A food that we love to snack on at any time of the day could well become our favorite anti-aging product. Zoom.
Gentle for the stomach and the skin. In the world of facial care, discoveries continue to evolve. If we now know the benefits of peptides, collagen or even hyaluronic acid for the face, a new active ingredient is catching the eye of researchers. And it’s an ingredient that you love to devour every day, especially in your favorite desserts. Rich in flavonoids, it therefore has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. “Flavonoids benefit the skin thanks to their antioxidant properties“, explains Dr. Nava Greenfield, dermatologist, to the American media Women’s Health. “Antioxidants play an important role in the fight against aging by helping to combat DNA damage that accumulates over the years, eliminating oxidative stress that can damage it irreversibly.“
In other words, the same ingredient found in brownies or cakes can also help your skin slow down the signs of time. But that’s not all, the power of cocoa does not stop there since, like any other antioxidant, it promotes the production, strengthening and regeneration of collagen and elastin fibers. “This helps maintain plump, full and youthful skin“, specifies the professional. Some studies even suggest that the flavonoids contained in cocoa can penetrate the stratum corneum of the skin (i.e. the outermost part) to reach the lower parts, and be even more effective in the long term. The key? A firmer, and well hydrated epidermis. To see for yourself the magic of cocoa, numerous references exist on the market. Among our favorites? The Light oil Fantastic from Pai Skincare, or the Chocolat Café face mask from Baïja. On the other hand, it is not recommended to try experiments with the ingredients available in your kitchen as this risks triggering a skin reaction. “It is difficult to know the effectiveness of masks at home because they are not tested in a standardized way for their effectiveness and side effects“, warns Dr. Greenfield.
What about the chocolate we ingest? Well, there too it could have benefits even on the face. Flavonoids improve blood circulation, which also impacts the production of collagen and elastin. Unfortunately, this only works with dark chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa. In the cupboard, then, the Milka pack and the jar of Nutella…
