With most of us staying home during these challenging times, we’re able to do the creative things we’ve always wanted to do but never got around to. For me, this includes two things I’m passionate about: self-care and coffee. Even better: I found a way to put the two together! Read on for some cool ideas about how you can #treatyourself at home using coffee beans as the main ingredient.
When it comes to beauty, we’ve all heard about the benefits of coconut oil, honey, lemon, and olive oil. But did you know that coffee grounds have great benefits, too? Besides boosting our energy on the daily, coffee has two ingredients that our skin loves: antioxidants and caffeine. Caffeine can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and even cellulite as well as, reduce inflammation of the skin and calm redness symptoms. And antioxidants fight off oxidative stress damage while also improving the elasticity of our skin. If that wasn’t enough already, coffee can help and repair damage done by UV rays and also increases the production of collagen and elastin. Who knew, right?
For your hair
A DIY hair mask for hydration and damage control (that I absolutely love for my dry hair!) only requires three ingredients. Mix one tablespoon of coffee grounds with one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of olive oil to make a smooth paste that is destined to leave you hair hydrated while adding shine. Apply it from root to tip and leave it in for at least 30 minutes. Once the time’s up, rinse and wash with a mild shampoo. You’ll love the results!
For your body
Mix some coffee grounds with coconut oil and apply to your entire body, or add the coffee grounds to a body cleanser and wash it off while you exfoliate. You can also rub coffee grounds on cellulite-prone areas, as caffeine speeds up circulation to improve the appearance of those pesky bumps.
For your face
Make a moisturizing coffee scrub by mixing half a teaspoon of coconut oil and half a teaspoon of finely ground coffee beans. You’ll need to start by cleansing your face. Once you’ve cleansed, you can apply it to your skin in circular motions, avoiding your mouth, nose, and eyes (of course!). Leave the mask on for 15 minutes or up to 30 minutes. When the time’s up, rinse with warm water and enjoy your glowing skin!
If you have oily skin and are prone to breakouts like me, the coconut oil will probably not be a good idea. Instead, mix one tablespoon of coffee grounds (you can use instant coffee, too) and one tablespoon of milk (fun fact: milk leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth). Mix to create a spreadable paste. Cleanse your face and apply. When using coffee grounds, let the mask sit for three to five minutes. Gently massage the mask onto your face and let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes. Massage for one or two minutes while rinsing with cold water to exfoliate any dead skin cells on your face. You can repeat this mask two to three times per week. It will help you get rid of any redness, while leaving your skin fresh and soft.
For puffy eyes . . . whether from Netflix binge-watching or oversleeping . . . you can simply brew your morning coffee and set aside the coffee grounds to cool down, as this hack requires used coffee grounds. Once the coffee grounds are cool, simply scoop some up with your fingers and apply under your eyes and lids and then close your eyes for about 20 minutes. Once done, rinse the coffee grounds off with cool water and pat dry with a clean cloth.
You can’t go wrong with coffee! Coffee was already the best part of my day, but now it’s my all-over fave. You probably have all the required ingredients already, but if you don’t, you can add them to your list for your next trip to Walmart. Give these natural beauty tips and tricks a try . . . you’ll thank me later!
~ Ady
