7 Reasons You Should Exfoliate Your Skin with Coffee Grounds

Coffee is our fuel, but what about its skin benefits? If you’re a coffee-lover, you’ll be happy to hear seven reasons you should use coffee grounds as a body scrub. Since it’s a rich source of antioxidants and nutrients, coffee grounds can be used to exfoliate, boost blood flow, and balance pH levels, while increasing the absorption of what your body cream. And that leaves you with baby-soft, glowing skin.

The benefits of coffee grounds scrub

As soon as you add coffee scrub to your weekly beauty ritual, your skin will enjoy so many benefits at once! 

Coffee is a high source of antioxidants

The main reason coffee is so praised in the skincare world is due to its high antioxidant activity. According to research, caffeine can actually penetrate the skin, so you’ll benefit from all the antioxidants. These are great news since antioxidants help fight free radicals, which are often associated with photoaging, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and pigmentation. Plus, antioxidants strengthen your skin barrier function.

Studies also confirmed that caffeine helps protect cells against UV radiation which may as well slow down skin aging. That doesn’t mean you should skip sunscreen if you have done a coffee grounds scrub. In fact, proper SPF protection is always mandatory regardless of what you have applied to your skin. That’s the golden rule!

It gently removes dead cells

Coffee grounds scrub also help exfoliate the skin and remove old cells, diminishing the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Cumulation of dead cells is one of the leading causes of premature aging, so to reduce the rate at which your skin deteriorates, try coffee scrubs.

It promotes clear and radiant skin

As I’ve already mentioned, coffee contains antioxidants, so rubbing the grounds on your skin will make it glow. Besides, the coffee grounds are great exfoliators so they work wonders at sloughing off the buildup of dead cells and sebum. This, in turn, helps unclogs pores and prevents ingrown hair, while softening skin for a more radiant and clear look. Coffee scrub is also a smart way to prep your skin for any treatment, as products are better absorbed after dead cells are stripped away.

It reduces inflammation 

In addition to being a good source of antioxidants, coffee beans contain polyphenols and hydrocinnamic acid, two compounds that can soothe redness, calm breakouts, and reduce inflammation. 

It helps boost blood flow

When you rub coffee grounds on your body, the caffeine acts like a stimulant that boosts blood circulation. Better blood flow means cells receive more nutrients and oxygen, so coffee grounds scrub can indeed make your skin feel softer, smoother, and rejuvenated.

It balances pH levels

Because coffee is naturally acidic, applying it to your skin can help rebalance the pH levels. This further improves the body’s defense against bacteria and reduces moisture loss for more supple skin.

It reduces cellulite

Use it on the body parts where you have cellulite, and you’ll be surprised by the results. This is because coffee is a diuretic and dehydrates the skin cells, meaning it makes cellulite less visible, though it doesn’t eliminate it, as the American Academy of Dermatology states.

Editor’s tip

If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, it’s better to mix the coffee grounds with honey, as it makes the scrub feel softer. Also, make sure to use a hydrating cream after scrubbing your skin with coffee grounds. And my favorite way to use coffee involves ice. What I do is pour coffee into ice trays to freeze, and whenever I need a skin boost, I rub a coffee ice cube on my face. It makes my skin look fresh, rested, and firm — love it! 

The takeaway

What about next time when you finish your coffee instead of throwing away the leftovers, try to make a scrub with it? However, be careful not to over-exfoliate your skin with coffee grounds (or any other exfoliator) because it may disrupt your skin barrier. Once a week will do just fine!