Cooking Lesson #92 Homemade Chocolate Beauty Products

Choclatique Chocolate Stack

How you doin’? If you don’t already know, Joan and I sold our chocolate company, Choclatique, last year. In our chocolate lab our team spent hours and hours researching new ways to use chocolate over the last 15-years.
 
Chocolate has over 300 constituent elements that have positive therapeutic benefits. The Mayans used chocolate for medicinal and ceremonial reasons for over 2,500-years. Now you may enjoy the benefits of the ancients in the comfort of your own home.  The best yet… many of the following health and beauty aids can be made in your kitchen for just pennies.

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                                                          WARNING:
   Some people have skin sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients when
            applied directly to the skin, i.e. chocolate, coconut butter or honey.
                               If you do—do not use these formulations!
 
                                        Chocolate Peppermint Lip Gloss
If you love the flavor of both chocolate and peppermint this balm can be on the tips of your lips all day long. You will need to purchase 50 clear, 5.5 ml lip balm tubes with white caps from Amazon for about $10. We’ll leave up to you to create a glitzy brand and label. Feel free to double or triple-up on the formulation so you always have enough on hand.
 
Prep time:  5 minutes
Heat time:  1 minute
Yield:  6 small tubes
 
Ingredients
1 tablespoon natural coconut oil
2 tablespoons natural shea butter
1 tablespoon grated beeswax
5 dark chocolate chips
4-6 drops peppermint essential oil
 
Directions

1. Place the coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax in a microwave safe bowl and melt on high for 30 seconds; stir gently and microwave for another 30 seconds.  The ingredients will have melted and look like the consistency of cooking oil.
2. Mix in the chocolate chips; the heat should melt them without having to microwave it again.
3. Mix in the Peppermint Essential Oil.
4. Pour the mixture into the Lip Gloss Containers and let it harden before using, this took about 5 minutes.  

                                                      Homemade Chocolate Facial
Are you searching for a natural chocolate facial that smells great, will not break the bank and will not only enhance your complexion but also ensure that your skin is healthy and glowing in for the long term?
 
Prep time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 facial
 
Ingredients
1 tablespoon natural coconut oil
2 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
 
Instructions

1. Using a small microwave safe bowl, soften the coconut oil in microwave for about 5-6 seconds.
2. Add cocoa powder and stir until well combined. Continue stirring until creamy.  Let cool.
3. Apply to face with brush or fingers.
4. Let the mixture sit on your face for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off with warm wet cloth.

 
ChefSecret:  This formulation can be increased and stored in an airtight jar at room temperature in a medicine cabinet. If you are going to store it, just remove a tablespoon or two and heat for just a few seconds in the microwave to soften. If you heat it too long and it's too runny, just let it cool until it thickens enough to cream onto your face without running. The face mask can be expected to stay fresh at room temperature between 3-6 months.
 
                                 Deep-Conditioning Cocoa Hair Mask
Here an old-fashioned Mediterranean beauty aid that goes back about 100 years. Always test a small patch of hair to make sure this DYI conditioner agrees with your particular hair and skin.
 
Ingredients
1/4 cup natural cocoa powder
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons raw honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
 
Directions
Special Note:  Cocoa powder and this hair mask is messy—wear an old t-shirt and make sure that you cover the floor with plastic.

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well until it forms a nice, smooth paste. If this is too thick add more Greek yogurt.
2. Apply to clean hair. Evenly distribute through hair from roots to ends. Apply a plastic cap or deep conditioning cap; let it sit in the hair for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse hair well with cool water. Make sure the water is not “cold” but make sure it is between warm and cold, which is cool. Style hair as desired.

 
            WARNING:  Some people have skin sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients when
                                applied directly to the skin, i.e. chocolate, coconut butter or honey.
                                                     If you do—do not use these formulations!
 
Covid-19 Quip of the Day:  How long is the social distancing supposed to last? My spouse keeps trying to get into the house.
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                                              ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, Inc. 2020

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