EvinaMake your own coconut coffee body scrub and help yourself to smoother, fresher, tighter skin.
Body scrubs can help remove dead skin cells to reveal smoother, softer skin. While there are many off-the-shelf choices, most of them come with paraben, a chemical compound widely used as a preservative in beauty products and has been flagged for its potential harm.
“There is a growing concern about the health risks and the implications on the body with prolonged usage of parabens,” said Lynsey Lim, founder of Handmade Heroes, a Singapore-based natural skincare company.
To minimize exposure to paraben, making your own body scrubs might be the way to go. One “recipe” that you could try is the coconut coffee scrub, which consists of coffee grounds, brown sugar, coconut oil, cinnamon and vanilla essence.
“The coconut coffee scrub is easy to make and smells great,” said Selina Siow, a 23-year-old mother who makes her own scrub.
The caffeine component of the coffee grounds can help tighten the skin, reducing cellulite and swelling. Also rich in antioxidants, caffeine helps combat skin ageing. Adding coconut oil into the mix gives the scrub its nourishing and skin softening qualities. Olive, jojoba or almond oil can also be used in place of coconut oil.
Brown sugar, the coarse component of the scrub, consists of glycolic acid, which helps protect the skin against harmful toxins. Smaller and rounded sugar granules makes for a gentler exfoliation. The brown sugar granules dissolve easily in water and aid in cleansing and moisturizing the skin. For a deeper cleanse, sea salt can also be used instead of brown sugar. While the salt does have a rougher texture, the minerals present make it a natural skin healer.
The coconut coffee scrub works best on areas prone to cellulite, such as the upper arms and legs. “After using the scrub, my skin feels tighter and smoother,” said Loo Hui Ling, a 19-year-old student who is a regular coconut coffee scrub user.
To avoid over-exfoliating, the coconut coffee scrub should be used either once or twice a week.
Coconut Coffee Scrub Recipe
1 cup ground organic coffee
1 cup organic sugar or salt
½ cup organic coconut oil
½ tablespoon organic cinnamon
1 tablespoon organic vanilla essence (optional)
- Warm up the coconut oil until it reaches a transparent and watery consistency
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until well combined
- Keep the mixture in an airtight container and use once or twice a week. When applying, gently rub the coconut coffee scrub on the skin in a circular motion.
About the Author: Evina
During the extremely rare free time that Evina has, she likes to laze around at home in her pajamas all day. She loves to pet animals where ever she goes, even though there are 4 lovely fat dogs waiting for her at home.