The Beauty of Coffee

The Beauty of Coffee

ByCal Orey

THE BEAUTYIFYING MYSTIQUE OF COFFEE

Discovering beauty benefits of coffee and its versatile healing powers from head to toe is a sobering experience that is gaining popularity. Since superfood coffee is an awesome antioxidant, it protects the body inside and outside. Drinking coffee and using it topically, too, can help you get beautiful while helping you look and feel great, too.

Anti-aging coffee goes back to different uses by Hawaiians and the Japanese. Both cultures are known to use coffee beauty uses for reducing wrinkles and improving their skin. In fact, it has been said the Japanese have bathed in coffee grounds fermented with pineapple pulp.

It’s no beauty secret that coffee combined with other natural ingredients can enhance your blood circulation, zaps stress and anxiety, and help to make your skin feel silky and smoother. Coffee grounds teamed with other natural herbs and extracts can help exfoliate, soften, and even make your skin look firmer and glow. And this is why some spas around the nation and world include coffee in their spa treatments.  Here, take a look at some of the popular coffee-based treatments.

JAVA SPA TREATMENTS AT HOME

Do it yourself products make it possible and easy to enjoy those pampering health spa benefits in the comfort of your home. And more people—both men and women—are discovering the beauty benefits of coffee, whether it’s from the grounds or brewed coffee. Here, take a look at some of the at-home treatments I tried from head to toe, and you’ll be thanking coffee trees.

Coffee Therapeutic Anti-Cellulite Massage

 Coffee extract promotes circulation and tones cellulite-prone skin. Rosemary, mint and citrus calm the mind and revitalize the spirit while peppermint oil relaxes and refreshes tired muscles. This massage will leave you refreshed and rejuvenated.

Coffee Contouring and Cellulite Wrap

  Using the beneficial antioxidant and improved cell metabolism of coffee, the wrap begins with BodyCoffee Polish to exfoliate and refresh the skin to enhance the warm, rich detoxifying body wrap. A hot shower with BodyCoffee Blossom Body Wash is followed by the application of hydrating BodyCoffee Body Lotion.

SKIN

Coffee Skin Anti-Cellulite Lotion:  Before I showered, I turned to an old favorite—olive oil.  I combine extra virgin olive oil with coffee grounds on my upper thighs and buttocks. Being lean, I don’t have a lot of cellulite, but most women as they age will get some dimpled fat—and, of course, smoother skin is something that is appealing. After several minutes, I showered. I admit my skin felt softer but since I don’t hunt for cellulite (like I did in my twenties); I cannot honestly say it made a difference.

Coffee Body Wash:  The next morning, I went to the shower and tried a coffee exfoliant for my entire body. I combined the morning’s coffee grounds with an all-natural body soap. My skin did feel softer than when I use Ivory Soap. But I confess the coffee grounds got me a bit wary considering they might clog the shower drain.

PAMPER YOURSELF

A Day in the Life of a Coffee Lover

If you think coffee spa beauty treatments are just for the rich and famous, and DIY homemade coffee concoctions are for folks living on a shoestring, you may be right. There is another option for people somewhere in the middle who want to go coffee for beauty.

One summer day, I was craving a vacation. A surprise UPS package was sitting on my doorstop. The brown box was filled with BodyCoffee products and a cheat sheet card that came with descriptions of each container, including “Awaken your senses in a whole new way” and “Discover what cultures around the world have known for centuries—the skin healing miracle of coffee.”

It was the perfect gift getaway. Using pre-packaged coffee beauty products (that you can buy online) give you spa coffee treatments right at home. The following is a luxurious one-day spa plan to relax and rejuvenate your body and mind—like I did.

7:00 A.M.: Rise and shine. My day starts with being awakened by raccoons or a stray cat outdoors that woke up my Brittany duo. It was time to get up and take them to the trails for their morning walk.  I rinsed my face and washed it quickly the Energizing Body Bar Revitalize. The product claims include, “The intense, dark-hued blend of ground arabica and peppermint extract does much more than cleanse and tone.” Well, still half asleep I admit I was awake and the aroma of the body bar was nice. Wishing I wasn’t a dog lover, just a laid-back cat gal, my sibling and I get a move on with the dogs. Edible coffee is on my mind but I will wait until I return.

 7:30 A.M.: Savor a Cup of Java.  Instead of eating a large meal, I enjoy a European type of feast. Now it’s time for a new flavored coffee. I brew a pot of Cherry Vanilla Crème (made from Columbian Supremo). In a 12 ounce white coffee cup I pour a cup of hot coffee and splashes of 2% low-fat milk. I take the treat back with me (and a homemade bran muffin) and crawl into the warm waterbed. The walked and fed dogs follow. I turn on the tube, and log onto the computer to fetch my morning e-mail. 

