10 Surprising Beauty Benefits of Coffee

10 Surprising Beauty Benefits of Coffee Coffee is best known to us as the beverage that helps us wake up in the morning and makes our workday possible! But did you know that coffee has surprising beauty benefits as well? Luckily we have good news for our readers who wake up to the smell of coffee each morning brewing on their favorite coffee maker.   Recent research suggests that your daily dose of java can also make you prettier if applied in the right way. How? Let us tell you! Here are the top 10 reason why coffee (in any form) should be a part of your beauty and skincare regime along with your morning routine. Antioxidants:- We typically associate antioxidants for the many health benefits it provides. However, antioxidants are equally good for skin as well. According to health experts, coffee contains antioxidants that help combat premature aging which is caused by pollution, stress, heat, and free radicals. Coffee’s antioxidant power comes from ‘flavonoids’ and are only released when the coffee is brewed or heated. This means that to avail the particular beauty benefit, you have to drink the coffee. But remember not to exceed the recommended FDA dosage for coffee which is 400 mg or 4 cups per day. Reduces puffiness under the eye:- The caffeine content in coffee is helpful in eliminating under-eye puffiness by increasing blood circulation and shrinking blood vessels. Beauty experts often recommend using an under-eye cream that includes caffeine as its active ingredient. However, you can make your very own de-puffing cream by using leftover coffee grounds. Simply apply the cool grounds under the eye and rinse it off with cold water after a few minutes. You can also make ice cubes with the leftover coffee grounds and use it to reduce dark circles and puffiness around the eye area. Exfoliates:- Old coffee grounds can also be used as an exfoliator to remove dead skin and also reduce the appearance of cellulites. For an easy DIY scrub, simply use leftover grounds and rub it on the skin for smoother and softer skin. You can also mix coffee grounds with a spoon of olive oil and sugar for a more deluxe scrub. Protects:- None of the best coffee maker reviews you read will tell you that drinking coffee is a good way to protect yourself from skin cancer. In fact, studies have shown that women who drank three cups of coffee each day had a 21% less chance of developing skin cancer. For men, the risk reduction was 10 percent. Additional research has also shown that caffeine can directly absorb damaging UV rays. This means that it can be applied topically or mixed in sunscreen for enhanced protection. Smooth and bright skin:- Coffee works as a great facial scrub and makes the skin soft and smooth by removing dead skins and impurities from its surface. For a face scrub, just take some coffee and mix it with milk until a thick consistency is reached. Apply the mixture on face and leave on for 10 â€" 15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Skin tightening:- You may have noticed coffee is added to many anti-aging creams and serums. Well, that is because coffee has the ability to tighten skin and increase hydration as well as collagen within the skin surface. For an anti-aging mask, combine coffee grounds with Epsom salt and coconut oil. Leave on for 5-10 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Reduces acne:- Individuals who are prone to acne are often told to quit drinking coffee and other caffeine beverages as the ingredients in these drinks can trigger their hormone levels and increase acne. However, this does not mean you can NOT apply coffee grounds on your face to treat the same issue. Beauty experts highly recommend coffee to treat acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties. For an acne reducing exfoliator, just mix coffee grounds (not instant coffee) with ½ tsp coconut oil and ¼ tsp of cinnamon or turmeric. The anti-bacterial properties of all the ingredients will not only reduce the appearance of acne but also halt further growth of acne causing bacteria. Hair Mask:- A beauty regime is not complete without hair care, right? Coffee works as a great mask for hair and helps reduce hair fall, increases growth and makes hair soft, smooth, and manageable. Just take 2 teaspoons of coffee powder and mix it with 1 tablespoon of honey and olive oil each. Leave on hair for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Hair brightener:- Just like women with light colored hair use tea to brighten their hair color, those with dark colored hair can use coffee to enhance the shine. Simply boil coffee beans and use the cooled water as a final rinse after shampooing. However, make sure you test out an area first as coffee can cause a slightly orang-ish hue in grey and blonde hair. Fights odor:- Had a long day in the kitchen and now hands reek of garlic and onions? Don’t worry? Coffee has the ability to fight odor and is more powerful than any stubborn kitchen ingredient. Just rub some coffee ground on hands after cooking and the smell will go away in seconds as who would want a beauty who reeks, right? Coffee: Do But Dont Overdo!:- These were just some of the tips you can apply to your daily beauty and skincare regime for a better and prettier you. Coffee based remedies do work but nothing is extraordinary. This is why we strongly suggest that you exercise caution when following the above mentioned tips and don’t get carried away. And of course, it is highly recommended that you don’t OVERDO the usage of coffee. Whether it’s drinking or applying topically â€" make sure that you don’t overuse coffee in order to achieve quick results. It’s always best to consider the pros and cons of every product that we undertake so make sure to use in moderate level for the desired benefits.   This guest post was authored by Edna Francis: Edna Francis is a professional content writer, digital marketer and contributing editor who is working on many blogs like  http://homekitchenary.com/. Apart from the blogging activity, she has a deep passion for singing and has performed at the National level.