5 Surprising Beauty Uses for Chocolate

There are so many good deals on chocolate I find that my stockpile is overflowing with Hershey's candy bars and chocolate chips. Because there is no possible way that my family and I can eat that much chocolate, I had to get creative. Fortunately, I found several unique ways to use chocolate—even expired chocolate—that doesn't involve cooking or eating! For best results, use plain chocolate without any nuts or candy pieces.

1. Make a moisturizing facial mask

Melt 1/2 cup of chocolate in your microwave until it forms a thick paste. Allow the chocolate to cool slightly and then spread it all over your face. Be sure to avoid the eyes—even if you love chocolate, you probably won't like it blurring your vision. Leave the sweet-smelling mask on your face for a few minutes and then gently wash it off with warm water. Chocolate contains antioxidants that help fight off damage from free radicals. And it will also leave your skin feeling like your baby's bum: supple, dewey and soft.

2. Exfoliate your face

Mix together a little bit of sugar and cooled, melted chocolate. Rub the mixture onto your face in small circles to slough off any dead skin cells and to make your skin smooth and soft. The caffeine in chocolate also helps detoxify your skin.

3. Shampoo your hair

Wet your hair and then pour a quarter-sized amount (or more, depending on the length of your hair) of cooled, melted chocolate into the palm of your hand. Vigorously rub the chocolate into your wet scalp and allow it to sit for a minute or so. Rinse the chocolate out, then shampoo and condition with your normal haircare products. Why use chocolate on your hair? The chocolate may help boost blood circulation on your scalp, which equals healthier hair and an increase in hair growth. Chocolate will also leave your hair more voluminous and glossy.

4. Moisten your lips

Make your own chocolate lip balm by melting chocolate in the microwave. Once the chocolate is cooled, pucker up and rub a thin layer of chocolate into your lips. Not only is the chocolate super moisturizing, it actually protects against UV rays! If desired, you can add some cocoa butter and vitamin E into the melted chocolate for an even prettier pout.

5. Soften your skin

Rub cooled, melted chocolate all over your skin. Yes, it sounds weird, but chocolate is full of nutrients (like calcium, iron and vitamins A, B1, C, D and E) that can help repair even the driest skin. For even smoother skin, make a body scrub by mixing together equal portions of melted chocolate, olive oil and brown sugar.