Wake Up Your Beauty Routine With Coffee
It wakes us up in the morning and inspires our afternoons. In the U.S., it’s hard to imagine our lives without coffee. But along with a boost that jump-starts our bodies from the inside, coffee is also beneficial to use on the outside as well.
Coffee grounds are loaded with antioxidants and caffeine, of course, which exfoliates the skin, temporarily combats cellulite, increases hair growth, soothes tired eyes, and protects the skin from the sun. Here’s more:
Exfoliate
Coarse materials such as walnut shells, sea salt, and coffee grounds are excellent at brushing away dry skin and stimulating blood flow, encouraging collagen production. Coffee grounds in particular have the same pH as our skin, meaning they won’t dry it out.
Try any of these coffee-based facemasks whether you’re looking for smooth and clear, bright and glowing, or firm and tight skin.
Combat cellulite
The caffeine in coffee dilates the blood vessels, temporarily tightening and toning tissue. Not only that, applying coffee to the skin increases circulation and reduces water retention, both of which can smooth cellulite spots. As an added bonus, coffee’s antioxidants may help to release toxins, leaving healthy looking skin.
Create a paste of half coconut oil, half coffee grounds in your hand and rub over your troubled spots. Wash off and hit the beach!
Increase hair growth
The stimulating side of coffee works wonders on the scalp. In fact, the International Journal of Dermatology found that caffeine could boost hair growth when applied topically. Use this three-ingredient hair mask to grow long, healthy hair.
Brunettes may find even more benefit as coffee may enrich the color of dark hair. Try this natural hair dye recipe that uses only coffee and water.
Wake up tired eyes
Along with waking up our minds, coffee can also wake up the appearance of tired, saggy eyes. Apply chilled coffee grounds to your under-eye area, leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse off.
Caffeine’s anti-inflammatory properties constrict the blood vessels, reducing your under eye puffiness.
Sun protection
Drinking coffee has been proven to protect against skin cancer, but a study from Rutgers University revealed that applying coffee to the skin could work as well. The study showed that caffeine increases the body’s ability to destroy cells damaged by sunlight before they have a chance to mutate into tumors.
Find a sunscreen that lists coffee as an ingredient, or make your own. After sun exposure, exfoliate with a coffee scrub for added protection.
Coffee is an integral part of our morning routines, but it can also wake up our beauty routines in a positive way. So grind those beans!
Meet Rootasters:
Meg is a dreamer, entrepreneur, and homesteader based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She loves her cats, feasting, and road trips in her green VW Bug.