What better way that to start one of the chocolatiest times of year with a scrumptious Mocha hand + foot scrub. This easy DIY Hand + Foot Scrub leaves your skin silky soft and hydrated.
Cocoa powder contains manganese, magnesium phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc, Vitamins A + E. All of this essentially means:
🍫 Cocoa powder assists cell regeneration
🍫 It improves nervous system and cellular function
🍫 It contains fatty acids which retain moisture in the skin and keeps the lipid layer tight making the skin appear taut, vibrant and plump
🍫 It repairs skin rashes and controls sebum production
In Ayurveda, cocoa, more specifically raw cacao, is believed to warm the hears and abdomen and elevate mood. The caffeine in chocolate stimulates neuron activity. When it comes to its emotional value, as we all know there’s plenty of research proving its affect on mood, in Ayurveda it is said that mixing rose and cacao could soothe a broken or lonely heart.
So, we know a little bit about cocoa powder but what about coffee?
Apart from the exfoliation benefits the ground coffee provides, coffee is packed with B Vitamins which are essential for cellular metabolism (the chemical reactions within cells to keep it functioning)
☕ Coffee dilates blood vessels which increases blood flow and assists circulation; this soothes the nervous system but also brightens and tones up the skin
☕ It reduces inflammation, redness and hyperpigmentation
☕ It’s packed with antioxidants which fights free radicals (free radicals: unstable molecules that can damage our cellular structures and functions thus causing skin and barrier issues causing dry skin, acne and other skin issues.)
Need a visual? Watch how it’s made
How often can you use it?
Daily or between 1 – 3x a week
How long does this mixture last?
2 weeks in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer
Ingredients:
∷ 200mls / 3/4 cup Coconut Cream (boiled)
∷ 1 Heaped Tablespoon of Cocoa Powder, or cacao if you have the means to get it
∷ 2 Heaped Tablespoons of ground Coffee (I used the excess ground coffee from my partner’s morning coffee – Freeze the ground coffee and let it thaw out when it’s ready to use). If you don’t have coffee, you can use Black Tea leaves. If you have neither, use granulated or raw sugar but don’t mix it in until the mixture is completely cool – you want to avoid melting it to get that delicious exfoliating scrub.
Method:
⌖ Boil the coconut cream on medium low til til it starts to bubble
⌖ Pour the boiled coconut cream into a heat safe bowl or jug
⌖ Add Cocoa Powder + Coffee
⌖ Mix well, it will thicken as it cools
⌖ Scrub a generous amount into hands + feet
⌖ Rinse off
⌖ Pat dry and follow up with moisturiser; I use my Mango Butter Cream because it’s absolutely one of my faves.
Quick tip
Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze it. When you want to use it, pop out 1 – 3 ice cubes and let it thaw before scrubbing your hands and feet into silky softness. If you’d like, you can heat it up for a warm and soothing scrub.
