The Wonders of Coffee Grounds on the Skin
Many of us wouldn’t dare dream of starting our day without a cup of coffee. The benefits of coffee go beyond just morning pick-me-up. It may have tremendous benefits for your hair and skin. Let’s go through what the science says about what coffee can and cannot do for our skin. Coffee is a brilliant source of antioxidants and nutrients that may benefit the scalp, skin, and hair. An individual can use it to treat acne, exfoliate, balance pH levels, and increase blood flow.
In this article, we point out several ways to use coffee on the hair, scalp, and skin. We also provide researched proofs that help to affirm the potential benefits.
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Coffee Is High in Antioxidant
Antioxidants help protect our skin from harmful free radical damage, and coffee is very lucky to be packed with antioxidants. This is terrific news for your skin, as antioxidants slow down skin aging.
Some research studies have shown that coffee (specifically its oil) has similar anti-aging effects on the skin as another skincare ingredient, “hyaluronic acid.” Oil from coffee seeds can raise elastin and collagen levels, making the skin feel and look firmer.
Coffee can also help keep our skin hydrated by limiting transepidermal water loss (an ornamental way of describing the way moisture evaporates from the skin).
And these good qualities are not just coming from the roasted bean. Extracts gotten from coffee silverskin (a solid by-product of roasted coffee beans) were found to have antimicrobial and antifungal qualities, in addition to being a wonderful source of antioxidants.
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Exfoliation
Coffee has a lot of antimicrobial properties that may protect the skin against germs. Coffee grounds are a great exfoliant. The grounds do not melt in water, which makes them effective in scrubbing away dead sebaceous cells.
Results of a research study suggest that substances in coffee also help to promote healthy skin. Caffeic acid, an antioxidant present in coffee, may boost collagen levels and lower the premature aging of cells. Caffeic acid also possesses antimicrobial properties, which means that it may aid skin protection against germs.
To make an exfoliating scrub, combine broth 1/4 cup fresh coffee grounds with 1/4 cup of brown sugar and enough lemon extract for the desired consistency. Scrub the mixture upon your skin twice a week after washing the body. Let the scrub stay on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
03. Coffee Protects Skin from ultraviolet Rays
OK, you probably do not have an adequate supply of coffee silverskin in your kitchen. But you probably have some coffee grounds leftover from your pot. Spent coffee grounds also have a lot of skincare benefits.
Several studies have found that spent coffee ground extract helps in skin protection against damage from UV rays. So, when incorporated in skincare preparations, the extract may help shield your skin from sun damage and wrinkle formation.
Incredibly, drinking coffee also helps protect our skin from the sun. Coffee-drinkers are less liable to have skin cancer, especially melanoma.
This is not a substitute for sunscreen, though. You will still need to keep using your sunscreen to protect yourself from the aging effects of the sun and sunburn. This is especially very true when you are using medications that cause sun sensitivity. Coffee contains many antioxidants, such as polyphenols. These may help protect us from ultraviolet (UV) rays and some signs of aging due to sun exposure.
In a study, some researchers concluded that participants with the most enormous consumption of polyphenols, either from coffee or other sources, had fewer ultraviolet age spots on their faces. The participants were women of ages between 30–60 years. Applying coffee to the skin or drinking it are simple ways to relish these antioxidants to our bodies.
04. Getting Rid of Puffy Eyes
Coffee may benefit individuals with puffy, inflamed eyes.
Caffeine regulates blood flow and dilates or widens the blood vessels. These increases blood circulation, which in turn helps the skin to naturally tighten. The effect may be a lowering of the buildup of fluid under the eyes.
Some other compounds in coffee, like chlorogenic acids, may also limit inflammation around the eyes. Try dabbing around your eyes with some paste of very smoothly-ground coffee and the fluid from the coffee itself.
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Hair and Scalp
Your hair and scalp are naturally acidic. Scientists evaluate the acidity of a compound using the pH meter. The lower a pH value, the more acidic the substance is. A pH reading below 7.0 is considered acidic, while a pH beyond 7.0 is deemed to be alkaline or basic. Our hair fibers have an average pH of 3.67, while that of the scalp is a pH of 5.5. Using hair compounds with a higher pH value than the pH of your hair may result in frizziness, dullness, and damage.
Coffee is always acidic. The American Dental Association claims a pH value of 5.11 to the moderate roast of a major brand.
Applying coffee to our hair can be far way helpful in helping to rebalance the pH levels of our scalp and hair. Try rinsing your hair with some cold, brewed coffee or rubbing some coffee grounds unto the scalp. This may also aid the scrubbing away of dead skin cells from your scalp.
06. Body Polish made from Coffee and Sugar
Mix a half cup of granulated sugar (brown or white), two (2) tablespoons of spent coffee grounds, and one-quarter cup of sweet almond oil.
Massage the polish over your entire body when under the shower. Pay attention to any dry and rough areas like knees and elbows. Rinse it well after a while. You should feel some smooth freshness on your skin soonest. The oils present in this recipe can make your bath floor or tub slippery, so you should please take care.
07. Cellulite Reduction
Coffee may also help lower the presence of cellulite on the skin.
According to a small study, a topical caffeine-containing slimming product and several other main ingredients were more effective to reduce stubborn cellulite in ladies than a placebo product. Nevertheless, it is impossible to conclude from the study whether the caffeine, other substance or a combination produced the results.
You could try using some fresh or wet coffee grounds to exfoliate and scrub areas of cellulite. The exfoliation may also aid skin smoothening and enhance blood flow.
08. Reduce Puffy Eyes
Some teaspoons of spent grounds in a moist paper towel and placed over your eyes for about 20 minutes; this will help reduce the puffiness on your eyes.
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Footbath
Coffee may be highly effective at cleansing your feet, softening, and smoothing the skin. These grounds can help scrape away dead tissues and cells on your skin (from the soles of the feet), and stimulating effects of caffeine may aid the increase of blood flow and distribution in the area.
Follow these salient steps to make a foot bath:
- Brew some large cups of coffee
- Add both used grounds and the coffee to a small tub or bucket.
- Allow the coffee mixture to cool, so it does not burn your skin.
- Soak your feet in the coffee mixture, and use the grounds to scrape away those dead skin cells.
10. Lip Smoother
Do you have dry lips? Just mix a small portion of spent coffee grounds with some dab coconut oil. Massage the coffee mixture softy over your lips and remove it with a moist washcloth.
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Hair Coloring
People with beautiful brown hair craving to add a little depth to their glowing color may try the coffee treatment.
Go through these steps to darken your hair with coffee:
- Brew some large cups of concentrated coffee and allow it to cool down to room temperature.
- Pour the coffee into a large basin. Get a clean cup and a hair elastic shower cap ready.
- Lean head-first on the basin.
- Using the cup, scoop up some coffee and pour it on your head so that all follicles of your hair are thoroughly soaked.
- Gently wring out the hair, then pack it in a bun or use your shower cap.
- Leave the coffee to soak the hair for up to 3 hours.
- Thoroughly rinse the hair under the shower.
- You may repeat the process for a darker color.
