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Chocolate Spa Treatments Chocolate treatments and therapies appear on many spa menus. Although we love the idea of slathering ourselves in heavenly scented chocolate, it can't possibly be good for you… Can it? Yes! Need an excuse? Three reasons why eating chocolate is good for you (honest!) 1. There's a scientific reason why chocolate improves your mood: it contains feel-good chemicals. These chemicals include serotonin, which helps boost your mood, and dopamine, also a mood regulator, which can help keep you feeling motivated. 2. A humble bar of chocolate isn't an unhealthy treat as it contains lots of essential vitamins and minerals. Milk chocolate contains vitamins B1, B2, and E, as well as minerals including potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese and, of course, calcium. 3. If you prefer dark chocolate, you'll be glad to hear that a 45g bar of 70% dark chocolate contains 12% of your recommended daily allowance of iron. Around 11% of women will suffer from iron-deficiency at some point in their lives, and women of child-bearing age are especially at risk from iron-deficiency. When you have chocolate cravings, it could be your body trying to correct an imbalance. All that, plus antioxidants, too… What, you may ask, is an antioxidant and what benefit can it be? Well, when the cells in our body use oxygen, they produce by-products called free radicals. Free radicals can cause damage within our body, and health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Free radicals can contribute to all of these. Antioxidants can prevent or slow down the damage to our system by "mopping up" the free radicals. The good news for chocolate fans is that cocoa beans contain antioxidants called flavonols; the antioxidant concentration in cocoa beans is twice that of red wine, two to three times that of green tea and four to five times that of black tea. So, eating chocolate may help reduce blood pressure, improve blood vessel function and improve heart health. Flavonol levels are highest in dark chocolate, although they're also present in milk chocolate, too. Can chocolate be good for our skin? Yes... Antioxidants can have a dramatic anti-ageing effect and fight against free-radical damage in your skin. Cocoa butter is moisturising and nourishing for your skin which is why chocolate now plays a part in the spa experience. You'll also benefit from that mood-lifting whoosh of chocolatey smell, too. Chocolate head to toe… start with a facial: Karin Herzog's Co-C02 Facial/Ultimate chocolate Facial Karin Herzog's popular anti-ageing facial combines the power of oxygen and Swiss chocolate. After your skin is cleansed, your therapist massages oil into your skin to get your lymph flowing. A heated chocolate cream face mask follows. This chocolate treat for your face is available at Ajala Spa, London, Le Kalon Spa at The Bentley, London, and Manor Grove Spa, Harringworth. Body treatments and wraps: A wrap is a wrap, but a chocolate wrap is extra specially luxurious. The smell of chocolate is not too potent but is just enough to make you feel warm, snug and happy. Many of these treatments feature nurturing warmed chocolate. Your chocolate body treatment and chocolate body wrap options include: The Mere Chocolate Back Therapy A mouth-watering pampering for the body using 100% pure cocoa butter and essential oils, this body scrub and massage is positively delectable. The cocoa butter leaves the skin hydrated and nourished and the calcium, potassium and magnesium remineralises the skin leaving it revitalised and moisturised. Chocolate manicures and pedicures: As a sweet-scented finishing touch, some spas offer chocolate manicures and pedicures. The chocolate mani at Savana Urban Spa in London "starts with a warm milk soak, followed by a hot vanilla and brown sugar scrub and finally a warm cocoa butter masque for super hydration. All served up with a cup of hot cocoa." Their choccie pedicure adds a "warm cocoa butter masque for super hydration". They also have a package entitled ‘Totally Chocolate’ or offer separate chocolate facial and body scrub. Parties or groups can book a ‘Chocolate treat’ as well. Bliss London's Double Choc Pedicure promises to be "a chocolate fete for your feet". A hot chocolate-milk, skin-smoothing soak and sugar scrub accompany your pedicure while you sip on a creamy cup of cocoa. Easter Season Specials: Chocolate is, of course, at its most popular over Easter. Some spas may not offer chocolate treatments all year round, but it’s worth checking with your favourite places to see if they have a special offer on for this short and indulgent time of the year. Scrubs and body polish A scrub or body polish is a spa treatment which exfoliates the skin on your body leaving it feeling fresh, smooth, moisturised and soft. An abrasive product is rubbed vigorously, and