If you want skin that glows with a capital “G,” it comes down to one thing: exfoliation, exfoliation, exfoliation. You’ve got options here: You could slather on an at-home peel with glycolic or lactic acids, pop the top on one of your favorite face scrubs, or whip up a scrub at home with a gentle exfoliant you’ve probably already got in your kitchen cabinet: coffee grounds.
“Coffee is excellent for the skin because it’s packed with antioxidants, which help to fight damage caused by free radicals,” says Nyakio Grieco, whose nyakio Beauty Kenyan Coffee Face Polish is one of my all-time favorite face scrubs. “The caffeine also helps to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.”
Grieco graciously shared the recipe for her at-home version, which uses finely ground (“Exfoliation should never hurt!” she stresses) Kenyan Coffee—a variety that has a note of citrus, making it less bitter than other kinds. But, she stresses that you can use any type of grounds you like or have—including instant coffee.
Kenyan Coffee Scrub
Ingredients:
1 cup finely ground Kenyan coffee
1 cup organic brown sugar
2 tablespoons organic avocado oil
2 tablespoons organic and refined coconut oil
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Apply in circular motions to face and neck, scrubbing for three minutes.
- Rinse with lukewarm water and then rinse again with cool water. Pat dry.
For Oily Skin
Add three tablespoons of grated cucumber and the juice from half a lemon to the recipe. “Cucumber helps to remove excess oil while lemon juice brightens the skin,” says Grieco.
For Dry Skin
Add ¼ cup of organic plain yogurt and a few drops of your favorite face oil to the mixture. After massaging into the skin, leave on for an additional 5-10 minutes before rinsing.
For Puffiness
Add one tablespoon of turmeric powder to the recipe. “The coffee and turmeric work together to help calm skin inflammation,” Grieco adds.
For Acne
Omit coconut oil and add 1 tablespoon of honey. Packed with antibacterial properties, honey helps to keep breakouts in check. (Source: – oprahdaily.com/beauty/skin)
