Wax and Bubbles

1. Chocolate Overload Foot Scrub

2 tbs. cocoa butter, crated
2 tbs. almond oil
1 tbs. cocoa powder
1/2 cup sea salt
4 to 5 drops wintergreen essential oil

Gently heat the cocoa better and almond oil until completely melted. Do not allow to boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a bit. Add the sea salt and the essential oil and mix till completely combined. Massage into clean feet and allow to stay on the feet for a few moments. Rinse with luke warm water and finish with a bit of foot lotion infused with peppermint oil. Place cotton socks on your feet and relax for about 15 to 20 minutes.

2. Cocoa Infused Lip Balm

1 1/2 tsp. grated cocoa butter
1/2 tsp. coconut oil
1/2 tsp. grated chocolate
1 to 2 drops essential oil of peppermint
1/2 tsp. shea butter

Combine all ingredients in a microwave-sage bowl and heat in 5 minute intervals until the mixture is completely melted. Pour into a small jar or lip balm container and cool completely before using. Use this lip balm with the hint of peppermint and a hint of chocolate whenever your lips feel a bit dry or chapped. The taste is amazing.

3. Chocolate Cuticle Cream

1 tsp. cocoa butter, grated
2 tbs. coconut oil
2 tbs. olive oil
2 tbs, grated chocolate pieces
1 tsp. shea butter

Slowly heat the cocoa butter and oils in a small double boiler over medium high heat. Add the chocolate and allow to melt completely. When mixture is completely melted, do not allow to boil. Stir well and pour into a clean dish and allow to cool completely. Massage this mixture with chocolate infused smell into your cuticles after an at home manicure or pedicure.

I love chocolate! What’s even better than eating chocolate is putting chocolate on my body. I love experimenting with chocolate and coming up with a hundred ideas on how to use it. Here are a few ones to try for yourself.

1. Chocolate Coffee Facial Mask
Makes: 4 ounces

4 tbs. finely ground coffee
4 tbs. cocoa powder
4 tbs, green clay (you can find this at any health food store)
8 tbs. whole milk

Mix together all ingredients until you have a smooth paste. Spread the paste all over your face and neck, avoiding the eye and mouth area. Let sit for about 15 minutes and rinse well with luke warm water.

2. Cocoa Walnut Body Scrub
Makes: 8 ounces

1/2 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup walnut oil
1 tbs. finely chopped walnuts
1 tbs. cocoa powder
1 tbs. raw honey

Stir together all ingredients until well mixed thoroughly. Standing in the shower, massage into your damp skin, rinse well and pat your skin dry.

3. Chocolate Bath
Makes: 16 ounces

2 cups milk
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp. honey
2 tbs. liquid soap

Stir all ingredients together and pour into the running bath water as your bath fills. Relax in the mixture for about 20 minutes. Milk baths are one of times oldest tricks for keeping skin soft and supple.

4. Cocoa Body Lotion
Makes: 4 ounces

1/4 cup grated cocoa butter
1 tbs. grated dark chocolate
2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. sesame oil
1 tbs. grated beeswax
1 tbs. shea butter

Place all the ingredients in a microwave-safe container or on the stovetop in a double boiler. A double boiler maybe best so the ingredients don’t burn or cook too much. Melt the ingredients gentle and continue stirring the entire time while they melt.

Pour the ingredients into a container with a tight fitting lid. Allow to cool completely and use on dry areas of the body.

It has been proven time and time again that chocolate does seem to help soften the skin, due to the cocoa butter. The anti-oxidant properties in cocoa could prevent free radicals from damaging the skin’s elastin, collagen and other protein.

Cocoa’s anti-oxidant potential is comparable to green tea. Dark chocolate, in particular, has a very high anti-oxidant potential. Chocolate is considered dark if it has 35% percent cocoa.

Here are some great chocolate skin care products to make for your cocoa beauty routine:

• Chocolate Lip Balm:

6 tsp shea butter
6 tsp. bees wax pellets
4 tsp Cocoa Powder
Spoon
Pen
Paper
Microwave
Small Containers, glass ones work perfectly for this.
Glass Bowl
Sticker Maker or Glue

1. Place the shea butter and beeswax pellets in to a glass microwaveable-safe bowl.

2. Melt it down, this should take a few minutes, but take it out and stir it regularly. Make sure that the shea butter and beeswax pellets are melted completely.

3. Stir in the cocoa powder and return to the microwave for another 20 seconds.

4. Pour into the containers and let set up completely before using.

• Chocolate Soap:

12 oz (340gms) of vegetable glycerin soap base
8 0z (225gms)of cocoa butter
12 oz (340gms)of olive oil
4 oz (110gms)of cocoa
12 drops of tea tree essential oil

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt down the soap base, cocoa butter and olive oil together. Once it is in liquid form, add the cocoa and stir to combine. Once it’s combined add the tea tree oil. If it happens to harden before everything is incorporated, pop back in the microwave for a few seconds more. Pour immediately into soap molds and pop into the freezer. Once hardened completely and pop out of the molds.

• Chocolate Bath Salts:

2 tbs. Epsom salts
1 tbs. Sea salts
3 tbs. Baking soda
4 tbs. Cocoa powder
4 oz. jar with a tight-fitting lid

Combine everything into a bag and shake vigorously to combine completely. Place into the jar and use under running bath water.