Can you use used coffee grounds as a scrub?

What does a coffee scrub actually do?

Coffee grounds are a physical exfoliant: their particles rub dead cells off the skin's surface. Removing dead skin cells can make skin look smoother and brighter, without requiring the scrub to have a breakfast theme. Treat used grounds as a scrub, rather than assuming they deliver the benefits of a formulated caffeine cream.2

Why not use coffee grounds on your face?

Coffee scrubs can be too harsh for facial skin, even when coffee itself is tolerated in a cream or lotion. For ordinary face washing, use a gentle, nonabrasive cleanser applied with your fingertips and lukewarm water. Scrubbing is not a necessary cleaning step, and even a washcloth or mesh sponge can irritate facial skin. Keep grounds away from the delicate eye area.23

How to approach a body scrub

1. 1Check your skin first. Do not exfoliate sunburned skin, open cuts or wounds.
2. 2Try a small body area before broader use. Stop if coffee causes itchiness or irritation.
3. 3Apply the scrub gently with small circular movements for about 30 seconds. These are general scrub directions, not a special recipe for used coffee grounds.
4. 4Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, not hot water.
5. 5Apply moisturizer immediately afterward, because exfoliation can dry the skin.

Do not make coffee scrubbing a daily habit. More than once or twice a week can cause irritation, and a more abrasive scrub calls for less frequent use. Morning use is relevant to temporary cosmetic effects from caffeine products, not a requirement for physically removing dead skin cells.24

Who should skip it?

Dry or acne prone skin can also find physical scrubs too irritating. Oily, thicker skin can tolerate mechanical exfoliation better, but that is not a reason to scrub harder. Avoid aggressive exfoliation if you have a darker skin tone or tend to develop dark marks after bites, burns or breakouts, because irritation can increase pigmentation.4

Check the rest of your routine before adding a scrub. Prescription retinoids, retinol and benzoyl peroxide can make skin more sensitive or cause peeling. Adding exfoliation can worsen dryness or trigger breakouts. If you are unsure whether exfoliation suits your skin or current treatment, ask a dermatologist before adding it.4

When should you stop?

Stop scrubbing if you develop burning, pain, itching, redness, dryness or cracking. Friction can damage the skin barrier, the outer layer that helps protect your skin. Repeated mild irritation can build up into irritant contact dermatitis, a form of skin inflammation. Avoid further irritation and use moisturizer. A painful, blistering or persistent reaction needs medical assessment rather than another attempt at exfoliation.5

Will used grounds give you caffeine skincare benefits?

Do not choose used grounds expecting lasting tightening or wrinkle correction. Coffee and caffeine skincare products can produce temporary cosmetic benefits that fade when use stops, so 'wake up your skin' is a marketing phrase rather than a permanent renovation. Exfoliation is the practical reason to consider a coffee scrub; a homemade scrub is not interchangeable with a caffeine cream.2