Try an Easter chocolate facial if you want to keep the years at bay

Photo:Courtesy

It’s not just a tasty treat – slather on cocoa-based beauty products this year for a guilt-free fix to keep you looking fresh.

Chocolate might be delicious, but it can also prevent those laughter lines thanks to its anti-ageing properties.

“Cocoa powder contains ­flavonoids, antioxidant compounds in plants that ‘mop up’ free radicals which cause cell damage,” says luxury facialist Cherry Woods.

Feed your face with an intense dose by slathering skin with a chocolatey mask.

“Cocoa butter is extracted from cocoa beans and melts at body ­temperature,” says Cherry. “It’s used to make ­chocolate, and skin loves fatty acids. It can help heal dry, sensitive skins.”

First, prepare your skin with a cocoa scrub. It usually contains raw cacao powder which fights free ­radicals and the effects of pollution , while hydrating vitamin E, brown sugar and sea salt cleanse and clarify.