Are you a coffee binger and wondering what to do with the used coffee grounds?
Mine usually find their place in the compost bin, or sometimes sprinkled around my plants as a pest repellent. When my skin is calling for some lovin’, coffee is my latest addition to my ‘beauty regime’ and skincare.
I fell in love with these DIY beauty scrubs and masks, especially as my skin gets dry and dull during the winter season. I added up some essential oils to the mix for enhanced effects and benefits.
Coffee for the skin?
Yep!
According to Medical News Today, coffee is a source of nutrients and antioxidants that may benefit the skin, scalp, and hair. A person can use it to exfoliate, treat acne, increase blood flow, and balance pH levels.
Coffee grounds are a natural exfoliator – since it does not dissolve in water, it’s perfect to scrub away dead skin cells. Its anti-microbial properties help to keep the skin clean and protected from any germs. Coffee may also help reduce the appearance of cellulite which is enhanced when applying coffee grounds in a circular motion – the movement itself helps to increase circulation and improve blood flow, smoothening the skin whilst preparing it to receive nutrients from the other ingredients.
Coffee is also great for the hair, helping to balance the PH levels on the scalp and when scrubbed, removes any dead skin cells around the hair shaft, stimulating healthy hair growth.
Always choose organic coffee – It’s healthier and tastier – Inside and Out!
DIY Coffee-based Beauty Recipes
As I was making these recipes, I added some essential oils accordingly. Read more on some of the essential oils I’m using here. These recipes are using a 2% dilution rate. Essential oils should never be applied directly on the skin, and must always be diluted with a carrier oil.
See this simple guide for a 2% dilution (for adult use only).
1 tsp / 5ml of carrier oil = 2 drops of essential oil
1 tbsp / 15ml of carrier oil = 6 drops of essential oil
1 cup / 236ml of carrier oil = 96 drops of essential oil
Coffee Face Mask with Rose Oil
Rejuvenating, exfoliating and blemish removal.
2 tbsp ground coffee
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp yoghurt – for this recipe I used almond oil instead of yoghurt to dilute the essential oil.
1 tbsp honey
add 6 drops Rose essential oil*
Mix all ingredients. Apply a light coat to the face. Sit for 15 minutes and remove with a warm face cloth.
Tip: infuse dried rose tea leaves in warm water to rinse off with a face cloth.
*I have made this recipe with 15 drops of Rose Essential Oil (using a 5% dilution rate); it was fine for me but my husband’s skin became slightly reactive (oops!). No one was hurt in the making of this…! It’s important to start with low dilution rates and test the product on a small patch of skin before covering a larger surface area.
Exfoliating Coffee Face Scrub
Exfoliating and refreshing.
1 tbsp cane sugar
3 tbsp coffee grounds
1 tbsp olive oil (or almond, coconut – any natural oil will do)
add 6 drops Rose essential oil (Tea tree or lavender can also be used).
Mix all the dry ingredients and add the oils after. Gently massage onto the skin in circular movements and wash away with warm water. Depending on the consistency of the scrub you can add or reduce the cane sugar.
Cellulite Buster | Coffee Body Scrub
Exfoliating and toning.
1 cup coffee grounds
1/2 cup cane sugar
1 cup coconut oil
add 96 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil (not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding)
Mix all the ingredients together. Massage into the skin, especially on cellulite prone areas, in circular movements to help your circulation flow. Wash with warm water.
Coffee Hair Mask
Nourishing and stimulating.
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp ground coffee
add 3 drops Vitamin E oil (optional)
add 5 drops Rosemary essential oil.
Rosemary oil stimulates the roots, improves hair growth, and increases circulation of the scalp. Mix all the ingredients together and apply on your hair and scalp. Leave in the mask up to 30 minutes and wash hair with mild shampoo.
Healing Lip Scrub
Nourishing and healing.
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp cane sugar
1 tsp Ground Coffee
1 tsp almond oil
add 2 drops calendula oil for healing
Calendula oil is a natural oil extracted from marigold flowers. It is often used in for healing wounds, diaper rashes and soothing eczema. Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Gentle massage the product onto your lips for about 30 seconds and wash with warm water. Make sure you do not ingest any product. It is not recommended to ingest calendula oil.
A peek inside the Herbs & Essential Oil Bundle!
Do you have more than you need? Why not make extra, pack in recycled glass jars and send them out as gifts to your family and friends? Here are more ideas on how to recycle used coffee grounds.
Making my own product has made such a positive impact on my overall skin and lifestyle. I feel so empowered in taking control of my health and wellbeing. Furthermore, less product is being used, and the ingredients I am exploring with, have multiple application uses. My overall consumption and waste have reduced drastically helping me to achieve my zero waste goals. Win, Win, Win!
Achieving a completely natural and sustainable lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight. At least for me, it has not. The transition can be long but the need and desire to start hasn’t been so obvious and strong. Here are 4 reasons why I made a commitment to switch to natural living. I also explore essential oils and resources to learn about their applications (Herbs & Essential Oils Super Bundle); these resources have been fundamental in helping me to make more natural choices!
Thanks for sharing! I love reusing my coffee grounds as well! However, I always have problems keeping my grounds from getting gross… do you have any tips?
That happened to me too! I was so excited to do something with all the grounds I collected and then realised the bottom of the lot was mouldy, so I had to start again! I added this bunch to the compost bin. Store them in an airtight container and place them in the fridge. You can also freeze them to use them later. See more uses for coffee grounds when that happens! https://www.naturallyhannah.com/recycle-coffee-grounds/
Wait, what? 1 tsp = 5 ml = 2 drops essential oil? You mean each drop is 1/2 tsp? Those are really big drops. Are those measurements correct?
Dear Claudia, thanks for pointing this out, it doesn’t seem clear. 2 drops of essential oil per 1 tsp on carrier oil. Is that more clear?
I have used coffee face mask and it has antioxidant property which helps to improve dead skin cells and provide a glowing skin. Thanks for sharing such a great article.
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