Asking For A Friend: Is Chocolate Really *That* Bad For My Skin?

So, what's the truth? Ultimately, it varies from person to person, as not all ingredients—whether in food, supplements, or topicals—will affect everyone's skin the exact same way. However, you should know that not all chocolate is created equal. "One thing is clear: The type of chocolate that you're going to be eating does matter," says board-certified dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., in a recent TikTok. 

And if you choose organic, raw dark chocolate (aka cacao)? You may reap even more skin-healthy benefits. "Organic dark chocolate has an added advantage. The process is fermented, so it's also a fermented food in that way," says board-certified psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutrition specialist Uma Naidoo, M.D., on the mindbodygreen podcast. It's true! Once harvested, cacao beans are fermented, dried, roasted, then removed from their shells (which is also what gives dark chocolate its slightly tart taste). And fermented foods are top-notch for skin, as they promote good bacteria in the gut—research shows that what you put in your mouth indeed influences your skin2 and skin microbiome in many ways. Just make sure you're buying a high-quality, organic dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao content. 

Add it to your coffee, breakfast pastries, and smoothies, and you can supercharge all those antioxidants in a snap. Not to mention, hydrolyzed collagen peptides themselves come with a host of beauty benefits, like promoting skin elasticity and hydration3 and strong hair and nails (but you can read all about that here); ours also folds in vitamin C, vitamin E, and sulforaphane glucosinolate, just in case you want to supercharge those antioxidants even further.*

Chocolate lovers, your sweet treat can actually be great for skin! All you have to do is select a high-quality formula with organic cocoa.* If your skin fares fine with milk and white chocolate options, by all means, carry on. But you might want to consider adding organic dark chocolate to the rotation, too, as it's jam-packed with polyphenols and delivers a rich, decadent flavor.