You're beautiful.
When the weather outside is frightful, there are few things more comforting than a big mug of hot cocoa with tons of marshmallows on top. I find the smell of hot chocolate alone enough to make me calmer, warmer, and happier, so I set out to find some beauty products that can put a smile on my face no matter how gray and cold it gets outside. I found a ton of chocolaty goodness, and few Read more
Want something that smells good enough to eat and is incredibly moisturizing for dry, cold-chapped skin? Try a simple yogurt cocoa face mask. You just need a tablespoon of cheap cocoa butter ($1) and a half tablespoon of yogurt. Melt the cocoa butter in a saucepan over low heat, then mix in the yogurt until smooth. Pour your concoction into a bowl and let it cool to a comfortable temperature, Read more
Lots of mothers swear by the benefits of slathering their growing bellies and boobs with cocoa butter. The ingredient is mixed into affordable balms and creams that women often purchase as a preventative measure upon finding out they are pregnant. But, new research suggests that cocoa butter lotions and potions have little to no benefit. One report said: The largest study on the subject was Read more
I've already confessed to my love for cocoa butter, and I've also been known to have an nagging sweet tooth as well. As I helped my wintry dry skin to a healthy serving of cocoa butter this morning, I reveled in the chocolaty aroma . . . which then made me think about the differences between the sweet-smelling lotion and the sweet-tasting treat. Can you pick cocoa butter truths from my made-up Read more
Vaseline is about to come out with two additions to its Cocoa Butter line of lotions, and one of them is now on my repeat-buy list. I was able to sample its Cocoa Butter Smoothing Body Butter ($6.99), which will be available in stores any day now. It features a blend of cocoa and shea butters, which gives off a light and pleasant fragrance. For some reason, the scent reminds me of tropical Read more
Some lip glosses are so waxy, your lips feel as if they're suffocating, while others are so shiny, they practically blind the person standing next to you. Such is not the case with Intelligent Nutrients' Lip Delivery Antioxidant Gloss in Pink Hibiscus ($24). Free of synthetic waxes and oils (and fragrance and colorants), the subtly tinted gloss lends just a hint of sheen to the lips. And the Read more
We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to nutritional consultant Mike Roussell, PhD, for some help! We're all familiar with the things that signal spring’s arrival: extra hours of daylight, budding flowers, and Cadbury Crème Eggs on display at every supermarket and drugstore in America. It’s easy to justify grabbing one (or two) of Read more
Photo: Susannah Chen For a country as large as Brazil, it's no surprise that each region has its own traditional recipes and dishes. Regional cuisines have been influenced over time by immigrants and what natural crops are available to them. In the North, you will find caruru, a dish featuring okra, onions, shrimp, peanuts, and palm oil, and in the South, you'll be able to sit down to a plate of Read more
If you've never heard of black soap, get ready: this stuff is about to have its moment in the sun. Made from ashes (specifically those of plantains, palms, and/or cocoa pods) mixed with shea butter or another natural skin hydrator, black soap is one of West Africa's best-known skin treatments. It has hydrating, antimicrobial, and cleansing properties, and having used it, we can aver that it's a Read more
While giving up butter and milk is definitely an adjustment, vegans can still enjoy the splendors of chocolatey goodness as much as the next gal. Typically, any dark chocolate is usually vegan because it does not contain milk powder (this usually starts at 65 percent cocoa). The higher quality the chocolate, the higher the chance that it will have pure ingredients and no additives. All you've got Read more
