Your day might not start without turning to your old coffee mug from college, but have you considered putting those grinds on your skin? Dermatologic surgeon, Dendy Engelman, MD, says coffee is a natural, safe exfoliant that battles cellulite, too. The key skin-care ingredient of these beans? Caffeine! "Caffeine aids in the lymphatic drainage to smooth out the appearance of skin by increasing circulation. By exfoliating with a scrub, dead skin cells on the surface are buffed away and the caffeine adds some actual shrinkage to the fat cells. Skin is left looking and feeling smoother," she explains.
At home, making a coffee scrub is a no-brainer: just mix together ground coffee, sugar and coconut oil. Apply to your face or derriere and leave on for five minutes before washing off, giving you smoother, cleaner pores or a smoother backside.
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Coffee Beauty Products
Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub, $17
Naturally beneficial, roasted and ground robusta coffee beans will wake you up when you're showering in the A.M., all while buffing away your dry skin. With an added almond oil, your skin also enjoys vitamin A, E and D.
A handful of raspberries might sound like a great snack, but these fruit superstars are also powerhouses for your skin. Thanks to super-high levels of vitamin C, Mackey explains their strong antioxidant properties protects skin from free radicals (major skin agers). "They hydrate the skin and naturally increase both collagen and elastin levels. They're also a smart source of vitamin K which helps the body heal wounds, scars, stretch marks and spider veins," she explains.
To use raspberries at home, you can mash them into a paste by adding a bit of coconut oil. Apply directly, leave on for 10 minutes and wash off to bank the rewards of these sweet treats.
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Raspberry Beauty Products
Herbivore Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Treatment, $58
Using fruit enzymes from raspberries, butter and hyaluronic acid, this overnight treatment improves the texture of your skin, corrects your skin tone and prevents dryness. Other fruits are infused in this fruity blend too, including prickly pear, goji berry, papaya, lemon, orange, bilberry and cranberry.
Less of a coffee drinker and more into a hot cup of tea to get your ready for the workday? Another morning beverage that's ideal for your skin is green tea. Fielding explains that much like cucumbers, green tea can work to invigorate and clear your skin, while decreasing any swelling. "Green tea improves the skin complexion by reducing inflammation, healing blemishes and reducing the signs of scarring. Green tea bags can also help with puffy eyes and dark circles. It reduces the signs of aging by helping with sagging skin, sun spots, fine line and wrinkles," she notes.
Try this healing DIY face mask made with honey and matcha, an extra-potent form of green tea. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of matcha to form a paste. Depending on the consistency of your honey, you may need slightly more. Spread the mixture over your face and neck using circular movements. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and remove with a warm, wet washcloth.
