Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Facial Mask Recipe
This is one of my favorite wintertime masks. It's the perfect mask to help soothe and hydrate dry winter skin. Plus, who can resist the hot cocoa and marshmallow theme?
Cocoa and marshmallow aren't just delicious, but they're good for your skin, too. Cocoa is high in antioxidants. It's also toning and leaves your skin glowing.
The marshmallow in this recipe has nothing to do with those fluffy white confections in a bag. It's the dried root of a wetlands plant. Marshmallow root, when mixed with liquid, creates a hydrating, mucilaginous gel that's soothing and softening.
Cocoa powder
RECIPE: Hot Cocoa and Marshmallow Facial Mask
This mask is made dry, so you don't have to worry about preservatives.
When you're ready to use it, just add a bit of liquid. Water works, but
for an extra special treat use warmed milk or cream.
What you'll need:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder (100% cocoa powder, not the drink mix)
1 tablespoons powdered milk
2 teaspoons marshmallow root powder
1 tablespoon cocoa butter, grated
Step 1: Add the cocoa powder, powdered milk, and marshmallow root powder into a small blender or food processor (something like a Magic Bullet works great for this.) Blend the mixture for 60 seconds or so, until it's completely smooth. You don't want any clumps of powdered milk, and the marshmallow root should be powdery smooth.
Step 2: Next, grate the cocoa butter and measure out 1 tablespoon. Don't melt the cocoa butter to measure it. It must be solid to add to the mask.
Step 3: Put the cocoa butter into the blender with the rest of the ingredients. Blend again, for about 60 seconds, until the cocoa butter is chopped ultra fine and completely incorporated into the mask.
Step 4: Pour the mask into a small jar or cello bag. (I found some cute little jars at the dollar store that were perfect for this.)
To use: Measure out 2 teaspoons mask and mix with approximately 1 teaspoon hot water (more or less until you get a smooth creamy consistency.) Let the mixture stand for 3-5 minutes to hydrate and cool. Massage onto the skin and let set for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Yield: about 12 treatments
Shelf life: Dry mix will last about 10-12 months on the shelf. Once hydrated, use immediately or keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Want to learn how to make even more skin care products with simple kitchen ingredients?