massaged across and into your skin, and is then rinsed away to reveal a moisturised layer of fresh, clean and smooth skin. What is a scrub good for? There are many benefits to a body scrub or polish. A body scrub will exfoliate your skin, sloughing off dead skin cells and rubbing away hard and flaky skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth. Scrub or polishing products usually include an oily base which moisturises and soothes your skin as it is scrubbed. A scrub can be really invigorating as well, and improve the circulation of blood and lymph to the surface of the skin, helping to fight cellulite and improve your skin tone. A good body scrub or polish forms the basis of other body treatments it prepares your skin for an even tan it opens the pores and wakens the skin before a wrap or mud treatment the oils used can relax or stimulate your senses ready for any similarly-focused treatment that you might be having afterwards. Scrub and Candle Before you go There's nothing to do before you go except have a shower. This is really just courtesy for your therapist! You will be able to keep your knickers on, and they may give you disposable pants. Precautions Scrubs and body polishes are suitable and safe for just about everyone. It's not an invasive treatment, and doesn't involve you assuming any odd positions. You should not have a scrub if you have cancer or if you have a fever. You should also seek expert advice if you are allergic to anything or have a skin condition of any kind. Anyone with fragile, broken or sunburnt skin is well advised to skip this treatment as well, as a very vigorous scrub may hurt more than heal, however this is really something that a good therapist will take into account. Some conditions make some products, and some kinds of scrub a bad idea for you. As with all spa treatments, make sure you are clear about any medical condition you have, or treatment you are receiving, so that you can be sure of a treatment that is safe and appropriate for you. Scrubs and Body polishes What to expect when you have a scrub or body polish Different spas have different facilities, and so give scrubs in a slightly different way. It is usual to have it lying down, and if you're lucky on a heated plinth or table to keep you warm while you have your treatment. The table or plinth will get wet during the treatment as the product is washed off your body. The therapist should screen you discreetly, or leave you for a few minutes while you take off your robe and lie down between towels already laid out for you on the table. Somehow, despite the fact that they scrub and wash your whole body, you'll be almost entirely covered for the whole treatment, as towels are expertly rolled and folded to maintain your dignity. Before the treatment begins, the therapist may ask you what kind of product you prefer, giving you a choice of smells or asking whether you want to feel relaxed or revitalised by the body scrub. They should also tell you something about the product and procedure so that you know what's going to happen. The scrub will usually start with one side of your back, and the product will be swept up and down your body simultaneously - this is really invigorating. The therapist will then work across your body, rubbing, scrubbing and massaging one area at a time, and then rinsing you off with warm soft water and covering you with a towel before moving on to the next part. At the end of the treatment you should be left to have a good shower to get rid of any remains of the product. The treatment usually takes about 30 minutes. Body scrubs Afterwards A body scrub is a great treatment as it makes you look and feel good. After a good body scrub, your skin should feel really soft, smooth and silky; you should feel pampered and energised. It's a great one-stop treatment as well as fitting in well with others, as part of a spa ritual or spa package. Hot tip! A body scrub is one of the treatments that you can recreate something of at home - whilst it won't be such an indulgent experience, a body scrub is something that you can really enjoy as part of a long luxurious home pamper, and is great for your skin. Different types of scrub While there may be variations in how the scrub is given, the main difference between scrubs is usually just the product used. Salt and oil: finely granulated salt is mixed with an essential, moisturising oil. The salt might be sea or mineral Sugar is also used, mixed with oils or creams Loofah: some body scrubs use cream and a loofah to slough off dead skin cells Herbal: a therapist may mix a herbal oil with the exfoliating scrub, such as rosemary, lavender or aloe vera, depending on your skin type and whether the scrub is designed to wake you up or relax you Fruit (edible!): some body scrubs mix crushed seeds with fruit oils, oatmeal and other edible products to nourish and soothe the skin