Try A Little Coffee In Your Body Care
By Robin Shobin for Charlotte’s Book
Coffee lovers rejoice! While our wellness experts don’t think chugging coffee regularly is the best idea, there are a host of skincare and bodycare products that do make the cut with CB. I specifically love the coffee bodycare products in the summer months—keep them in your shower to slough off dead skin. The smell of coffee in the morning coupled with a healthy body exfoliation is a great way to get your day going.
Image via: Frank’s Body Scrub
Not unlike what your daily cup does for your brain, coffee offers a skin pick-me-up when applied externally: “Coffee contains caffeine, which is an anti-inflammatory and soothing ingredient for skin and may have antioxidant potential as well, to help brighten and even out skin tone,” explained New York dermatologist Dr. Doris Day.
Related: CB Expert Poll: Coffee vs. Tea
When applied to the skin, caffeine acts as what is called a ‘vasoconstrictor’, as well as an antioxidant and a diuretic. This helps skin become smoother and firmer through the dehydration of fat cells and the constriction of blood vessels. Which is why you see caffeine in eye creams, because it constricts blood vessels, which tightens skin and helps to reduce eye puffiness and non-hereditary dark circles. When coffee is combined with other ingredients to create an exfoliator and moisturizer, it helps you remove dry and dead skin, decrease cellulite, and promote overall skin health.
We rounded up some our favorites:
For the Athlete: FITMUD is the self proclaimed “post workout coffee scrub designed for the athlete who who wants their skin to feel and look great after each workout. It’s made from Robusta Coffee Beans, Himalayan pink salt, brown sugar, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, sweet almond oil, marjoram oil, orange essential oil, and coconut oil.
The salt is rich in mineral content and has antiseptic properties (helping with skin conditions such as eczema, acne or psoriasis). Almond oil is rich in vitamin E, A, B1, B2, and B6, and both almond oil and the marjoram soothe sore and stressed muscles, calming you post-workout.
Buy it: FITMUD, the original coffee scrub formula is $24.99
For The Classic: One of the best signature products on the market is Frank’s Coffee Body Scrub, “the original coffee scrub.” If you haven’t heard of it, you probably don’t use Instagram. The scrub gained a cult following after a social media campaign featuring babely women who submitted their own coffee-covered shower selfies. “Babe, don’t eat me!” warns the package. It’s made of pure roasted and ground robusta beans.
We also love Juara’s version of an invigorating coffee scrub, $38, which uses ground Sumatra beans from Indonesia along with hydrating rice bran oil and walnut shell powder to slough off dead skin cells and improve firmness. This formula is great for face or body. Massage the grainy exfoliator in a gentle, circular motion on bare skin in the shower. After rinsing, no additional soap is needed.
Buy it: Juara’s Invigorating Coffee Scrub, $38, Frank’s Original Coffee Body Scrub, $14.95
For The Spa Go-er: Red Flower’s Hammam Lemon Coffee Blossom Olive Stone Scrub, $66, is so popular it’s often sold out. The formula is more nourishing than the prior versions, inspired by traditional Turkish bathing rituals. It’s mixed with milk and sugar enzymes to help promote firmness and reduce cellulite. And omega-rich olive oil and shea butter make this one very luxurious.
Buy it: Red Flower’s Hammam Lemon Coffee Blossom Olive Stone Scrub, $66
For The DIY-er: Like to get messy in the kitchen? Mix 2 cups used coffee grinds with 1 tbsp coconut oil, 3 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp vitamin E oil, 1 tbsp almond oil. Slather and shower!
READ MORE
Caffeine is also part of this super-weird hangover cure (it actually works!)
We love coffee on the outside—and inside. But if you’re drinking it, be careful what sweetener you use.
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