SO…WHY COFFEE?
Coffee beans act as a natural exfoliator, helping to polish dry, dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth!
High in antioxidants, ground coffee is a powerful free radical fighter and protects the skin against premature aging. The antioxidant level in used coffee is actually higher than freshly ground coffee - all the more reason not to just throw it all away!
The caffeine in coffee helps stimulate blood flow, making it effective against skin conditions such as acne, eczema, cellulite, and stretch marks, and helps address those areas that need renewal and regeneration. Caffeine also has natural anti-inflammatory properties that help calm swelling and redness.
Below we shared three easy recipes that you can make in your home without much difficulty. Tell us later how it went!
COFFEE BODY SCRUB (for smooth skin)
Ingredients
100g fresh ground coffee (you can also use unused ground coffee if you are not a coffee drinker!)
2 tablespoons coconut oil (you can also use olive oil or almond oil)
2 heaping tablespoons shea butter (if not, just use a second oil, for example almond oil)
10g sea salt
20g coconut sugar (you can also use brown sugar)
5-10 drops of essential oils of your choice: Check out some ideas that work well with the aroma of coffee below!
Essential oils
Cedar Wood - A woody scent used to calm and relieve stress and anxiety.
Peppermint - A cooling agent that improves mood, sharpens concentration, fights irritation and redness, relieves symptoms of congestion, and aids digestion.
Rose - Rose is calming and helps with circulation, inflammation, and depression.
Bergamot - This citrus-scented oil is great for skin infections like eczema and psoriasis.
Lemon - A good option for skin irritation and poor circulation. A good option to improve mood and reduce cellulite!
Directions
Measure all the ingredients into a medium bowl and stir to combine with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Transfer to a jar or other pot with a lid and store in the bathroom.
Apply in the shower or bath on damp skin.
Massage the skin in circular motions.
Leave on 3-5 minutes for essential oils to absorb into skin for full effect.
Rinse well.
Your skin should feel incredibly smooth!
COFFEE ICE CUBES (for dark circles and puffiness)
Dark circles are a common problem these days, partly due to our modern love for phones, laptops, televisions, etc. The good news is that when applied topically, caffeine stimulates blood flow to the area of application, helping to reduce its appearance.
Ingredients
2-3 tablespoons of coffee
Water
Directions
Make a strong coffee and pour it into ice cube trays ... then freeze it.
To use the ice cubes, simply apply the ice cubes wrapped in a muslin cloth under and around your eyes before going to bed or lie down and leave them on top of your eyes for a couple of minutes.
FACE SCRUB WITH CHOCOLATE & COFFEE
This is a gentler and more forgiving variation on the previous body scrub recipe. Simply remove the salt and sugar and mix the coffee grains with a heaping teaspoon of cocoa powder and a tablespoon of almond/coconut oil and shea butter. Easy. Effective. Delicious. You can thank us later. ;P