How to Make DIY Coffee Scrubs

What Are Coffee Body Scrubs?

Most body scrubs are made with sugar or salt, but you can also use coffee to make an exfoliating scrub. Body scrubs make your skin look and feel better almost instantly because they slough off dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. A coffee sugar scrub recipe is gentle on your skin, so they are good for most skin types. However, you can also use salt or other natural exfoliants in addition to fresh or used coffee grounds.

The finished body scrubs will smell like coffee. So, this is the perfect natural skin care product to make if you’re a big coffee lover.

The ingredients in these deliciously scented scrubs exfoliate skin to remove dead skin cells. You can also add other ingredients and scents that pair well with coffee for a scented scrub. I really enjoying using fragrances or essential oils like vanilla, mocha or orange with my coffee scented DIYs.

These scrubs are so easy to make! You can even use your spent coffee grounds to save money, if desired.

But first, let’s discuss exfoliants!

Natural Exfoliants for Skin Care

You can’t make a body scrub without an exfoliant. After all, this ingredients is what sloughs off those dead skin cells to reveal soft, glowing skin. Following is pertinent information you need to know to get started making your own homemade coffee body scrubs.

What is a Natural Exfoliant?

A natural exfoliant is a substance that removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Your skin is constantly making new cells, and the old ones die off. Sometimes they like to stick around for a while on the skin, which can make your skin look dull.

There are several natural exfoliants that you can use. You can make a natural body scrub using one of the following:

• Ground oatmeal gently exfoliates and is a good option for sensitive skin
• Coffee grounds are wonderful for exfoliating the skin naturally. The caffeic acid present in coffee provides a number of natural benefits for skin.
• Ground flax seeds are natural and inexpensive ways to exfoliate your skin.
• Poppy seeds won’t scratch the skin.
• Walnut hull powder is hard and doesn’t break down in a homemade body scrub. I used this in my blue green algae body scrub recipe with coconut oil and in my foot scrub recipe.
• Fine ground pumice is great for polishing your skin. I used it in this foot scrub recipe with coconut oil.
• Jojoba beads are a gentle exfoliant that won’t irritate your skin. They also add a fun pop of color.
• Sugar, whether white or brown, is one of the most common exfoliants use to create scrubs. It’s used to make coffee sugar scrub recipes.
• Salt is another wonderful option. If used at 50%, it naturally preserves your formulation. This ingredient is common is body polish recipes. You can use sea salt or Epsom salt.
• Ground almonds are another natural option to exfoliate skin when you want to avoid synthetic ingredients.

Do Dermatologists Recommend Exfoliating?

Most dermatologists will recommend exfoliating your skin. Exfoliating is often used to combat dry skin to remove dead skin cells, but be sure to follow with a good moisturizer to rehydrate your skin.

Depending on your skin’s needs, most dermatologists recommend exfoliating one to three times a week. If you exfoliate too often, then you can irritate your skin.

How Do You Exfoliate Your Whole Body?

A coffee sugar scrub recipe can be used all over your body except for your face and lips. You can make a coffee grounds face scrub, and it will be gentler than a DIY coffee scrub for the body. If you’re not sure if you can use a scrub recipe on your face, then only use it on your body. You can use a coffee body scrub for your legs, arms, feet and even your hands.

To exfoliate, scoop some of the coffee scrub recipe onto your hands and apply to dry skin. You can wet your hands if you feel that the scrub needs to be thinned, but be careful not to introduce water into the jar. Then scrub your skin in circular motions. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. Follow with a moisturizer to rehydrate your skin.

Some people also like to use a DIY coffee scrub in the shower. This is a great way to keep the mess to a minimum. However, you should be careful not to let water get into the jar. If you don’t use a preservative, then this can introduce bacteria and germs into the scrub. Also be careful because some coffee body scrub recipes are oily, and it can make your shower or tub slippery.

Coffee Scrub Benefits

Coffee is a natural exfoliant that can be used to create an exfoliating body scrub. When utilized as a key ingredients in your skin care formulations, coffee provides a number of benefits for skin. Coffee scrubs are often touted as being able to reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. However, these products also provide amazing benefits for aging or maturing skin. Following are some of the coffee scrub benefits you’ll experience through regular use.

