Benefits of Coffee for Skin {+ a DIY Coffee Scrub}

Coffee image created by Jigsawstocker - Freepik.com

Oooh coffee... who else is a coffee fan!?

If you are, then you already know how amazing coffee is to drink... but did you know there are actually great benefits to the skin too? Take a look at some of these amazing benefits I found in my research:

• It exfoliates and softens. I'm a big fan of a good scrub for exfoliation, but most of us think of sugar or salt... not coffee. Still, coffee is a great exfoliate too! See the recipe below for a fantastic scrub that I cannot get enough of. The result? Super soft, touchable skin!
• It tightens skin. Dealing with fine lines or wrinkles? Caffeine can be great for minimizing the appearance of fine lines! It can also help with puffiness and dark circles.
• It's an anti-oxidant. Coffee is rich in anti-oxidants and can help reduce redness!
• It reduces cellulite. Say what!? The caffeine in coffee dehydrates your fatty cells, and makes your skin look smoother. 

Like I said... amazing, right? I've been having some issues with my skin lately and my regular scrubs just weren't doing it, so I thought...why not give it a try, right? So I created a little scrub using ingredients I had in hand-

DIY Coffee Scrub

• 1/2 cup coffee grounds
• 1/2 cup sugar (I used brown, you can use white too)
• 1/4 coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. If its not already, get your coconut oil into a liquid form. Allow to cool, but make sure it doesn't solidify.
2. Mix all ingredients together.
3. Store in a jar or other airtight container.
4. Use as desired over face and body.

Now, I'll be honest... this isn't a pretty scrub... you might look at it and think, 'No way I'm putting that on MY face or body'... but take a sniff. It smells AMAZING! The blend of the coconut, coffee and cinnamon is heavenly. And all three have their benefits too! Cinnamon is great for acne, anti aging and more!

Now, honestly... I cannot tell you if these ingredients can really do all that they claim to do. I'm not a doctor and I cannot pretend to be. However, I can tell you that after a week of using this scrub every other day, I could tell a huge improvement in the overall feel and look of my skin. I'd been dealing with some dry patches on my cheeks, and they are now smooth to the touch...and while the dark circles aren't entirely gone (I might need some more sleep for that), I feel like I look more awake too! This has definitely become a regular addition to my beauty routine, and I love that I don't need to buy anything special!

And if nothing else, it's a great exfoliate that smells heavenly!

Have you ever tried a coffee scrub? How did you like it? If you decide to try this one, I'd love to hear your results!