Hot Chocolate is going beyond the mug and opening the spa door, making its way into spa treatments such as hot chocolate cream baths, full-body chocolate peels on a hot stone and chocolate face packs in a steam bath. But wait, there’s more; this sweet treat that’s know for its affects on mood, heart health and stimulation isn’t stopping at the spa door or marketplace shelves; chocolate is being formulating into skin care products. Every warmed up with a dark chocolate rub or a creamy chocolate face pack? Apparently chocolate got bored as a sweet indulgent at dessert time and made it ways into the personal care aisle, as its now showing in products from face creams and oils to shampoos.
The question is: Does chocolate really benefit skin? Sure there’s evidence to support its mood-enhancing affects and its ability to energize via its phenylethylamine, theobromine, anandamide, tryptophan and caffeine content; but what about its topical use? According to Hans Meffert, a dermatologist, chocolate’s affects may be solely psychological; however, as reported by The Hindu.com, Meffert said, “It’s been proven the cocoa butter in chocolate gently lubricates the skin and can thereby protect dry skin from moisture loss." Researchers at Germany’s Muenster University found a component of cocoa beans can heal wounds and stimulate skin cell growth.
Additionally, a 2009 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, found regular consumption of a chocolate rich in flavanols conferred significant photo protection and can function effectively at protecting human skin from harmful UV effects, noting conventional chocolate has no such effect (2009 Sep;8(3):169-73). The double-blind in vivo study randomly assigned 30 healthy subjects to either a high-flavanol (n=15) or a low-flavanol chocolate group (n=15) and consumed a 20-g/d portion of their allocated chocolate. The minimal erythema dose (MED) was assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks under standardized conditions. In the high-flavanol chocolate group, the mean MED more than doubled after 12 weeks of chocolate consumption, while in the low-flavanol chocolate group, the MED remained without significant change.
Marshmallow Toppings for Your Cup of Hot Cocoa
You can pair your creamy hot chocolate bath with a nutricosmetic collagen-based marshmallow or wash your hair with chocolate shampoo and finish with a marshmallow extract-based conditioner. Yummy!