Here are the potential skin care benefits of a coffee body scrub:

• Exfoliates skin to remove dead skin cells, leaving you with supple skin.
• Smooths skin so it looks & feels more youthful.
• Brightens dull skin to give it a healthy looking glow.
• Fights the visible signs of aging.
• Caffeic acid (found in coffee) has antimicrobial properties that help protect the skin against germs and help to prevent acne.
• Reduces the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks.
• Targets and fights inflammation that can make skin look puffy.
• Increase blood flow which aids in the overall skin health.
• If applied regularly, you will notice that your skin absorbs moisture much more effectively.

Is a Coffee Scrub Good for Your Face?

There is some debate about whether or not you can use coffee to exfoliate fine facial skin. However, if finely ground and used occasionally, coffee scrubs can be used as a facial scrub. A face scrub made using coffee grounds can improve the look and feel of your skin. Coffee grounds are gentler than salt and sugar as well. Therefore, they are great option for your face when used sparingly.

Here are the benefits of a coffee grounds face scrub:

• Coffee grounds naturally exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells for brighter looking skin.
• Coffee grounds don’t dissolve in water, so they last longer than salt or sugar while you’re using them.
• Caffeic acid is an antioxidant found in coffee, and it may boost collagen production to reduce the signs of aging.
• Caffeic acid is also naturally antimicrobial.
• The caffeine in coffee boosts blood circulation to make your skin glow. This may also reduce puffiness. This is why people make DIY coffee scrub for cellulite.
• Chlorogenic acids in coffee naturally reduce inflammation.
• Coffee may reduce acne due to being anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and by clearing pores.

Are Coffee Scrub Recipes Too Harsh for Your Face?

A coffee scrub recipe is generally well tolerated by most skin types. Be sure to only use other ingredients that are safe for your delicate facial skin. I do not recommend that you incorporate used coffee grounds from a coffee pod for a coffee grounds face scrub, however. This is because this type of ground coffee tends to be more coarse and can irritate your facial skin. Generally, it is safe to use a coffee grounds facial scrub about once a week.

I do recommend running your grounds through a coffee grinder to make the grounds as fine as possible for this application. You will also want to reduce the amount of coffee grounds in a recipe for this type of application.

Can a Coffee Scrub Remove Blackheads?

A DIY coffee scrub for acne can help unclog pores, which can reduce blackheads. While it won’t clear up your blackheads right away, it can help reduce blackheads and prevent future ones by keeping your pores clear.

Coffee Scrub Recipe Ingredients

There are several ways to make the best coffee scrub recipe for your skin. There are many different ingredients you can use to achieve the results you are looking for. However, I want to cover the most common ingredients that you’ll find in recipes when you learn how to make coffee scrubs for the body. Here are some of the most common ingredients:

• Shea Butter is solid at room temperature, so it makes your coffee sugar scrub recipe firmer.
• Sweet almond oil, coconut oil and grapeseed oil are common carrier oils used to make homemade scrubs. If you want your coffee scrub recipe to be softer, use liquid carrier oils such as these. (As solid coconut oil can be difficult to wash off, I recommend using fractionated coconut oil, also known as MCT oil, instead. It’s always in liquid form.) You can discover more ideas on carrier oils used to formulate body scrubs here.
• Many DIY coffee scrub recipes use essential oils. Common ones are orange essential oil, peppermint essential oil or vanilla essential oil. Cocoa absolute is also commonly used in a coffee sugar scrub recipe.
• You can also use sugar or salt in a body scrub recipe with coffee. This helps make it more exfoliating while still being gentle on skin.

How to Make a Coffee Scrub Without Oil

If you don’t like the oily feeling of a body scrub, you can also make a scrub without oil. To do this, you can make a single use scrub with aloe vera gel, honey, water, milk or green tea.

You want to make these scrubs when you’re ready to use. As there isn’t a preservative in the recipe, you aren’t able to store these scrubs for more than a few days in the refrigerator.

