Is Coffee Good For Your Skin?

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Coffee has been increasingly popular in conversations about health. There have been studies showing both sides of the health benefits of coffee. Some experts say drinking coffee daily is a great idea, but others disagree and argue negative effects. It often boils down to whether or not the positives outweigh the negatives. However, with the rising popularity of coffee in skincare and beauty products, it’s time to dive a bit deeper into its effects on your skin.

Coffee Benefits for Skin

Drinking coffee may have potential health benefits; studies have shown that coffee may support skin and cellular health. Experts have agreed that the focus here should be on caffeine, not necessarily coffee itself. However, if you're intending to get your caffeine intake each day, coffee may be the best way to do it as opposed to soda or other sugary drinks that often come with high caffeine content. Either way, caffeine may have protective qualities that can help defend the skin.

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants, and because they help keep our skin safe from the outside elements and free radicals of all kinds, antioxidants are extremely helpful in protecting the skin from showing signs of aging. Still more of a tea person? No worries! The best way to take advantage of coffee’s benefits on your skin is topically - no ingestion required. There are several advantages to using coffee on the skin. The first centers around caffeine content. Caffeine is a natural constrictor, and coffee grounds can boost your skin’s healthy appearance. Coffee is also a diuretic, meaning that it will help the body get rid of unnecessary water and other toxins. As it helps the movement of water throughout the skin, it can also help support a healthier skin appearance. Topical creams with caffeine are great for the under-eye area, and for less sensitive areas, using coffee grounds as a scrub will do the trick!

How to Make a Coffee Scrub for Your Skin

There are many places to buy coffee scrubs, but feel free to try your hand at making your own. All you need is used coffee grounds (or ground coffee beans), brown sugar, honey and olive oil.

Mix ¼ cup coffee grounds, 1 cup brown sugar and ¾ cup olive oil in a small bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon of honey to the mixture and stir well.
Store in a closed plastic container for up to two weeks.

Use this coffee scrub in the shower or bath, and make sure skin is damp or wet before applying. Since coffee grounds are pretty abrasive, it's best to use them on damp skin to avoid too much irritation on dry skin. Gently rub the coffee grounds in circular motions, and rinse thoroughly. If desired, substitute the olive oil with a carrier oil of your choice like jojoba, macadamia nut, almond, etc. You can also add essential oils to the mixture to enhance the scent or target other concerns.

This is all great news for avid coffee drinkers. Rest assured that in some way your daily cup of joe is benefiting you on the inside or out. Topically, coffee grounds can gently exfoliate and soften the skin and help improve skin tone. Internally, its high antioxidant content will help protect your skin and other organs’ health. While more studies are in the works on coffee’s true benefits, experiment with DIY coffee scrubs or sugar scrubs and enjoy your smooth skin!

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Bath & Beauty