Aside from enhancing your mood and giving you a short-term boost in brain function, the benefits of coffee are usually limited to inside your body.
But coffee lovers rejoice – recent studies have found it’s useful on the outside too!
More than just a crucial part of your morning wake-up routine, caffeine can have big overall benefits.
Puffy eyes and dark circles
Between juggling work commitments, family obligations and unintentional Netflix binges until 3am, it’s no wonder we can fall victim to the occasional dark circle and puffiness around our eyes. Here’s the game changer: caffeine.
Coffee doesn’t just perk up the brain, it also awakens the eye.
When applied topically, the natural anti-inflammatory properties in coffee promote circulation, which helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles and de-puff the under eye region.
Try: 1 Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer, $55. 2 Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream, $49. 3 L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser X3 Eye Cream, $44.99.
Caffeine works to constrict blood vessels, reducing redness
Premature ageing
More than 80 percent of premature skin ageing can be attributed to environmental aggressors we can control, like UV radiation and stress.
For the factors we can’t control, like pollution, antioxidants can provide a critical defence and, surprisingly, caffeine is one of the primary sources of antioxidants in the average person’s diet.
However, it doesn’t mean you have to consume copious amounts of coffee – instead, incorporate it into your life in other ways, such as skincare.
Beauty brands everywhere are adding these antioxidants to face serums, masks and moisturisers.
We recommend looking for anti-ageing products that contain caffeine in order to achieve optimum results.
Try: 1 Ultraceuticals Ultra Protective Antioxidant Complex, $104. 2 Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Recovery Mask-In-Oil, $147.
Surprisingly, caffeine is one of the primary sources of antioxidants in the average person’s diet.
Redness and inflammation
We drink coffee to perk us up, but when applied to your skin, it can have the opposite effect.
Caffeine works to constrict the blood vessels, reducing redness and calming irritated skin, while the antioxidants in coffee work to feed your skin.
It’s ideal for those prone to redness, inflammation or breakouts. Look for moisturisers or body balms that contain it, for instant relief and deliciously fragrant skin.
Try: Aromatherapy Company Coffee Body Balm, $27.99.
Cellulite
We’re all familiar with those not-so-darling dimples, and with up to 90 per cent of women affected by cellulite, it’s no surprise scientists, doctors and the beauty industry alike are trying to get to the bottom of it.
Although there’s no proven remedy for banishing cellulite entirely, coffee has been found to visibly minimise the appearance in the short term.
Caffeine dehydrates and draws excess fluid away from fat cells, causing problem areas to firm up and even out.
This is most effective in the form of a scrub when combined with massage application and exfoliation, as it further stimulates blood flow. (For best results, we also recommend dry brushing prior to showering.)
Try: Evolu Invigorating Body Scrub, $34.99. Café Skin Scrub, $16.99. Sukin Energising Body Scrub, $14.95.
How to make a DIY coffee face mask
A DIY face mask is the perfect way to show your face some TLC without breaking the bank and while keeping your ingredients natural.
For a radiant and youthful glow, try this coffee exfoliation mask made from your pantry staples.
– 1 tbsp finely ground coffee beans
– 1 tbsp honey
– 1 tbsp crushed oats
– 1 tbsp lemon juice (or almond oil for dry skin)
1. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl until they form a thick paste.
2. Gently apply to your face using circular motions.
3. Leave for 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse well with lukewarm water.
Words: Erin Berryman
