Written by, Dara Wilson

It’s the season of love. Rather you’re celebrating #selflove or #truelove this year, we can all use a little more #MeTime.

Here are five activities to gift yourself this month and every month—you deserve it. Of course, chocolate should be at least one of these ways, we mean, all the ways. Never doubt the power of dark chocolate for its stress-reducing and focus boosting benefits. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants. Good for your insides AND good for your soul. Catechins, flavanols, polyphenols, OH MY!

Chocolate (Home) spa: #MeTime

Dark Chocolate Face/Body Mask

Chocolate contains antioxidants and vitamin C that will help keep your skin energized. Detox your skin by removing dead skin cells and let that beautiful complexion breathe! (It also won’t hurt you to lick your lips)

Mask 1:

Ingredients:

• 1 3.53 oz. 60 % Extra Dark RED chocolate bar (about ¾ cup)
• 1/3 cup milk (whole milk is best)
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1 ½ tbsp. brown sugar

Steps:

1. Crush up the chocolate in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave. Or, you can melt it over low-medium heat in a small saucepan on the stove.
2. Add all other ingredients and mix well.
3. Let the mixture cool for at least 20 minutes.
4. Apply to face, neck, (or body). Lick the bowl if you want. Again, why wouldn’t you?
5. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Mask 2:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup 60 % Extra Dark RED chocolate bar
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 cup watermelon

Steps:

1. Crush up the chocolate in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave. Or, you can melt it over low-medium heat in a small saucepan on the stove.
2. Blend all the fruit together.
3. Add the melted chocolate to the blended fruit.
4. Apply to face, neck, (or body). Again, why wouldn’t you lick the bowl clean?
5. Leave on for at least 20 minutes.
6. Rinse off with warm water.

You can put either dark chocolate mask on twice weekly. Both masks were modified from Style Craze. Click here to get more Style Craze chocolate face mask recipes.

More Chocolate indulgences: #selflove

Cocoa Bubble Bath

Marinate in cocoa. Do it. Epsom salts are an excellent source for relieving sore muscles, and other body aches. Pair them with rejuvenating chocolate and you will feel as good as you taste. Mix 1 cup Epsom salts with 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder. Double the recipe if you’d like. For insomnia and eczema relief, add 1 cup of coarse sea salt.

Become a chocolate connoisseur

Learn something new while unwinding with a glass of wine and a tasty bar of RED. Reading about your favorite foods will alert your brain, and you’ll have some future party talking points. Buy a book or read an article about the history of chocolate.

Explore Chocolate Flavors

Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate with fruit, nuts, chocolate pralines, chocolate mousse. The delicious list goes on. You can never go wrong with good chocolate—especially chocolate made with no added sugar.

Shameless #selflove plug: Indulge guiltlessly this season. #MeetRED—We’re made with high-quality cocoa, only natural sugars, up to 50% fewer calories, and 40 % less fat than leading brands.

Whip up Delicious Recipes full of Decadent Chocolate

Cookies dipped in chocolate, dark chocolate avocado mousse, chocolate fudge, and more. Flip through RED chocolate’s recipes to make something delicious for yourself.

This February, take the time to truly love and embrace yourself with the right amount of self-care. Take the time you deserve to relax and recharge. We need to love ourselves first, before others, because #selflove is definitely the best love.