Chocolate Face Mask

Chocolate Face Mask

The first thought that came to mind when I heard about the chocolate face mask had everything to do with images of acne popping up all over my face.  I mean, we have been thoroughly led to believe that chocolate (oh, that delicious stuff of my dreams) equates acne.  Some of us experienced chocoholics have even been through, what we believe, was a chocolate induced acne attack on our faces.

You can now get rid of those horrid images of acne and take solace in the fact that certain kinds of chocolate are actually good for you.  Chocolates high in flavonoids (not to be confused with flavonols) are good for your body because of their antioxidant properties.

The chocolate antioxidant properties applies to chocolate consumed orally and chocolate applied topically to your skin, which is what this post is about: a sun-protecting chocolate face mask for normal skin.  Cocoa powder high in flavonoids helps protect your skin against UV/sun damage much in the same way as tomatoes do.  Also, the rolled oats in this chocolate face mask recipe exfoliates your skin.

Read on for the recipe, after the jump.



Ingredients:

*1/2 cup of cocoa powder high in antioxidant flavanoids (I use Hershey's Baking Cocoa Natural Unsweetened, 8oz Can)
3 tbsp of heavy cream
3 tsp rolled oats

*Make sure your cocoa powder has not been Dutch processed because the process gets rid of most of the antioxidants.

Directions:

Grind/blend the rolled oats so that it is a fine powder.  Mix the cocoa powder, fine rolled oats, and heavy cream together in a bowl until it is a paste that you can use on your face.  Apply the chocolate face mask to your face using your fingers and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

Rinse off and pat dry.  Tone and moisturize as usual.

Enjoy!
--
Don't Miss Other Home Remedies:

• Tomatoes and Rolled Oats Face Mask for Brighter Skin
• Coconut Oil & Oatmeal Face Mask for Acne
• Rolled Oats & Banana Face Mask 
• Apple & Honey Face Mask for Clear Skin

Strawberries & Cream Face Mask

Strawberries & Cream Face Mask

Not only are strawberries delicious, they are really good for your skin!  These bright red, berries are full of juicy goodness.  Strawberries are especially rich in Vitamin C and ellagic acid.  Ellagic acid is an antioxidant that when used topically can help protect your skin from damaging UV rays from the sun.  UV rays are one of the main causes of aging!  They cause premature wrinkles which makes your skin age before it should.

The heavy cream used in the strawberries and cream face mask is used to bring all the ingredients together cohesively.  It also helps give your skin clarity and smoothness because it acts like a cleanser.  The lemon juice in this face mask works as an astringent to help reduce the size of your pores and clear them of any dirt and bacteria.

The strawberries and cream face mask that will help protect your skin from damaging UV rays while refreshing ad cleansing your skin.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of fresh strawberries

1/4 cup of heavy cream (enough to make a paste)

few drops of lemon juice

Directions:

Pulp up the strawberries (use a fork or blender). Mix in the heavy cream and add a few drops of lemon juice.  Reduce the amount of heavy cream if it is too runny to apply to your face (or add more strawberries).

Using your fingertips, apply this mask to your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse off the mask thoroughly with water and pat your face dry.  Tone and moisturize as usual.  (Remember to always tone or your pores can get clogged causing acne).

Enjoy!

--

Don't Miss Other Home Remedies:

• Moisturizing Avocado Face Mask
• Peach Face Tightening Mask
• Rolled Oats & Banana Face Mask