How I give my coffee grinds a second life (for my skin)

What do you do with your coffee grinds? Throw them in the garbage (compost please?).

If so, here's a secret I do at least once a week for my SKIN...and it involves coffee grinds!

I save fresh ones and put it on my skin. Yep, you read that right.

I started this hack after hearing a podcast between Naomi Whittel and Dave Asprey where they were sharing the countless properties for coffee at the skin level.

That got me intrigued...and hooked as a result!

WHY

We know that coffee is a strong antioxidant. Caffeine is a stimulant and when applied on the skin, it will penetrate the skin barrier.

I was blown away to read in Naomi's Glow15 book that caffeine is such a potent antioxidant for the skin that it acts similarly as pure vitamin C by neutralizing free radicals and protecting cells against UV radiation.

Published clinical studies have shown that caffeine applied topically will help to kill UV-damaged cells specifically. 

It's not enough, caffeine is also a vasoconstrictor which can help to reduce redness as well as lower skin inflammation.

I'm thinking: let's not waste an ounce of this goodness! You with me?

HOW

Simplest recipe ever: mix those 2 ingredients and apply everywhere on your face. You will look like you're growing a beard but oh well, it takes what it takes!

• 1 tbsp of fresh coffee grinds (use immediately, don't save)
• 1 tsp MCT oil (I use Brain Octane Oil by Bulletproof)

SOURCING MATTERS

Your skin is your largest organ so you only want to put on it non-toxic and clean ingredients.

I'm a stickler for coffee as it's one item where mold and toxins are most commonly found. 

Obviously, you don't want ANY of that on your skin - and in your body! 

I only drink Bulletproof coffee (not sponsored) because it's the only coffee tested for mold and toxins. It's also the only one that doesn't give me jitters.

You can read more on how it's different and why I use it here.

RESULTS

I've been enjoying this hack as an additional tool to combine to all the other things I do to take care of my skin.

Would it be enough to simply do this mask on its own and not do anything else? Likely not but it's certainly better than nothing!

I'm still using my vitamin C serum every single morning but this caffeine mask helps to complement that antioxidant benefits.

I enjoy how clear and radiant it looks which has kept me doing it religiously once a week for a while now. I would do it more often if I had time!

 Here is my skin immediately after - no make-up!

No more trashing your coffee grinds!

Get glowing!

V xo