Turn leftover Easter eggs into DIY beauty treatments
Chocolate face mask
Dark chocolate is loaded with skin-boosting antioxidants. For best results, choose an organic chocolate with a 70% or higher cocoa solids content, says Janey Lee Grace. “The whole experience of pampering yourself after a busy Easter is just as important as the ingredients in the mask.” 50g of chocolate (dark, organic and minimum 70% cocoa solids ideally) – the equivalent of half a small Easter egg 1 tbsp honey 1 tbsp full-fat natural yoghurt 3 tbsp fine oatmeal
Melt the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of hot water. Once melted, stir in the other ingredients. Then apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eyes and mouth. Relax and leave the mask to do its work for 20 minutes before removing with a flannel and warm water.
YOU’VE probably eaten more than your fill of Easter chocolate by now. But if you’ve still a pile of eggs left, there’s a novel way to use it up that won’t affect your waistline.
Social media has been taken by storm with easy and effective DIY beauty treatments made from leftover chocolate.
“By weight, cocoa contains more wrinkle-busting antioxidants than green tea or blueberries,” says US anti-ageing skin care expert Dr Nicholas Perricone.
“Flavonoids and polyphenols – powerful chemicals found in dark chocolate – help nourish and protect skin from
environmental stresses and ageing.” Janey Lee Grace, author of Look Great Naturally… Without Ditching The
Lipstick, agrees: “Chocolate contains more than 300 skin-healing compounds including iron, zinc, copper and magnesium. Applied on the skin, it nourishes and calms the complexion.
“The antioxidants in chocolate will also help protect skin from UV damage and boost blood flow.” Here are the recipes that will keep you glowing:
Chocolate and honey hair mask
This delicious-smelling conditioning mask is perfect for treating dry, damaged hair. 20g dark chocolate egg Small pot of full-fat natural yoghurt 1½ tbsp honey
Melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave (in 10-second intervals, stirring and checking as you go to be sure not to overheat the chocolate).
Stir the melted chocolate into the yoghurt and honey, then, while still warm, apply the mixture to the ends of your hair, not the scalp.
Wrap your hair in cling film and leave the mask to do its work for 20 minutes to an hour.
Scrape the excess mask off your hair with your hands, then rinse with warm water before shampooing and conditioning.
White Chocolate Body butter
White chocolate does not qualify as ‘proper’ chocolate because it doesn’t contain any cocoa solids. It’s mostly cocoa butter with milk solids, lecithin, sugar and added vanilla flavour – which makes it ideal for skin-moisturising products. A gentle moisturiser for hands or body, a little of this soft, oily body butter goes a long way. 15g coconut oil 15g shea butter 15g white chocolate, grated 1 tsp almond or olive oil 10 drops of essential oil (optional)
Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Add the chocolate, allow to melt, and then add the oil and mix everything together. Add the essential oil if you want to – rose goes well. Allow to chill in the fridge. Store in a sealed container in a cool spot. Use within a month.