Coffee in your beauty routine has a whole range of benefits.
Coffee doesn’t just give you an energy kick when you drink it.
It can be highly beneficial outside the body when used in your beauty routine, even helping to reduce redness and cellulite, alongside anti-ageing properties and improving hair growth.
In terms of drinking it, Recent research from a study published in the JAMA Dermatology Journal, of over 80,000 women in America has found that drinking coffee in reasonably large volumes can reduce the chance of developing Rosacea.
Rosacea is a condition known to cause redness, pimples and bumps on the face.
The new analysis of the study that was conducted by American dermatologists from 1991 to 2005, revealed that women who consumed four or more cups of coffee a day were 23 per cent less likely to develop rosacea compared to those who only drank one coffee a month.
While the exact reason as to why the coffee drinkers were less likely to develop the condition is unknown, it is thought that the antioxidants and immunosuppressant agents found in caffeine could reduce the effects of rosacea, alongside increased stimulation of the blood vessels and immune system.
Not up to drinking four cups of coffee a day? Here are some other ways and reasons to include caffeine outside the body as part of your beauty routine.
TO REDUCE CELLULITE
Caffeine can help temporarily reduce cellulite because it is thought that, when applied topically, it helps to improve overall blood flow and dilate blood vessels underneath the skin, says American dermatologist and Associate Clinical Professor at Yale University Dr Mona Gohara.
While applying coffee to the skin is not a permanent fix for cellulite, it can help reduce the appearance of it, especially when applied with in a scrubbing motion, which helps to soften and plump the skin.
Apply a coffee-based exfoliant scrub with a high caffeine content, such as the Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub, RRP $16.95 AUD
FOR ANTI-AGEING BENEFITS
Applying coffee Arabica seed oil to the face has been reported to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, redness and texture, while improving firmness and skin tone, says Dr Gary Goldfaden from LifeExtension.
Coffee arabica seed oil is the concentrated oil that comes from the coffee bean plant. It is a rich source of antioxidants, and it helps to reduce the visible harsh effects of UV rays as it increases moisture retention in the skin, which in turn helps to improve skin elasticity and strength.
Use an coffee-bean essential oil, such as the Botanical Beauty Arabica Coffee Seed Oil., $54.95 RRP
FOR HAIR GROWTH
Directly applying and massaging coffee through the hair can help hair growth, because the caffeine stimulates the hair follicles and roots, according to a study conducted by the British Journal of Dermatology.
This also helps to make the hair thicker and stronger, while giving it a shinier appearance.
However, drinking coffee alone will not contribute to growth, because it has to be highly concentrated. Instead, use a coffee mask such as the Thickening Hair and Scalp Mask by Grow Gorgeous $34 RPP or a coffee-based shampoo.
Alternatively, cold brew espresso can also be rinsed and rubbed through the hair for a regular at-home treatment that stimulates growth.