Oils have become an integrated part of almost all beauty routines. From coconut oil hair masks, to olive oil body scrubs, to using essential oils in our skin care – oils have become a big thing in the beauty world. There is probably at least one tube of lavender oil in your house right now. But have you ever thought about using coffee oil? Our Organic Face Oil is made with coffee oil extracted from our collected coffee grounds. It has become our most highly rated product... so,  we thought we'd make a post to explore in greater detail what benefits coffee oil has for your skin.  

Drinking caffeine clearly has its benefits. Our normal morning cup of joe is known for giving us a daily dose of energy when we feel like crawling back to bed. But that’s only if you drink it, right? Turns out, coffee oil could be the answer to getting the benefits of coffee without actually needing to gulp it down. Now we are not suggesting taking a coffee shower to soak up all its nutrient-rich goodness. Although that would make you smell delicious. Instead, some of us pioneering beauty brands are developing skincare products that contain coffee oil, allowing you to soak up all those great coffee benefits. Interested? Well, grab a coffee, take a sip and read on my friend.

First things first, what even is coffee oil?

Like a lot of seeds, coffee beans (yes, they are seeds) contain lots of natural oils which can be activated through heat. When we roast coffee beans to turn them into coffee grounds, two things happen. One, the heat from the roaster reduces the complex sugars in the coffee beans to simpler sugars which are easier to taste. This is what can give coffee a caramel, nutty flavour. As the heat increases, the acids in the coffee will also begin to break down. Done correctly, this leaves the coffee beans with enough flavour without being sour or burnt.

Oil is extracted from these tasty, nutrient-rich beans through a (putting the beans through a low heat procedure) or the (CO2 acts as a solvent to pull the oils from the beans). This residual oil is what’s called in the beauty world ‘coffee essential oil’ or simply ‘coffee oil’, even though it’s chemically called ‘caffeol’ – doesn’t that sound like the name of a swanky coffeehouse?

Can caffeine go into your skin?

Used to make biodiesel, cosmetics and health supplements, coffee oil is now becoming a new ingredient in beauty products. But can caffeine actually be absorbed into your skin? The answer is yes, according to the clever clogs science buffs, proving that you could actually get your morning fix through your skincare routine instead of from a cup. For those of us who don’t like the taste of coffee, this is very good news.

Smearing coffee on my face? Why not

Coffee is jam-packed full of skin friends, including antioxidants like good ol’ Vitamin E. High amounts of Vitamin E and other essential nutrients found in coffee help to soothe and moisturise your skin. Combine coffee oil with a moisturising oil like jojoba and you’ll be packing in a punch in terms of restoring your depleted moisture levels. Basically, it looks like coffee is your new skincare BFF for rehydrating and nurturing your skin. Cue the good skin day.
Coffee may also potentially have some skin damage protection, as it has been proven to remove cells which have been damaged by ultraviolet rays, which might help prevent the development of skin cancer.

Because of its health and therapeutic benefits, using soaps, shower gels, and face products that have coffee oil (or coffee grounds) in them can help you reap all of the nutrients from coffee through your beauty routine. Your skin and body love you for it.

For coffee-lovers and coffee-phobes alike

If you aren’t already a coffee-oil convert, then this might do it. Believe it or not, coffee oil is completely scentless. For those of us who aren’t coffeeholics then this is a nice surprise. The oil gives you a completely blank canvas so that you can craft your own unique blend of oils. In our much loved (multi-award winning) Face Oil we have created a soft floral scent using rosehip, jojoba and raspberry seed oils – all mixed in with the undercover scentless coffee oil! This means you still get all the above mentioned perks of this wonder oil, without having to smell like a coffeehouse!

That sounds like a win-win to us.

Convinced? Well, we’ve got something you might like. From our Organic Face Oil made using coffee oil, to our Coffee Scrubs crafted from repurposed coffee grounds, at UpCircle it’s fair to say that we are making the most out of coffee!