Is Coffee Good for Acne, Oily Skin, or Anti-Aging?
Most of us wouldn’t dream of starting our day without a hot cup of coffee.
The benefits of coffee go beyond your morning pick-me-up.
Svetl / iStock / Getty Images
It may have surprising benefits for your skin.
This is good news for your skin, asantioxidants help fight aging.
Coffee seed oil can increase collagen and elastin, making the skin look and feel firmer.
And these qualities aren’t just coming from the roasted bean.
But you probably have coffee grounds leftover from your morning pot.
Spent coffee grounds may also have skincare benefits.
Several studies have shown spent coffee ground extract helps protect the skin against damage from UV-B rays.
Interestingly, drinking coffee may also help protect the skin from the sun.
Coffee-drinkers are less likely to develop skin cancer, especially melanoma.
This isn’t a substitute for sunscreen, though.
You’ll still need to use sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn and the aging effects of the sun.
This is especially true if you’re usingmedications that cause sun sensitivity.
Coffee extract is much more potent than what’s left behind in your filter.
But those spent grounds can be used in DIY treatments and can have benefits for your skin.
It’s especially good for rough, dry places like elbows, knees, and feet.
The caffeine in coffee grounds can also improve the look of the skin, albeit temporarily.
Caffeine constricts the skin, making it look firmer and tighter (again, temporary).
This tightening effect can help fight puffy eyes and can makecellulitelook less obvious in the short-term.
Coffee Scrubs Won’t Clear Acne
Hang on, coffee lovers.
Scrubs, even all-natural ones, won’t clear acne themselves.
And it’s inside the pore where acne blemishes start.
Acne isn’t resulting from oil or dirt on the skin’s surface.
Instead, it’s a blockage deeper inside the pore (technically called thepilosebaceous unit).
Scrubbing, no matter how often, won’t eliminate the factors that cause acne.
What’s more, a coffee grounds scrub can be quite aggressive and can irritate those already inflamed breakouts.
Whip up some of these recipes instead.
Be careful if you have sensitive skin, though.
And, no matter your skin key in, don’t scrub too aggressively with the coffee treatment.
You definitely don’t want to irritate your skin.
Redness, stinging, and sensitivity are all signs that you’re overdoing the scrub.
These treatments should be made fresh each time, and discard any leftovers.
Gently massage over your face and neck and let sit five minutes.
Rinse well with warm water to reveal bright, soft skin.
Use it no more than once or twice per week.
In the shower, massage over your entire body.
Pay attention to those rough and dry areas like elbows and knees.
Doesn’t your skin feel silky smooth?
Use this as a scrub to give your feet a nice treat.
Lip Smoother
Dry lips?
Mix a small amount of spent coffee grounds with a dab coconut oil.
Massage the mixture lightly over the lips and remove with a damp washcloth.
A Word From Verywell
Coffee does have some benefits for the skin.
But most of the research done has been on more potent coffee components like coffee oil and coffee extract.
Cosmeceuticals containing coffee extract or coffee oil are a better choice if you’re looking for skincare benefits.
There are many other effective options for anti-aging that you’re able to find over the counter.
Lactic acid,glycolic acid, retinol, and hyaluronic acid are all good examples.
Whichever skincare product you use, they do take time to work and they only work for cosmetic issues.
If you need guidance, your dermatologist is a good resource.
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