Chocolate Massage
When is chocolate not only good for you, your skin, and your senses, without all the calories? When you get a Chocolate Massage! I’m happy to offer this decadent service as either an indulgent Whole Body Chocolate or Chocolate Facial massage. Chocolate massages use a blend of cocoa butter, massage oil or lotion, and sometimes dark chocolate. One can add essential oils, such as peppermint or orange, for a delicious twist.
Finding the Best Ingredients
Using the purest organic cocoa butter is essential to creating a Chocolate Massage that leaves the skin delectably scented and well-nourished.
I had the amazing opportunity to travel Costa Rica for a month, where I learned a lot about chocolate from the farmers who grow it. I learned that most chocolate is processed with heat, which can alter or even destroy some of the wonderful benefits of the cocoa bean.
I met with growers who not only raise their cocoa plants organically, but also shade-cure all their chocolate products (rather than using high heat to process). Elizabeth and Micheal of Spice Market Costa Rica are U.S. expats who moved from the Seattle area to Costa Rica about 35 years ago to follow their dream: growing and processing foods in the healthiest way possible. Their silky smooth, deliciously scented cocoa butter is perfect for a skin-rejuvenating massage that leaves one’s skin smelling like deep, rich chocolate candy. I seized the opportunity to bring home a block of gorgeous cocoa butter.
Elizabeth, Micheal, and me at Spice Market Costa Rica 
A chocolate farmer at Tamarindo farmers’ market
If you are going to try a chocolate massage at home, you can either buy a pre-made chocolate massage lotion, or if you’re adventurous, make your own! Cocoa butter is the base of a chocolate massage. Cocoa butter can be purchased online or at some stores that sell supplies for soap making. Look for organic cocoa butter and, if possible, choose cocoa butter that is shade-cured rather than heat-processed.
About Cocoa Butter
According to Elizabeth of Spice Market, Cocoa Butter is created when the chocolate beans are fermented, sun-dried, hulled, and finally pressed. The resultant liquer is a white-yellow color, and holds the flavorful scent of chocolate but without any chocolate flavor. This butter is commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, and soaps because of its ability to easily and deeply penetrate the skin for complete moisturizing. It is non-greasy, absorbs quickly, and leaves your skin moisturized but not ‘sealed’ or oily.
It is also a premium ingredient in chocolate and white chocolate, used for cake icings, and other confections. Also used for sautè, cut into pie dough, and melted for velvety smooth sauces. If you decide to purchase cocoa butter and make your own chocolate massage lotion, be sure to save some for making the best chocolate desserts ever.
DIY Chocolate Massage Lotion
INGREDIENTS
- 6 oz grapeseed oil (or other liquid oil)
- 2 oz cocoa butter
- 1 oz beeswax (pellets or grated)
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil
- 1 cup distilled water (at room temperature)
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
INSTRUCTIONS
All oils are measured by weight. Measure all oils into a glass measuring cup.
Place measuring cup in a small saucepan of simmering water and stir until completely melted.
Remove oils from water and cool to room temperature. Stir in vitamin E oil
While oil is cooling, whisk cocoa powder into distilled water until all clumps are gone.
Once oil is cooled, start blending with your stick blender and slowly pour chocolate water into oil in a thin stream while continuously blending.
The mixture will start to emulsify. Move the stick blender around and up-and-down to make sure all the oil and water is emulsified.
Pour into containers and use within a couple months. To prolong shelf life, store in refrigerator.
Lotion may be more solid when cool, but will melt easily in your hands.
Enjoy!
Imagine Healthy Living 