Talk about sychronicity. Decided to put my Chocolate Mermaid Soap in my Etsy shop and the next day my January issue of The Herb Companion came with a whole chapter on chocolate products, called: "Chocolate: Eat, Wear and Rub In" by Janice Cox.
The article says that chocolate is good for your skin because it has antioxidants and contains compounds with smooth the skin and decrease its sensitivity to the sun.
The antioxidants prevent free radical damage to your skin and protects its natural elasticity.
Dark chocolate is more effective than milk chocolate. To be considered 'dark' it must contain 35% cocoa.
The scent of chocolate releases serotonin, the hormone which promotes happy feelings and reduces stress. And by using chocolate on the outside, you can get those happy feelings without the calories!
To read more about it, get The Herb Companion, January, 2009.
There are several recipes accompanying the article that can easily be made at home. Here are two of them:
Chocolate Lip Balm
Makes 1/2 ounce
1 1/2 teaspoons grated cocoa butter
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon grated dark or milk chocolate
1-2 drops essential oil* (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl or double boiler on the stovetop and gently melt until you have a smooth liquid.
Pour into a small jar or lipbalm tube and allow to cool completely.
* You can add peppermint, orange or other essential oil for unique gourmet lip balms.
Chocolate Massage Butter
Makes 4 ounces
1/4 cup grated cocoa butter
1 Tablespoon grated dark chocolate
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
1 Tablespoon grated beeswax
Place all ingredients in a microwave-safe container or on the stovetop in a double boiler. Melt gently stirring often. Pour the hot liquid into a clean container. For small individual bars pour into an ice cube tray or other mold and let cool completely. Massage into clean skin.
Oooooh... just typing this I can smell the chocolate and feel myself relaxing. Make some to give as gifts. Or get my Chocolate Mermaid Soap and relax in the tub!
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1 comment:
We have a new chocolate shop in our town, L' Chocolate de Bouchard, the owner swears by the healing powers of chocolate and travels to globe bringing in different chocolates. Everything in the shop and on the menu is chocolate related - drinks, meals, desserts. She says 1 - 2oz of chocolate a day can cure a lot of ailments - she does workshops and has been written up nummerous times.
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