Coffee: The World’s Favorite Drink
A morning cuppa coffee is what many worldwide vouch as their favorite wake up drink. Its invigorates and wakes up every single cell in the body, mind and soul to brace them for the hectic day ahead. Coffee is one of the most preferred drinks worldwide and is used in very varied ways due to it’s versatility. It’s strong flavor and unique aroma within different plants and blends make it a much sort after drink, but that’s not the only reason.
Coffee also provides many health benefits like a recent research study that suggests an association between the intake of caffeine and decreased risk of skin cancer. Researchers are studying the potential use of caffeine in skin care products to prevent and possibly reverse the damaging effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Studies on mice have shown that topical application of caffeine can cause cells damaged by radiation from the sun to ‘self-destruct’.
Coffee Benefits For The Skin:
Coffee, apart from refreshing your brain, also perks up your complexion and body. It works as a constrictor reducing small blood vessels and inflammation leading to smooth looking skin. It’s amazing ability to cause dehydration is good for drawing excess fluid from fat cells, making it the number one ingredient in cellulite reducing creams. Additionally, coffee grounds are a mechanical exfoliate unlike chemical exfoliates which remove skin cells with enzymes or acidic properties. Exfoliating with coffee grounds improves circulation and is even rumored to reduce varicose veins.
You can easily include this miracle-fruit in some of your daily beauty products. Here are some simple to make coffee face packs and scrubs for your skin and body that you can prepare at home:
Simple Coffee Scrub:
Stir 1 cup of warm coffee grounds, 1/2 cup of pink Himalayan salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Brush thoroughly on skin in circular motions and wash off with warm water without using a soap.
Mocha Body Scrub
Do you brew a pot of coffee every day and wonder what to do with your leftover grounds? Try this instead of throwing them away!
Take 3/4 cup of leftover coffee grounds with 1/4 cup of demerra sugar and mix them together. Add 1 tsp of cocoa powder, 1 tsp of olive oil and 1 tsp of vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Note: This is a fresh-ground scrub and thus not recommended to be kept in the refrigerator. Just apply it on damp skin, scrub and shower.
Choco-Coffee Detoxifying Scrub
Both coffee and chocolate are delicious, anti-oxidant power houses and great for your skin.
Mix 1 cup of organic brown sugar, 1 tsp of raw cocoa powder, and 1 tsp of coffee grounds in a medium bowl. Add ¼ cup of jojoba or coconut oil and mix with sugar. (adjust the oil according to your skin condition- dry or oily) Add a few drops of Vitamin E oil to the mixture and use it on your skin. This is suitable for both face and body.
Zesty Body Scrub
The caffeine in coffee helps to eliminate unwanted oils making your skin look flawless. The rough texture of the coffee grounds will brush away dead skin, leaving you with amazing, smooth skin.
Mix all 1/2 cup ground coffee, 1/2 cup palm sugar, 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 tsp of Epsom salt, Lemon or Orange zest together in a bowl until well combined. If your coconut oil is solid, warm it slightly but wait for it to go back to room temperature before adding the other ingredients. This is to make sure that your exfoliants don’t dissolve in the oil. Once mixed, store your scrub in an air-tight container. Use on your entire body for great exfoliation. You can store them for a week in a refrigerator.
Note: Body scrubs must ideally be roughly ground so that they can exfoliate well. If you have sensitive skin, then you can make it fine.
Instant Coffee Body Lotion
Brew a strong cup of coffee and let it cool. Take your favorite unscented lotion (or make your own) and mix it with the coffee. Voila! Instant coffee flavored lotion!
Note: The lotion can turn watery if you use a very thin lotion. So either use a thick and creamy winter moisturizer and add the coffee brew which will water down the lotion or use Instant coffee powder (dissolve in 1-2 tsp of warm water/milk) to a thin lotion to make it smell like coffee!
Coffee Body Butter
Take 1/2 cup of emulsifying wax with 1/2 cup of almond or coconut oil and put in a double boiler until it melts completely. Pour it in a glass jar and add 1 1/2 cup of hot coffee or flavored coffee and stir until mixed well.
Note: Don’t let the coffee to separate from the rest of the mixture, stir until the mixture is thick. (you can use a hand blender in slow setting). If the coffee begins to separate, heat it up a little and start the process of stirring the mixture every couple of minutes again.
Once the mixture is a little cool add some essential/fragrant oil of your choice. Add some Vitamin E capsule liquid and stir one last time.
Note: The butter should reach the soft peaks stage consistency.
Coffee Face Mask
If you have whole coffee beans, finely grind 4 tablespoons of beans in a grinder. These must be finely ground or they might scratch your face. If you just made coffee, you can use the freshly brewed coffee grounds, although they won’t contain as much caffeine.
Mix coffee and cocoa powder in a bowl. Add 8 tablespoons of whole milk/heavy cream/yogurt/almond or coconut milk and stir until a smooth paste forms. You can use less milk if you like a thicker paste. You can use an egg instead of milk or substitute oils, such as olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil or almond oil f you have dehydrated skin. If using oils, halve the amount or it will be too runny.
Stir in 2 Tbsp. honey (if you have dry skin) or lemon juice (if you have oily skin) in to the mixture. Wash face, pat dry and apply the paste. Let the mask dry for 20 minuted.
Wet a washcloth and press it to your face to loosen the mask, then rinse with cold water. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid rubbing your face because the coffee grounds could potentially scratch your skin. You can store the leftover paste in the refrigerator for several days.
Coffee Lip Balm
You will need to first make coffee infused oil. You can use this concoction in creams or any of your masks as it’s very versatile.
Coarsely grind 3 tablespoons of whole coffee beans in a coffee grinder. Combine the grounds with 4 oz. of olive oil and lower heat for 15 minutes. Once the mixture is cool, strain it with a fine sieve so that the coffee grounds don’t get through.
Note: You can replace olive oil with coconut/almond oil or something that is lighter and doesn’t smell too strong like extra virgin olive oil.
Now to make the lip balm, take 25 oz of organic beeswax, 5 oz of cocoa butter, 5 oz of Shea butter and melt it in a microwave. Let it cool for a minute and stir with 1 tsp of sugar. Mix in 1 oz of coffee infused oil with 10 drops of clove oil and a 1/2 ml of Kahlua/Chocolate/Strawberry or any flavored oil of your choice and mix well. Have small containers ready to pour your lip balm into your containers of choice. The oils will harden in sometime and it will be ready!
Coffee Under Eye Cream
Take 75 oz of Shea and 75 oz of cocoa butter and microwave until melted. Remove and cool for a while and add 1/2 oz of coffee infused oil, 25 oz rose hip seed oil and 25 oz of jojoba oil to stir. Next add 1/2 ml of chamomile and lavender essential oils with several drops of vitamin E oil to the mixture and stir well. Pour it in a sterile glass container of your choice.
Coffee Hair Mask
This amazing coffee hair treatment will renew your hair as the antioxidants found in coffee can help in growing stronger hair follicles which promote hair growth.
Prepare strong coffee and add a bit of water. Let it cool until the mixture is lukewarm. Standing in the tub, pour the liquid onto your hair and scalp, then wrap hair with a plastic cap. Sit for 20 minutes. Rinse your hair thoroughly.
Coffee Manicure And Pedicure:
Coffee powder is excellent in cleaning cracked heels, black elbows and tired fingers. Rubbing the paste and massaging for a couple minutes will remove all the dirt in the area and make the skin smoother.
