Coffee is a treasured ingredient in skincare (Photo: iStock)

Are you a coffee aficionado? Then you will be delighted to learn that coffee is a treasured ingredient in skincare. And what's more, you can also use coffee in your DIY skincare treatments.

Let us explore how you can use coffee for everything from brighter skin, soft lips, and getting rid of the unsightly under-eye bag, to exfoliating your scalp.

Brighten your skin

Just like a cup of coffee perks up your mood, coffee is also known to give you a perky complexion. Coffee is an excellent exfoliator. It helps get rid of dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, brighter complexion.

The caffeine in coffee also stimulates blood flow to give your skin a healthy glow. If you want to use coffee to brighten your complexion, use this recipe: mix two tablespoonfuls of plain yoghurt with a spoonful of ground coffee.

Apply the mixture to your face with clean hands and leave it on for about 15 minutes before rinsing.

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Reduce the appearance of cellulite

Coffee is one of the best skincare ingredients for reducing the appearance of cellulite. The caffeine in coffee is known to dilate the blood vessels, reducing the appearance of cellulite dimples on the skin.

The skin also tightens from the stimulating effects of caffeine, which also improves the appearance of cellulite. Instead of spending a pretty penny on cellulite creams, why not give this coffee cellulite mask a try?

Mix one cup of coffee grounds, six tablespoons of coconut oil, and three tablespoons of sea salt or brown sugar. Get in the shower and rub them on your thighs and buttocks and anywhere else where you have cellulite.

Use firm, circular motions to scrub your skin and wait for about 10 minutes before rinsing off in the shower.

Soften your lips

The gritty texture that makes coffee an awesome exfoliator also makes it great at softening your lips. If you suffer from chapped lips, coffee might be the solution you have been looking for.

Here is an awesome coffee lip exfoliator recipe for you: mix half a teaspoon of used coffee grounds with half a teaspoon of honey. Using your fingers or a swab of cotton, rub the mixture on your lips in circular motions for about 30 seconds.

Let it sit for a minute before rubbing it off with a wet washcloth. Apply an emollient balm to protect and nourish your lips.

Get rid of puffy eyes

Do you have puffy eyes or dark circles under your eyes? Coffee can help! Coffee acts as a vasoconstrictor - meaning that it has a shrinking effect on blood vessels that surround the eye area.

When it penetrates the skin and constricts the delicate blood vessels that swell and cause your eye area to look puffy, it reduces the appearance of swelling. To use coffee for puffy eyes, here's your recipe: mix half a teaspoon of coffee grounds with half a teaspoon of olive oil.

Add one or two drops of water to make a thick paste. Gently pat the paste underneath your eyes without rubbing. Leave it on for about 10 minutes before rinsing off and applying an eye cream or your regular moisturiser.

Clean scalp and shiny hair

Just like your coffee is a great exfoliator for your facial skin, it is also great for your scalp. It helps remove the buildup of skin cells on your scalp to leave it feeling fresh and clean and make your hair look bright and lustrous.

Apply half a cup of ground coffee to your hair. Make sure to wet your hair first. Massage the coffee onto your scalp using firm, circular motions for about 60 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and follow up with your usual shampoo and conditioner.

Soothe your feet

After a long day at work or a working week, your feet deserve a treat. A coffee foot scrub is one of the best ways to give your feet some TLC. Mix half a cup of ground coffee with two teaspoons of vanilla extract and blend.

Prepare a warm, soapy footbath and soak your feet for about 10 minutes. While soaking, rub the coffee scrub onto the feet in circular motions. Rinse your feet with warm water and pat dry.

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