You know your beloved java boosts your mood, but this antioxidant-packed multitasker can also help improve your hair, skin, and more. You may drink coffee for the eye-opening caffeine, the rich aroma, and the comforting warmth. But don’t toss out those old grounds when your morning pot is empty! You can infuse your beauty routine with the caffeinated effects of your wake-up ritual by reusing coffee grounds in these great DIY beauty treatments. Plus, you’ll save money on store-bought beauty products, all the while recycling the otherwise wasted coffee grounds. An all-around win! Check out these pretty perks of your morning brew
- Make an invigorating scrub.
Old coffee grounds make an excellent facial exfoliant, gently slouching off dead skin cells to reveal the fresh, healthy looking skin underneath. Mix six tablespoons of finely ground coffee (fresh or used) with four tablespoons of coconut or olive oil create a thick paste. Gently rub the grounds on your body and face in a gentle circular motion to slough off dead skin. (Just be sure to avoid the eye area, which can be sensitive to the rough beans.)
- Eliminate product buildup from your roots.
How many products do you put on your hair a day? Conditioners, sprays, and serums can build up over time, and shampooing alone might not clean it all. Like the face and body, ground coffee beans can be used to exfoliate the scalp. As a bi-weekly treatment, massage grounds into hair and scalp before shampooing, which can help to remove unwanted buildup. Just be aware that it might get a little messy. Warning: Coffee can stain lighter hair, so skip if you’re a blonde. Try mixing used coffee grounds with your favorite conditioner and gently scrubbing your scalp for a few minutes. Not only will it feel great, but the caffeine can help stimulate new hair growth! Try this treatment once a week for best results. A note of caution, you may want to place some sort of catch (perhaps a recycled coffee filter) over your shower drain to keep the grounds from clogging your pipes when you rinse.
- Remove smells from hands.
Garlic, salmon, and onions can linger on your skin long after cooking. Simply scrub your hands with coffee grounds and rinse with warm water to zap any lingering stink.
- Try on perfume with ease.
When testing out new perfumes, your nose could get a little, well, confused. In between scents, sniff unused coffee grounds to cleanse your palate — smells won’t merge together.
5. Boost Hair Color
Maybe you’ve heard of the DIY hair-brightening trick favored by blondes: washing hair in chamomile tea or champagne. Well, if you’re a brunette, consider using espresso. Coffee grounds mixed with water into a paste and applied to damp, freshly shampooed hair will add some depth to your color. The acidity of the coffee will also smooth the cuticle of the hair, giving it extra shine. Soaking hair in leftover coffee or scrubbing with grounds can deepen light brown or dark blonde hair color, add highlights to darker brunette hair, and give all hair colors incredible shine. Additionally, soaking skin in coffee leftovers can give the appearance of a healthy glowing tan without the sun damage.
- De-puff tired eyes
Any eye cream that promises to unpack your under-eye bags or lighten up dark circles probably contains caffeine. If you put coffee on the skin’s surface, it dehydrates and constricts blood vessels. The area under your eyes is a lymphatic channel that drains poorly, and caffeine helps remove water from the system. As we age, under-eye skin gets thinner, making it easier to see the blood vessels. The vessel-constricting effect of coffee could temporarily help—expect to see results for 30 minutes to an hour.
