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Chocolate spa treatments
Chocolate treatments and therapies appear on many spa-menus. Although we love the idea of slathering ourselves in heavenly-scented chocolate, it can't possibly be good for you… Can it?
Yes!
All that, plus antioxidants, too…
Can chocolate be good for our skin?
Chocolate head to toe… start with a facial
Body treatments and wraps
Chocolate manicures and pedicures
Need an excuse? Three reasons why eating chocolate is good for you (honest!)
1. There's a scientific reason why chocolate improves your mood. Chocolate is full of feel-good chemicals. These chemicals include phenylethylamine, the chemical that's released in your brain when you're in love, and serotonin, which delivers a natural high.
2. A humble bar of milk chocolate packs a healthy punch as it's full of vitamins and minerals. Milk chocolate contains vitamins B1, B2, and E, as well as minerals including potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese and, of course, calcium. All things you need to stay healthy.
3. If you prefer dark chocolate, you'll be glad to hear that a 45g bar of 70% dark chocolate contains 12% of your recommended daily allowance of iron. Around 11% of women will suffer from iron-deficiency at some point in their lives and women of child-bearing age are especially at risk from iron-deficiency -- so when you have chocolate cravings, that's probably just your body trying to correct an imbalance!
All that, plus antioxidants, too…
What, you may ask, is an antioxidant and what benefit can it be? Well, when the cells in our body use oxygen, they produce by-products, called free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage within our body, and health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Free radicals can contribute to all of these. Antioxidants can prevent or slow down the damage to our system by "mopping up" the free radicals.
The good news for chocolate fans is that cocoa beans contain antioxidants called flavonols. The antioxidant concentration in cocoa beans is twice that of red wine, two to three times that of green tea, and four to five times that of black tea. So, eating chocolate may help reduce blood pressure, improve blood vessel function and improve heart health.
Need to know: Flavonol levels are highest in dark chocolate, although they're also present in milk chocolate, too.
Can chocolate be good for our skin?
Yes!
Antioxidants can have a dramatic anti-ageing effect and fight against free-radical damage in your skin. Cocoa butter is moisturising and nourishing for your skin which is why chocolate now plays a part in the spa experience. You'll also benefit from that mood-lifting whoosh of chocolatey smell, too.
Chocolate head to toe… start with a facial
Karin Herzog's Co-C02 Facial/Ultimate chocolate Facial
Karin Herzog's popular anti-ageing facial combines the power of oxygen and Swiss chocolate. After your skin is cleansed, your therapist massages oil into your skin to get your lymph flowing. A heated chocolate cream face mask follows. This chocolate treat for your face is available at Sanook Spa at The Courthouse Doubletree by Hilton in London, Le Kalon Spa at The Bentley London, South Kensington, Alexandra House, Huddersfield, Aura Day Spa, Belfast, and Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall in Durham, where you can also end your Karin Herzog facial with a chocolate gift. Yum.
Chocolate and Rose Facial
Try an anti-ageing real chocolate facial at Inner Sanctuary Spa, Manchester. According to the spa: "Luxurious real chocolate sparks off your endorphins, softens your skin, plumps out wrinkles, tones the skin and brightens your day."
Body treatments and wraps
A wrap is a wrap, but a chocolate wrap is extra specially luxurious. The smell of chocolate is not too potent but is just enough to make you feel warm, snug and happy. Many of these treatments feature nurturing warmed chocolate.
Your chocolate body treatment and chocolate body wrap options include:
Champneys Chocolate Wrapper
This warm chocolate body wrap is available at all Champneys High Street Spas. The treatment begins with a full-body exfoliation, followed by the body wrap and a relaxing scalp massage while you bliss out in your chocolate-scented cocoon. Champneys High Street Spas are located in Brighton, Chichester, Tunbridge Wells, Bath, Enfield, Guildford, and St Albans.
Chocolate Body Wrap and Massage
Karin Herzog's mood-enhancing chocolate body-wrap is on offer at Alexandra House in Huddersfield. The treatment begins with a cleansing chocolate-and-milk wash, and ends with a layer of pure melted chocolate drizzled over your body, which is then wrapped in foil. We want one!
Chocolate manicures and pedicures
As a sweet-scented finishing touch, some spas offer chocolate manicures and pedicures. The chocolate mani at Savana Urban Spa in London "starts with a warm milk soak, followed by a hot vanilla and brown sugar scrub and finally a warm cocoa butter masque for super hydration. All served up with a cup of hot cocoa." Their choccie pedicure adds a "warm cocoa butter masque for super hydration".
Bliss London's Double Choc Pedicure promises to be "a chocolate fete for your feet". A hot chocolate-milk, skin-smoothing soak and sugar scrub accompany your pedicure while you sip on a creamy cup of cocoa.
Just in case you were wondering: Sustainable Spy adores Divine 70% Dark chocolate with raspberries, Sassy Spy never says no to Green and Black's Maya Gold and Sedate Spy loves Green and Black's white chocolate. Single Spy thinks they all make far too much fuss and you can't beat a good bar of Galaxy.
See also:
* Can I put some chocolate in my suitcase in case I get hungry?
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