Homemade Coffee Scrub Recipes

Now that you have a basic understanding of how to make coffee scrubs for the body, here are my favorite homemade coffee scrub recipes for you to try.

Coffee Scrub Recipe without Coconut Oil

This is the best coffee scrub recipe for cellulite, stretch marks and anti-aging skin care. This recipe is formulated without coconut oil for a super easy beauty hack to get glowing skin and reduce puffiness caused by inflammation. Made using natural carrier oils, pink salt, brown sugar, ground coffee and essential oils, this body care product exfoliates, smooths and brighten dull, aging or acne prone skin. So your skin looks and feels more youthful and healthy with every use. It can also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks in addition to facial puffiness!

Coffee Scrub Recipe with Coconut Oil

Made with a blend of aromatherapeutic essential oils, this homemade coffee scrub recipe with coconut oil resembles potted succulents and is the perfect treat for your natural summer skin care routine. Learn how to make this DIY beauty recipe today to naturally pamper your skin and reduce the visible appearance of cellulite. Or make this natural body scrub to create unique homemade gifts for friends and family.

Solid Coffee Scrub Recipe

This solid coffee scrub recipe is a seasonal favorite that’s scented with cardamom and pumpkin spice. Made using coffee, sugar and salt to exfoliate skin, this solid body scrub works just as well as a traditional sugar coffee scrub, but without the mess. Learn how to make these skin pampering solid sugar scrub bars to exfoliate and moisturize for glowing skin. Or create these scrubs as homemade holiday gifts for friends and family.

DIY Coffee Body Scrub

Need a quick and easy homemade scrub? Make this simple 5-ingredient scrub in just 5-minutes. This easy, natural beauty recipe is created with mandarin essential oil to help you achieve the look of naturally glowing skin. It exfoliates away dead skin cells, hydrates skin and helps to tone for firmer looking skin.

Solid Coffee Sugar Scrub

As the saying goes, sugar and spice and everything nice! This warming cardamom and spice solid coffee sugar scrub recipe is formulated with warm holiday spices and a cardamom fragrance oil. Like jar scrubs, it also exfoliates skin to reduce the appearance of cellulite for soft, supple skin. While the addition of mango and cocoa butters moisturize dry skin for lasting hydration.

Coffee Scrub Soap Recipe

Looking for a mess free way to exfoliate with coffee? Try soap! This easy caffeinated soap recipe has a fun, scrubby coffee scrub center. Made using a melt and pour soap base, this skin care project is a suitable soap making project for beginners.

How Long Do Homemade Coffee Scrubs Last?

Your coffee scrub recipe should last for three to six months on the shelf. You can also store it in the fridge. Be careful not to introduce water into the jar and use a spoon to scoop it out to prevent contamination. Otherwise, a preservative is recommended to extend the shelf life.

If you are making homemade scrubs to sell, I highly recommend a preservative. As you don’t know how the end user will treat the products.

Storage

If stored correctly, these homemade body scrubs with coffee can be kept for up to 6 months. I recommend storing them in an airtight container away from excessive heat. You will also want to avoid water contamination.

How to Use Homemade Coffee Body Scrubs

Follow these simple steps exfoliate your body:

• You can use the scrub in the shower or tub.
• First, run the water for a few minutes to soften your skin.
• Next, gently apply the DIY coffee body scrub over your body.
• Rub it on your skin in circular motions, moving from the feet upwards.
• Then rinse it off in the shower with plenty of water.

Exfoliate once to twice per week. Don’t use the scrub on irritated skin or wounds.

DIY Coffee Scrub FAQ

Before you get started on my recipes for making coffee scrubs, I want to answer a few additional questions you may have. Here are some of the most common questions people have about how to make coffee scrubs.

Can I Use Old Coffee Grounds as a Scrub?

The question of whether you should use fresh coffee grounds or used coffee grounds to make a homemade scrubs comes up often. Luckily, there’s an easy answer! You can absolutely reuse coffee grounds to make a DIY coffee scrub. To do this, you will need to spread the used coffee grounds on a plate or cookie sheet and let them dry completely. If there is any moisture, it can introduce microbes into the scrub. Therefore, it’s vital that you don’t skip this step.

