Aside from being a nice morning pick me up in a cup, coffee is loaded with antioxidants, caffeine, and other mood-boosting properties. While all these elements combine to make coffee the powerhouse it is, the caffeine is where it’s at in terms of skin benefits. Aside from the exfoliation of dead skin cells, the caffeine in the coffee exfoliator can also help with inflammation, skin smoothness, cellulite, eye bags, and overall circulation for younger, healthier skin. Sounds like a winner, right? Before you go grab this morning’s coffee grounds and accidentally irritate your skin, there are a few things you should know about this exfoliating powerhouse.
First, if you are looking for a quick buy for this as opposed to making your own, there are some products on the market that are using coffee in their recipes. A few great examples are Art Naturals Organic Arabica Coffee Scrub, Coffee and Grapefruit Scrub, and others. The thing with buying a coffee based product is that it is formulated to be able to last for a while without taking on mold, fungus, and other bacterial growth which would make it unsafe, so make sure you check the labels for any ingredients or additives you are trying to avoid. If you are looking for a quick DIY approach to this beauty trend, it is really easy and you can rest assured the ingredients are safe and natural.
Coffee ground PSA
You should never take coffee grounds, either fresh ones or used, and directly rub them on your skin, especially your delicate face. They are too abrasive when used directly. The way to get the best results is to follow a recipe calling for coffee combined with other ingredients to soften the abrasiveness.
Here is a good, basic recipe to try out this skincare trend for yourself.
Coffee Exfoliator Recipe
- 3 tablespoons of freshly ground coffee grounds
- 1 tablespoon natural oil such as olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
You should begin by mixing the dry parts of the coffee grounds and sugar before adding the oil. Add your chosen oil. Stir until all ingredients are combined. If it feels too grainy, add more oil to your liking and continue stirring. You can also adjust the brown sugar to make it thicker, but be careful not to add too much that it becomes overly abrasive. Using circular motions, massage the mixture on your face and then rinse with warm water. You should see and feel noticeably smoother and softer skin. You can make this a weekly routine or every week if your skin experiences sensitivity from it.
Coffee for your scalp
Coffee can be used for all sorts of beauty trends. When looking for a way to add this powerhouse to your hair, a scalp treatment is a great idea! Coffee has antioxidants in it that can block a harmful hormone known as DHT. This hormone contributes to baldness and hair thinning. With a coffee hair treatment, you can protect your hair against this pesky problem. The best way to use coffee for this purpose is to focus on the scalp. The scalp is where growth starts so you will be encouraging new growth while combatting hair loss. Coffee also helps with circulation which is key in overall scalp and hair health. It also exfoliates the scalp so if you are dealing with dryness and dandruff, this would be a big help.
The best way to use coffee for your scalp is by adding brewed coffee grounds to your favorite oil such as olive oil or coconut oil. Simply add your desired amount of grounds to the oil and massage into scalp using circular motions. Rinse out of hair with warm water.
What’s next?
Try this coffee rinse for extra shine.
Learn more about how coffee can be used to fight excessive shedding.
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