This Valentine's Day it's time to start loving your skin. What better way than with a feel-good dark chocolate mask and pick-me-up coffee scrub?
Skeptics can rest assured that these do-it-yourself natural beauty treatments will not cause break outs, says Lori Schmidt, esthetician at The Oaks at Ojai, an award-winning spa destination in Ojai, California, and creator of the following recipes.
"Chocolate does not make your skin break out as we were once told," she says. "I believe it was the high sugar content of candy bars that often aggravated acne in teens."
While the acne myth pervades without proof, studies have shown that eating chocolate triggers the release of phenylethylamine in the brain. This "love drug" chemical creates the sensation of being in love, making chocolate a perfect choice for this month's DIY beauty routine. "Chocolate is also rich in antioxidants and high in the mineral sulfur, which is healing to the skin," says Schmidt.
See: 4 heart-loving chocolate treats
The following recipes also feature goat's milk, which is ph-balanced and rich in age-defying alpha hydroxy acids (or AHAs). It's "wonderful for sloughing off dead skin cells," says Schmidt. The milk is also abundant in vitamins and minerals and rich in moisturizing fats. In fact, goat's milk soap is often used for helping reduce skin issues such as psoriasis.
DIY: Chocolate Face Mask
2 tsp dark, unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 to 1 tsp goat's milk
1. Scoop 2 rounded teaspoons of dark, unsweetened cocoa powder into a small bowl.
2. Add 1/2 to 1 tsp of goat's milk and beat with a fork, making sure to break apart the powdered chocolate lumps until you create a pudding-like consistency.
3. If the mixture is too thick, add a few drops of milk at a time while stirring until you reach a good consistency. The mask should cover your face without dripping.
4. Apply mask to your face with a clean brush or clean fingers. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse off with warm water. Follow with your favorite natural moisturizer.
DIY: Mocha Madness Scrub for Hands and Feet
This strong, gritty mixture is fabulous for leaving hands and feet soft and invigorated. However, we don't recommend it for sensitive skin or faces.
1 tbsp of used coffee grounds (put the rest in the soil of your favorite plant for a nitrogen-rich fertilizer)
2 tsp dark, unsweetened cocoa powder
Few drops of goat's milk (just enough to wet the mixture)
1. Mix together coffee grounds and cocoa powdern a small bowl.
2. Add a splash of goat's milk until you get a thick moist scrub.
3. Use 1 teaspoon of the mixture and wash your hands. A little goes a long way. Rinse with warm water and follow with your favorite moisturizer. Repeat with your feet.
Photos by Lori Schmidt