of dark chocolate instead. The delicious smell will perk you up, and the nutrients will leave your skin feeling soft and moisturised.
Chocomania Deluxe Edition Body Scrub from The Body Shop is a decadently fragranced exfoliating scrub that leaves skin feeling velvety soft and smooth.
Lose yourself in pure richness from Hershey’s Cocoa Bath Set, available at hersheysstore.com.
Butter up your thirsty skin with Burt’s Bees Rich and Repairing Cocoa Butter & Macadamia Nut Body Butter.
Boots cocoa butter Body Butter intensively moisturises and hydrates.
What’s your chances?
Chance is unpredictable, and appears where you least expect it. This element of surprise has been interpreted in Chanel's three new fragrances - Chance, Chance eau Fraiche and Chance eau Tendre. Chance is a floral fragrance with a constellation of different notes, and any note can unexpectedly appear in an olfactory whirlwind. Chance eau Fraiche is filled with energy that asserts vibrancy. Chance eau Tendre is fruity and floral and exhibits tenderness.
Filling the void
Fight lines and wrinkles with Murad's Time Release Retinol Concentrate for Deep Wrinkles, a new innovation that has been designed to eliminate signs of ageing by instantly filling the lines and stimulating collagen production. It is clinically proven to help fade deep wrinkles by 45% within six weeks. The anti-bacterial applicator tip helps keep it clean throughout use.
