Wonder Ingredient for Skin: Chocolate

In preparation for Halloween, I thought it might be fun to take a look at my favorite treat and its benefits for our skin.

Rich, bitter, and sometimes sweet. Chocolate is a worldwide favorite decadence. Seen as sacred by ancient civilizations in the Americas, it was a part of many a ritual to consume, to scent dwellings with, and even use on the skin. Read on to find out some of the major skin benefits of this delicious ingredient.

Rich in Vitamins: Whether eaten or applied to the skin for absorption, chocolate has host of beauty-giving vitamins and nutrients. B1 helps to create a strong skin barrier, Vitamin E is moisture rich, zinc assists in skin clarity and healing and Vitamins C and D provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects respectively while both vitamins aid in fading dark spots and discoloration.

Plumping Up the Surface: Raw chocolate (cacao) is known to add immense moisture to the skin and help the skin retain collagen and maintain flexibility. Cocoa butter is a thick, dense substance particularly good for body moisturizers, and creams that help to fight stretch marks for this reason. But even making a mask with fresh cocoa powder and raw honey can be a very yummy pack of hydration (as well as an antioxidant boost) for the skin, while the honey will also provide additional healing and antibacterial benefit,

Sun-Soothing: Amazingly enough, chocolate has been shown to have naturally sun protective and sun damage healing properties topically speaking. While it isn't a complete substitute for sunblock, it has been shown to reduce the effects and some of the aftereffects of UV damage. Additionally, it also has a cooling effect on the skin and is also good for taming painful sensitive skin conditions such as sunburns or even more chronic conditions like eczema and dermatitis.

Though tasty to eat, chocolate truly is a wonder of nature for our skin and bodies. Enjoy it! Slather your skin in it. it is all to be enjoyed to full.