Got too much time on your hands, and need something to do? Or absolutely hate waste, and want to be beautifully eco-friendly? Maybe you’ve just run out of your favourite grooming products… either way, have we got a handy guide for you!
This coffee face scrub doubles as a mask - for a great way to recycle your coffee grounds (since it turns out you shouldn’t be using them in the garden after all), and freshen you right up.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp used coffee grounds
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp of whole milk or cream
- 1 tbsp of honey
Method:
- Take your coffee grounds, and add to a bowl
- Add the cocoa powder and stir to combine
- Mix in your milk, cream or vegan alternative*
- Stir through the honey
- Apply to your face, gently massaging in to exfoliate
- Leave for ten minutes, then rinse off with warm water
Top tip: pop a coffee filter in the sink’s plughole, to prevent any clogging!
What role each ingredient plays & vegan alternatives
These ingredients might read like a (particularly tasty) shopping list, but there’s a rhyme and reason behind each one! Let’s take a look at the function of each component, and what can use if you’re avoiding dairy products.
Coffee grounds
The coarseness of coffee grounds is a great natural exfoliant - better than those nasty (and now banned!) microbeads. It’s also said to reduce swelling, as it’s a diuretic, which is great for puffy eyes after a long night… any one else staying up to binge-watch old episodes of Come Dine With Me?
Dairy
Depends on your skin type, but milk is said to be great if you’re not susceptible to acne - apparently milk has an “unique ability to remove the oil-soluble impurities with the help of fat-soluble enzyme lipase, protein-based impurities with the help of protease and dead skin cells with lactic acid”. Who knew! It’s also thought to soothe any soreness (especially for sunburn) so it’s a gentle accompaniment to the exfoliating grounds. If you want to avoid the dairy though, check out our vegan alternatives.
Honey
Many people laud honey for supposed healing properties and bacteria-balancing skills, with studies suggesting it promotes antimicrobial activity, the healing of some burns and scars, and can have positive results targeting rosacea. Though further study is needed - and it may depend on the type of honey - at the very least it’ll make for a less bitter experience if any of it finds its way into your mouth!
Cocoa powder
Thought to stimulate blood circulation, and packed with antioxidants, there’s the potential of the cocoa brightening and toning your skin, and reducing fine lines. So if you were already a mocha fan, you’ve got more reason than before!
What vegan alternatives to use
Avoiding dairy products? Not a problem. You can either try using your preferred milk substitute, coconut oil, or cocoa butter… or even just pop in a spoon or two of your preferred moisturiser!
FAQs:
Is a coffee scrub good for your face?
It’s a natural way to exfoliate, getting rid of dead skin, and it could reduce puffiness and redness. That sounds good to us! Why not experiment with which coffee you use? A less acidic, African coffee might work better for your skin.
Is it okay to use coffee scrub everyday?
We wouldn’t recommend using any kind of scrub every day - no need to mash up your mug, by rubbing it raw! Stick to once a week, as the coffee grounds might be more abrasive than your usual exfoliator. Not to mention - the finer the grounds, the better.
How long does homemade coffee scrub last?
Pop it in the fridge, and it should be A-OK for a couple of days - even more if you skip the dairy element. Never forget the power of the good, old-fashioned ‘sniff test’ though!
