At UpCircle we harness the power of plants to create natural, sustainable beauty products. Our coffee scrubs are made using Arabica coffee grounds that we collect from cafes, bars and restaurants across London! If you fancy having a go at making your own homemade coffee scrub, here we share the best DIY coffee scrub recipe.
Using natural ingredients for your coffee scrub
These days, we're no longer happy to put food full of chemicals into our bodies. So why does our skin get such a free ride? Looking at an ingredient list and can’t understand what it says? Think twice – it may be worth doing some more digging.
We love donning an apron and heading to the kitchen – it's where our coffee scrubs were created! There's nothing better than getting messy experimenting with different foods, herbs and plants.
As you’ve probably guessed, one of our favourite ingredients for natural skincare is coffee.
Why use coffee in a homemade body scrub?
- Coffee is a fantastic alternative to plastic microbeads which pollute the oceans and kill wildlife. Luckily, microbeads have since been banned in the UK. Hurray!
- The fine coffee grounds act as a natural exfoliator, helping to buff away dry and dead skin, leaving you with smooth, soft skin.
- The caffeine in coffee helps stimulate blood flow, making it effective against skin conditions such as acne, eczema, cellulite and stretch marks. It helps to address those areas in need of renewal and regeneration.
- Coffee is the same pH as your skin, meaning it won't leave it feeling dry.
We also add Himalayan salt to our DIY coffee scrub recipe below for the antiseptic qualities. It’s good for cuts, scratches and bruises.
Give our homemade coffee scrub recipe below a go – play around and don't be afraid to experiment!
UpCircle DIY Coffee Body Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 100g freshly-brewed coffee grounds (you can use fresh unbrewed coffee grounds too if you're not a coffee drinker!)
- 2 tbsp almond oil (you can also use avocado oil, jojoba oil or macadamia oil)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 20g coconut palm sugar (you can also use rapadura or cane sugar)
- 10g sea salt
- 4-5 drops of essential oils of your choice (see below for some ideas!)
Essential Oils
- Cedarwood – A woody scent used for calming and to alleviate stress and anxiety.
- Peppermint – A cooling agent that enhances mood, sharpens focus, combats irritation and redness, alleviates symptoms of congestion, and aids in digestion.
- Rose – Soothing rose helps with circulation, inflammation, and depression.
- Jasmine – Sweet smelling Jasmine has been known to enhance libido, and ease depression, tension and stress.
- Bergamot – This citrus scented oil is great for skin infections, such as eczema and psoriasis.
- Tea Tree – A natural immune booster and known as an antiseptic. Good for infections, cuts and burns.
- Ylang Ylang – This sweet aroma is great for reducing stress and a potent aphrodisiac.
- Lavender – A well known stress reliever but also a potent anti-inflammatory and a sedative.
- Lemon – A good choice for skin irritation and poor circulation, as well as for improving mood and reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Method
- Measure all the ingredients into a medium bowl and stir to combine with a spatula or a wooden spoon.
- Transfer your homemade coffee scrub into a jar, or another pot with a lid, and store in the bathroom.
- Apply in the shower or bath on damp skin.
- Massage into skin in a circular motion.
- Leave for 3-5 minutes for the essential oils to absorb into the skin for full effect.
- Rinse off thoroughly.
- Your skin should feel incredibly soft and smooth. You'll love the feeling!
Enjoyed making your own DIY coffee scrub? Let us know in the comments below!