There’s a reason chocolate makes you so happy, and not only because it’s good for you. Chocolate is loaded with health benefits, making it more than your favorite treat.

It’s now becoming a favorite part of many beauty regimens, and no better way to celebrate National Chocolate Day this July 7th, than with a chocolate mask!

That’s right. Chocolate has turned into the mask must. It features powerful qualities when it comes to treating your skin, it’s easy to make at home, and it feels decadent. A homemade chocolate mask is just as good as the ones you get in a high-end spa, and you get the benefits without the expense.

It’s important to clarify that we’re talking about dark chocolate when we mention health benefits and using it for a mask. While milk chocolate is delicious, it’s too full of sugar, which dampens any benefits you can receive.

Chocolate and your skin

Dark chocolate is rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, healthy fats, and more. Some of these great properties don’t need to be consumed to give you the benefits, just wearing them in a face mask can have you awash in great compounds.

The antioxidants you find in the cacao nut are some of the most powerful in the world. Using flavanols and polyphenols, chocolate neutralizes free radicals and prevents oxidative stress that is a major cause of wrinkles.

Chocolate is also an anti-inflammatory, which means it can reduce puffiness, and it can also soothe chronic skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Those fantastic flavanols that form part of the antioxidants in chocolate also help protect you from dangerous UV rays from the sun. Flavanols also hydrate the skin, which makes it more resistant to sun damage, both short and long-term. Sun damage on your face leads to wrinkles, age spots, and even cancer.

If you’re routinely exfoliating, then you know how important it is to get rid of old skin cells and celebrate the new ones. Chocolate contains copper, iron, and zinc, all of which promote skin cell growth to keep you looking dewy and youthful. Dark chocolate also detoxifies, which promotes the sloughing of dead skin cells. It can even help your hair.

DIY chocolate face mask recipes

We’ve pulled together a few different chocolate face masks that you’re going to love. They give you the benefits you want from a good face mask with the convenience of DIY at home, and they’re completely affordable.

1. Cocoa powder face mask

This is a great starting point, as it’s a nice generic chocolate mask that’s good for all skin types, and it gives you loads of moisture.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. Mix a tablespoon of cocoa powder with just enough heavy cream to form a paste. Apply to clean, dry skin and leave the paste on for about 15 minutes.

2. When you’re done, wipe off the mask and thoroughly rinse your face to remove any remaining chocolate. Pat dry.

2. Chocolate clay face mask

If you have oily skin, then you might need a little clay to help soak up the excess oil while still getting the moisturizing benefits of the chocolate.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted

2 tablespoons Fuller’s earth clay

Directions:

1. Mix the chocolate and the earth together, thoroughly. Set aside to let it cool. Stirring every so often helps cool the entire batch, so you don’t burn your skin.

2. Apply the warm mixture to your skin, and let sit about 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly when done.

3. Chocolate fruit smoothie

This mask not only gives you the benefits of chocolate, but you also get to absorb healthy strawberries and watermelons too. It leaves your skin looking brighter and fresh, and it’s perfect for someone who wants their youthful glow back.

Ingredients:

1 strawberry

2 1-inch cubes of watermelon

1/2 cup dark chocolate, melted

Directions:

1. While you’re melting your chocolate, mash the strawberry and the watermelon together to create a sort of paste. Let the chocolate cool for a while, and then add the fruits. Let the entire mix cool just a bit more until it’s warm throughout.

2. Use this mask on your neck and face. Let it rest of about 20 minutes and then rinse clear.

Final thoughts

Your skincare routine just got more delicious. The addition of a chocolate face mask gives you a ton of health benefits that make your skin more youthful looking, moisturized, and better protected from outside damage.

The best news is these are some of the most inexpensive face masks you can make at home, and you can customize them to fit your skin type.

Kick back, relax, and enjoy your chocolate facial. If you feel extra indulgent, savor a square of dark chocolate while you do because it’s good for you!