Beauty tips for coffee lovers!

OK.......... How many coffee lovers out there? Many............ i can safely assume. Some of us want the early morning fix to start the day, some need cup after cup, or should I say mug after mug  to get through the day. And there are others,like me who drink coffee for fun. 

there has been a whole lot of research on the benefits or ill-effects of coffee and the jury is still out, but in the mean time, it seems coffee has some excellent beauty benefits (ok, ok the BB effect)! 

So lets first look at the properties that make it an excellent skin care agent.

Caffeine has potent anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for reducing inflammation and redness in your skin. In a 1981 study performed at the Seoul National University, researchers found that caffeine is able to reduce inflammation almost as well as aspirin; in a 1978 performed at the University of Tennessee, researchers found that adding caffeine to anti-inflammatory creams significantly increased their effectiveness. Overall, use of skin care products containing caffeine will reduce and prevent inflammation and redness, leaving you with a beautiful, even skin tone.

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Although caffeine cannot completely erase hereditary dark circles, applying caffeine under your eyes will reduce the puffiness and inflammation associated with dark circles. Additionally, caffeine reduces the build-up of blood under your eyes which contributes to dark shadows. Several eye creams contain caffeine, or you can apply moist tea bags to your eyes for five minutes to reduce puffiness and give you a more alert appearance.

 

 

Caffeine can also reduce the appearance of cellulite. In a 2008 study performed at the University of São Paulo, researchers found that an application of skin cream containing caffeine to cellulite reduced the size of cellulite fat cells by 17 percent. In addition, a 2007 study performed at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro found that caffeine cream applied to cellulite decreased the hip's diameter in almost 70 percent of participants. A number of anti-cellulite creams have been developed to reduce the appearance of cellulite, or you can take advantage of the power of caffeine by adding ground or instant coffee to your regular body scrub at home.

(Credits: www.livestrong.com)

How can coffee be used for beauty care? The best way to use coffee for home beauty treatments is using filter coffee. Instant coffee usually leaves no residue. Filter coffee actually contains the skin of the coffee bean. This skin of the coffee bean is what gets left behind after it had been brewed in a coffee maker or the more traditional South Indian filter for getting the decoction of coffee. The residue left behind is what is best as a beauty aid. If you do not have access to filter coffee, instant coffee should suffice. But be warned that it will stain your skin (since it will be stronger than the brewed filter residue)

 

A Simple trick to start you out.

Give your skin a buzz with used coffee grounds (filter coffee residue after brewing). Simply scrub the crumbly goodness all over your body for a natural exfoliant. Rubbing grounds into your skin will slough off dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling refreshed. For a smoother scrub, add a bit of olive oil to the grounds.

Hands feeling rough and dry? Rub your hands together using the same recipe, and see the difference. 

A Do-it-yourself facial

No need for high-end (and high-priced) spa treatments to get your skin glowing. Indulge in a coffee grounds facial to soften the delicate skin on your face.
Simply mix together these ingredients:
2 tablespoons freshly ground coffee (or used grinds)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons milk (whole), heavy cream or yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
Massage this chocolatey delicious mask into your skin in the morning for a quick perk up. Allow the mask to dry for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse it off thoroughly.
This yummy mask will help tighten pores and remove dead cells. The coffee grinds will help reduce puffiness and swelling, while the cocoa, honey and milk will add moisture to your skin. Some people report brown staining on skin. In which case reduce the wait time. If you have very oily skin, prone to break outs, you might want to ignore the honey and use low fat milk

Now for something more luxurious....

Egyptian Revitalizing Coffee Scrub Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1. 3 Tablespoons of  moist, used coffee grounds
2. 1 Tablespoon of  Extra Virgin Olive Oil or coconut oil
3. 1/3 teaspoon of pure honey ( use more if your skin is extra dry)

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Wash your face with cool water to remove any dirt or makeup.
3. Apply the scrub to your face and massage gently in a circular motion.
4. Let scrub sit on your face for 1-2 minutes.
5. Rinse scrub off with cool water.
6. Pat your face dry with a clean towel.

You can even use it for a whole body exfoliation. But be warned of the mess in the bathroom. 

 

A lot of anti-ageing creams have caffeine in them. So, rubbing coffee grounds into your skin is a great way to beat the wrinkles without burning a hole in your pocket!

Using coffee as an exfoliator or face mask makes my skin feel fabulously soft and deliciously smelling of coffee.............. :)

These scrubs are supposed to fight cellulite too. Mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon of olive or coconut oil, then, while standing over an old towel or newspaper, apply the mixture to your "problem areas". Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds off your skin and then shower with warm water. For best results, it is recommended to repeat this procedure twice a week. A little weird to be sure, but as high priced cellulite creams actually have coffee in them, it just might work (This I have not tried)

 

 

It seems you can use coffee as a great hair care agent too. 

Rubbing in some coffee grounds into your scalp and hair helps condition and make your hair shiny. It works really well for those with dark brown or black hair.

 

Mixing instant coffee with henna powder gives a darker tint to your hair.

Compost Material – Coffee grounds fit the standards set by gardeners for compost materials. The grounds, when mixed with soil, release nutrients that make the ground richer. If you have a good supply of coffee grounds, just spread them evenly in your garden or pots. Your plants will reward you by producing robust blooms. 




There are so many more uses of coffee other than just drinking it. If you have a secret use for coffee let me know.............

Till then,take care..........