I will note that grounds from coffee pods are finely ground, and they can irritate sensitive skin. As such, you should use regular coffee for coffee pots if you have sensitive skin.

Can I Use a Coffee Scrub Everyday?

No, it is not advisable to use coffee scrub every single day. Any scrub at all (not just those with coffee) can have adverse effects on the skin if used daily. Excessive scrubbing and exfoliating can easily damage your skin unless you’re using an extremely gentle homemade scrub.

The topmost layer of your skin acts as a protective barrier layer. Over-exfoliating can damage this layer, leaving your skin more exposed to the UV rays, easy tanning, sunburns, and rashes.

How Often Should One Use a Coffee Body Scrub?

You can use this DIY coffee scrub once or twice per week. Anything more than that isn’t safe for the skin.

It’s impossible to tell when you’ve gotten rid of the dead skin cells and when you’re damaging the fresh new skin cells. Which is why limiting the usage of a coffee scrub to 1-2 times a week is the best option.

Can I Use a Coffee Scrub on My Scalp?

These homemade scrubs aren’t just limited to your body! you can use it for all kinds of beauty applications. If you’re looking for a way to use this powerhouse in your hair, a scalp treatment is an excellent idea.

Coffee grounds can be used as a hair scrub, hair rinse, and scalp exfoliator. The exfoliating agents in the scrub help discard dead skin cells, product build-up (can clog pores in your scalp), dandruff, oil, and may even stimulate hair growth.

How Do You Use Coffee on Your Hair?

The best way to use coffee scrub on your head is to massage the mixture into your scalp using circular motions. Leave it in for around 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse it out with lukewarm water.

Another idea is to mix a little scrub with your conditioner and then apply it on your hair. Leave it for 5 to 8 minutes before rinsing it off.

Are Coffee Scrubs Good for Skin?

Yes, coffee scrubs are great for your skin! Coffee can do much more than just lift you up in the morning. It’s an incredible skincare ingredient that you can use to improve your skin.

Using coffee scrub is said to improve blood circulation, which aids in overall skin health. Healthy blood circulation will give your skin a more even tone. When you apply a coffee scrub on the body in circular motions, your skin also absorbs caffeine’s antioxidant qualities, which eventually prevents premature aging.

Do Scrubs with CoffeeTighten Skin?

The caffeine in a coffee scrub recipe can help tighten the skin. However, this effect would be temporary.

Do Coffee Scrubs Help With Cellulite?

Cellulite is mostly formed due to genetics, but once it is there, it stays. On its own, coffee is full of antioxidants and works as an exfoliating agent to help in removing dead skin cells. But the caffeine in coffee scrub isn’t enough to help reduce cellulite’s appearance on the skin.

To make the scrub truly effective against cellulite, be sure to add the water-soluble caffeine I suggest in the ingredient list above. When caffeine is applied on a cellulite-affected area, it may help decrease cellulite by breaking down the uneven fat and increasing the blood flow.

Can a Homemade Coffee Scrub Remove Dark Spots?

The best coffee scrub will remove dead skin cells, which can help lighten hyperpigmentation. However, you won’t see results for a long time.

Are There Disadvantages to Using Coffee Scrubs?

Although a DIY coffee scrub is generally less abrasive than a sugar scrub or salt scrub, they can still irritate sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, then you may need to talk to your doctor about alternatives for exfoliating.

Sometimes using a scrub for acne can make your acne worse. This is because acne is caused by clogged pores, and the scrub may not clear your pores deep enough to reduce acne. Instead, it may clog your pores further and lead to more acne.

Can Body Scrubs Made With Coffee Clog the Drain?

Yes, unfortunately, coffee grounds can clog the drain and damage pipes. In fact, “Coffee scrubs are one of the worst things you can put down your drain,” says Jim Steine, the president of Atomic Plumbing in Virginia.

Worst actually means worst in this case. It doesn’t matter even if you use a coffee scrub only once a week. It will clog your drain by mixing with residue and oils from soap and other personal care products in your pipe.

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