Chocolate as a Beauty Treatment

The Benefits of Chocolate

Chocolate contains:

• Theobromine: stimulates the central nervous system, acts as a diuretic and appetite stimulant
• Caffeine: increases resistance to fatigue and stimulates intellectual activity
• Phenylethamnine: the chemical released when we fall in love, thus why chocolate is famous for its aphrodisiacal qualities
• Tryptophan: increases the production of serotonin - an antidepressant and stress reliever
• Endorphins: those feel good hormones
• Phenols: help to reduce the risk of heart disease
• Catechins: antioxidants that help the body fight off cardiovascular disease, cancer and slow the effects of ageing.

Also, chocolate is the highest natural source of magnesium, which drops significantly in pre-menstrual women, causing mood swings. So gentlemen, now you know what to do to keep us ladies happy! (and it's good for you too!)

The History of Chocolate

Chocolate Heart

Chocolate dates back to the Aztecs. It was so precious they used cocoa beans as a currency and used them to make a sacred drink. It was believed to bestow the drinker with wisdom, energy and aphrodisiacal powers.

Hernando Cortez, the Spanish Explorer, brought the cocoa beans back to Europe. However, it wasn't until the 17th century that chocolate became 'fashionable'. Still expensive due to the scarcity of cocoa beans at that time, the first London Chocolate House opened in 1657 - a trendy meeting place for the elite to savour this luxury drink.

As cocoa plantations became more widespread, it was the 19th century that saw the price of cocoa become more affordable and more available to more people. However, at this point chocolate was still only used for drinking and it was not until 1830 the first chocolate bar was made in Britain. The Swiss developed it further during the 1870s creating milk chocolate — yum!

So now we know that's its good to eat and drink chocolate. Luckily for us chocoholics, the team at Karin Herzog headquarters have developed the notion even further by giving us a good excuse to smear it all over our bodies!

Chocolate + Karin Herzog = Chocolate Heaven

Karin Herzog, the pioneers of oxygen skincare, have decided to incorporate chocolate into some of their treatments and at Beauty of Bedford you are able to enjoy the following chocolate treatments:

• Co-Co² Chocolate Facial
• The Chocolate Manicure
• The Chocolate Pedicure.

So, we know that chocolate is good for us and combined with oxygen it's even better!

Karin Herzog treatments work from the inside out to balance our skin by -

• controlling sebum production
• killing bacteria that form spots and blemishes
• stimulating cell renewal
• boosting natural collagen production
• spring cleaning and invigorating all skin types

And, with no perfumes or artificial ingredients, Karin Herzog creams only give the skin ingredients that it actually recognizes and needs.

Not wanting to spoil your treatment by telling you what exactly it involves, just imagine pure melted, warm chocolate drizzled over your face during your chocolate facial ...

Chocoholic Heaven!

And if you feel the temptation to lick your face too great, just hang on. You will be rewarded with a gorgeous cup of hot chocolate.

So what are you waiting for?

Call 01234 307373 to book your luxury, chocolate treatment.

Pure chocoholic indulgence!

— Enjoy! Maria