DIY Beauty: Four ways to use coffee to prettify your skin and hair

Tips and Tricks

May 17

Waking up to the smell of good coffee is one of the things that make the workday more bearable. Since caffeine is a huge part of our lives, we started to wonder if there’s any way we can get more out of the dregs at the bottoms of our mugs and leftover grounds. Can we use coffee on our skin and hair? Apparently, the answer is yes! Here's a list of beauty recipes you can try with coffee.

Coffee grounds make for a great body scrub

You need to exfoliate at least once a week anyway, so why not use something you already have? Coffee grounds are free and abundant if you like to brew plus the fine granules exfoliate nicely. Some people even claim that caffeine is effective for reducing the appearance of cellulite.

To exfoliate, simply wring out the excess moisture from the grounds, mix a little bit of oil to get more glide onto the skin, then start scrubbing away. Tip: coconut oil is readily available and smells amazing with coffee! You can also use olive oil, and add a few drops of fragranced oils to set the mood.

This scrub can work for the body, feet, and even on your scalp. Just reduce or omit the oil, if you want to use it on your scalp.

Don't chuck out those coffee filters - they can help with eye bags!

If you’ve heard of tea bags that go under your eyes, this is basically the same concept. Caffeine is becoming a popular skincare ingredient for its instant brightening effect, so you can employ the same tactic to revive tired eyes. After brewing your coffee, wait for the coffee filter and used grounds to cool. You can also pop them into the fridge for a few minutes for a more refreshing sensation! Press the filter onto to your lids and under eye area for five to ten minutes each.

Don't have a machine? You can actually use a clean piece of cloth, strain the boiled coffee grounds into it, then tie it up in a small bag before applying it (cooled, of course) onto your eyes.

Yes, you can dye your hair with an extra strong espresso

There are DIY recipes for colored shampoo or conditioner using food coloring, and now here’s one that utilizes the natural color of coffee. It's best to use grounds leftover from a strong brew for a more opaque color. Steep the coffee grounds in a small amount of water to create a strong brew. Apply the colored water all over your hair and let it soak for 20 minutes before rinsing. Alternatively, you can transfer the water into a spray bottle and mist it on the areas you want to color, or mix a shot of (room temperature) espresso with your favorite conditioner for a moisturizing color treatment!

The color will wash out with your next shampoo. Pro tip: using coffee as a wash will also help to soften your mane.

Caffeine belongs on your face, too

You can make a mask out of practically anything - coffee grounds included. But to create a gentler face mask, it is ideal to use finely ground coffee. Mix the coffee grounds with milk or yogurt, honey, and/or cacao powder to form a paste. Spread it evenly and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before washing it off.

Before you get your coffee on, remember not to hold on to the grounds for too long. The moisture in them makes them prone to the development of mold. Just as freshly brewed coffee tastes better than an old batch, it's best to stick to using grounds leftover from the day's brew.

Got more tips on what to do with the remaining grounds? Please share them below!

Sources: Natural Living Ideas, Daily Makeover, One Green Planet, The Indian Spot, Beauty Epic

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