A steaming hot cup of coffee is the first thing we reach for on a sleepy Monday morning – but did you know those tiny caffeine-filled beans could boost your beauty routine, too?
From scrubbing away dead skin cells to de-puffing your peepers, coffee expert Casey Spencer shares inspired and unusual ways to use coffee grounds.
Get up and glow
Skin feeling a little lacklustre? A DIY face mask could bring back your glow.
“Coffee wakes you up for the day ahead and it can do the same for your skin,” explained Casey from coffee-direct.co.uk.
“Make a paste by combining 240ml of coffee grounds and 240ml of milk, apply to your face, and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes then wash your face with lukewarm water to discover your new glow.
“The stimulating properties of coffee improve blood flow and help to remove the dead outer layer of the skin leaving you feeling radiant, bright, and revived.”
Lip service
Casey said: “Coffee grounds can be mixed with coconut oil to create a nourishing lip mask. Mix and massage 60ml of both ingredients lightly over the lips and remove with a damp washcloth. Coffee stimulates blood flow to the area leaving your lips looking full of natural colour.”
Put your feet up
If your feet need a little TLC before sandal season, Casey advises using up any leftover grounds. She said: “Coffee is an excellent way to cleanse the skin on your feet and leave them feeling soft, as coffee grounds remove dead skin cells from the soles of your feet. To make a foot bath, add 470ml of coffee grounds to one gallon of water and let your feet soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then just rinse, dry and moisturise. The treatment works well with warm or cool liquid, too.”
Wake up tired eyes
Casey said: “Many eye creams that claim to de-puff your eyes contain caffeine in their ingredients – the area under your eye is a lymphatic channel that drains poorly, and caffeine helps to remove any water from the channel. Under-eye skin can get thinner as we age, making it easier to see the blood vessels. The vessel-constricting impact of coffee delivers visible results that last up to an hour.”
Lustrous locks
“Coffee increases circulation when absorbed into the scalp, providing nutrients to the follicles,” said Casey. “Mix 240ml of coffee grounds with the same amount of coconut water, massage directly on to the scalp then rinse thoroughly. The circular motion helps to increase growth, and coconut water contains vitamin B to strengthen strands and reduce breakage.”
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