Chocolate wrapper

FORGET bathing in rose petals or slapping on expensive body creams, beautiful skin should be smothered in chocolate.

We all know scoffing Easter Eggs won't do our complexion any favours, but smear them over your body and it's a different story.

That, at least, is the theory at New Bronze Age salon, in Lord Mayor's Walk, York, which has introduced a chocolate body wrap treatment.

According to owner and therapist Laura Smart, chocolate is rich in skin-renewing vitamins and leaves you soft, nourished and smelling like a dream.

"We use actual Swiss chocolate in this treatment, but there are other ingredients in there as well such as sea kelp," says Laura.

"It's great for your skin because it has a lot of potassium and A, C and E vitamins, which are great for skin renewal. Chocolate can improve skin texture and aid cellulite too.

"It leaves you with a lovely hint of chocolate over your body for the next couple of days."

The treatment starts with an exfoliation of mineral salts to soften your skin. The mixture is quite course, explains Laura, so you don't have to rub it in, just leave it to soak.

Next, a conditioning body wash is smoothed over your legs, stomach and arms to clean your skin and melt the salt, before you are massaged with Terry's chocolate orange cream.

The first thing you will notice in Laura's treatment room is the chocolate - it smells divine. It is prepared in a bath, which looks like a giant ice-cream tub, by the side of the bed.

When it reaches the right temperature, warm, melted chocolate is ladled over your body and smoothed on to your skin, before you're wrapped in cellophane and left to relax with a bowl of Dairy Milk pieces to nibble on.

Take it from me, few things are nicer than having hot, melted chocolate spooned over your stomach while you're lying with a face mask on. It's similar to cuddling up to a hot water bottle or feeling a warm breeze kiss your skin on the beach.

But while it might smell good enough to eat, you will have to resist.

"Clients are always desperate to try it, but because of the sea kelp and other ingredients you can't eat it," says Laura.

"That's why I leave some chocolate in a bowl for them because the treatment smells so nice that it awakens your senses and you just want chocolate."

Your back, legs and shoulders are chocolated up first, then you are wrapped up and left to listen to soothing Celtic CDs for 20 minutes.

When Laura returns, she gently rolls off the dry chocolate with her hands, eases you on to your back and pours more chocolate on the front of your legs, stomach and the tops of your arms.

"We don't pour chocolate on your lower arms because the hairs can stick to it and make it unpleasant to peel off," said Laura.

"Women tend not to like it on their chests either."

There isn't much mess, as any stray dabs can be wiped away with a towel, and you can step back into the street relaxed, indulged and invigorated, not to mention armed with a story to make any woman swoon.

"We haven't been offering the wraps long but they're proving very popular," said Laura. "They're very relaxing and more than anything, they're quirky."

Chocolate body wraps cost £45 for an hour-and-a-half. Contact New Bronze Age on 01904 620260.

SWEET treats might be forbidden in your diet, but they can make great additions to your beauty routine.

Sugar:
Can make a great exfoliator, gentle enough to slough the dead skin cells off without being too abrasive.

* Ted Baker Sugar Scrub, £6.99, Boots, contains natural sugar crystals.

* Tesco's new Finest Gourmand range consists of four products scented with brown sugar and caramel. Lie back with Bath Brulee, or scrub up with Sugar Shower Scrub, £4.49 each.

Honey:
Ideal for people with dry and sensitive skin and it helps to soothe and repair * Nuxe has introduced two new products to its Reve de Miel honey range: Ultra Comfortable Body Cream, £18, and Fondant Exfoliating Shower Cream, £14.50, at Boots.

* The new Honey B bath and body range is made with pure organic honey and includes Body Whip with Acacia honey, royal jelly and beeswax, £8.95, and Body Polish with Acacia and Manuka honey, £5.49, from www.scottishfinesoaps.com

Candy:
Avoid the calories and choose mouth-watering cosmetics.

* Hard Candy Eye Candy Eyeshadow in Caramel or Butterscotch, £8.

* The Body Eye Shimmer Cubes Eye Palette Shade 06, £14, in hues of Dark Chocolate and Choc Chip.

* Jelly Pong Pong Lip Gourmet made with real dark cocoa, £13 from Jellypongpong.com or ASOS.com.

* Clinique's limited edition Full Potential Lipgloss in Toffee Boost, £12.

* Avon's ANEW Beauty Lip Plumping Lip Colour in Cocoa or Chocolate Frosting, £8 (0845 601 4040/www.avon.uk.com).

Essie's Chocolate Kisses nail varnish, £8.50, from www.lookfantastic.com

Chocolate:
* Philip B's Chocolate Milk Body Wash, £23, from www.hqhair.com.

* Philosophy's all-in-one shampoo, body wash and bubble baths include Double Rich Hot Cocoa and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, £14.50, from www.hqhair.com.

* Naked's Cocoa Butter Revealed body cream, £8.99, Boots, Medik8 Lipomelt Forte Anti-Cellulite Formula, £29 (0845 673 2222/www.medik8.com), contains real chocolate extract.

* Thierry Mugler Angel, from £39, has chocolate, vanilla and caramel in its base, while Il Profumo has created three Chocolat fragrances - Chocolat Frais, Chocolat and Chocolat Amere - priced from £25 (01273 408 800/ www.laforetdeparfum.com).

Other sweet treats
* DuWop Buttercream, £14.50, from Space NK, is a sweet-smelling luscious moisturiser with the irresistible scent of buttercream frosting.

* SOHUM Plum Velvet Body Creme, £18, from Urban Apothecary (0870 850 5623/ www.urbanapothecary.co.uk), has a velvet-like consistency to sink directly into skins.

* TIGI Bed Head Oatmeal Cookie range, consists of a body wash, scrub and lotion, from £6.95 (0870 330 0955/www.tigi.co.uk).

* Sarah Happ's divine Lip Scrubs, £19.95 at www.hqhair.com feature flavours such as cocoa, cinnamon sugar and peppermint.