8:30 A.M. Coffee Shake It Up. Blend a shake (made with organic low-fat milk, premium coffee ice cream, a teaspoon of espresso powder, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract).   I’m ready to take a long, hot shower. 

10:00 A.M.: Coffee Shower Time.  First, I light a hazelnut coffee scented candle. It creates an aromatherapy environment in my cabin-type bathroom. Next, I spray the Revitalizing Herbal Mist Breathe. It does what is says it will do: “Coffee extract absorbs odors, while essential oils of rosemary, orange, and mint offer a dose of pure refreshment for the body and environment.” I was in heaven believing in the scent of the wonder mist while turning on the shower.

First, I tried the Cleansing Body Wash Enhance. Forget basis soap bars. The words that come with this product convinced me: “Enhance your daily routine with a gentle cleanser for bath or shower. Enriched with antioxidant coffee extract, olive oil and aloe vera, to leave your skin exceptionally soft.” Oh my, it was. I was hooked. After, I tried the Invigorating Body Polish. The product claims convinced me to do it: “Indulge in an exfoliating spa ritual that works wonders on cellulite. With dead sea salt, essential oils and ground coffee, it’s the ultimate body coffee experience.” I may never use my old coffee grounds again.

Once out of the shower and dried off, I couldn’t stop. I grabbed the Hydrating Body Balm Soothe. The directions told me it can “Sooth dry skin with a Native American recipe thousands of years old—a nourishing infusion of antioxidant coffee extract and hemp seed oil. My body felt rejuvenated and super soft—ready for the day.

12:30 P.M. Time to Get a Move On.  It’s time for the treadmill (usually it’s a swim). I eat one chocolate coffee truffle and walk/run for about 20 minutes.  This isn’t as fun as swimming but it still provides those feel-good endorphins—and turning on the tunes helps to get into the zone.

1:30 P.M.: Eat a Healthful Lunch. I dish up a fresh egg salad sandwich with tomatoes, and spinach lettuce on whole grain bread toast. Afterward, I try a store bought iced coffee. It’s not my fantasy but maybe it takes time to get used to it. Or, making my own may be key. 

2:00 P.M.: Let the Dogs Outside.  Once back–drink a glass of spring water (or two) – and turn to Moisturizing Body Lotion Surround. Living in the mountains at Lake Tahoe reminds me that we don’t have a lot of humidity. That means dry skin. So, I tried the lotion on my hands. Again, the product says “The scent of nature’s own aphrodisiac, coffee blossom essence™ , coffee extract, shea butter and healing herbs leave skin more supple and positively glowing. I use it on my arms and elbows for the effect of it all.

3:00  Go to Work. I prefer going to the laptop for articles, desktop for books. Time spent—three hours. Thinking about the Javabalm™ SPF 15 Lip Balm, I put it on my lips. Note to self: Do this every day.

6:00  Eat a Coffee-Rich Dinner.  Now that my mind is taxed, it’s time to feed my body like spa guests who are provided with awesome spa recipes. Tonight it’s the coffee-style chicken. (Check out the entrees in the recipes, refer to “Chapter 18.”)

7:00 P. M.: Give Myself a Foot Massage. When I finished dinner, I pampered myself with a foot massage. I tried the Energizing Body Oil Discover and it did what the product words said it would do: “Discover the therapeutic benefits of coffee. Our blend of essential oils (mint, rosemary and citrus) and caffeine sooths aching muscles, improves micro-cellular circulation.” (It also helps reduce the appearance of cellulite, or so it’s supposed to do that. I’ll settle for soothing aches and pains.)

9:30 P. M.:  Coffee Break.  It’s time to watch a film. I cuddle up with Zen cat, Simon and Seth, my beloved Brittanys. I treat myself to a half cup of all-natural premium coffee ice cream.

12:30 A.M.: My thoughts are on autumn, when coffee beans are harvested. It’s a time when I get ready for the mountain seasonal change (raking pine needles to ordering wood and stocking the pantry). Coffee—good coffees, all kinds, all flavors—are a welcome addition to my favorite season. It’s a time to clean, a time to bake—and coffee can provide the energy to keep on moving.

            Whatever season it is or wherever you live, a coffee exfoliating mask will rejuvenate your facial skin and you’ll feel good both inside and outside. Try this do-it-yourself recipe and enjoy the aroma of a cup of java.

Excerpted from The Healing Powersof Coffee - available everywhere