DIY Anti-Aging Scrub
First off, let me just say exfoliating scrubs are for men too. Just to crush any social stigma that makes men feel they can’t look at this page. If you need any proof, here’s a GQ article for you. But anyway, let’s get to my post.
So a few weeks ago I was looking in the mirror and I felt like my face was was looking really tired, dull and just feeling kind of rough. My skin care routine just wasn’t enough and was missing something.
Something I hadn’t done in awhile, (and by that I mean years) is exfoliate my skin with a good scrub. And after reading through the benefits, I should have been keeping up with this.
Exfoliating can help with:
- Brightening The Skin – Helping even skin tone and make it appear younger.
- Improve Absorption Of Products – When you remove those dead skin cells, your skin can properly absorb the moisture from the lotion or products you are trying to apply.
- Help Prevent Clogged Pores – Meaning less breakouts and signaling the skin to increase new cell production, speeding up cell removal.
- Increased Collagen Production – long term exfoliation can help with glowy skin, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and boosting the skins elasticity [Source]
So I was curious to see what a good scrub could do for me, but also being kind of broke…
I didn’t want to go spend my money on some expensive chemical scrub at Sephora or Ulta when I knew could probably make one at home with natural ingredients that would be just as good on my skin or better.
And I found an amazing 3 ingredient DIY scrub that I bet every one has lying around their kitchen.
Literally, all you need is used coffee grounds, extra virgin olive oil and sugar.
here is what you do:
- 2 tablespoons coffee grounds
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
That’s it!
Just make sure to cleanse your skin before using this scrub and moisturize after.
You can also substitute the olive oil for coconut oil but I personally love the feel and glow that olive oil has, plus all the great properties it offers for the skin!
On another note, I don’t have a great before and after to show how these anti-aging properties work because unfortunately, I am terrible about being consistent with my skincare. As I write this, I literally told myself for the last 3 days I need to use this scrub again to get rid of dead skin cells and buildup from skincare products but I just forget.
I always come back to using this scrub though, because I can just feel my skin is so much healthier afterwards. Plus, I love the glow I have after using it.
Here are some FAQ's that I assume you'll have
What do these ingredients do and what about the ingredients makes it anti-aging?
Coffee grounds in scrubs offer so much for the skin. From acne treatment, cellulite reduction, improving circulation, reducing dark circles and of course anti-aging properties. Coffee is full of antioxidants that may help enhance collagen and protect against premature cell aging. [Source]
Sugar, like the coffee does not dissolve in water, which makes it great for scrubbing away dead skin cells and removing dirt from pores. “Sugar has a natural anti-aging effect on the skin. It does not allow toxins to attack your skin cells, so it helps to slow down the aging process”, according to Michigan State University.
Lastly, olive oil has both squalene and vitamin E. These two key components help to seal and add moisture to the skin. Most importantly though, the antioxidants that olive oil offers can help improve signs of aging. [Source]
Does the type of olive oil used matter?
Yes it does! You will want to use extra virgin olive oil thats is unrefined and cold-pressed so get all the antioxidants and benefits that come with natural olives. [Source]
Also because olive oil is heavy, it can lead to clogged pores or an increase in blackheads, so it may not be for everyone. If you find this to be the case for you, switch to a lower concentration or coconut oil. [Source]
Can brown sugar be used instead of regular granulated sugar?
Absolutely, as mentioned by Michigan State, “Regular granulated sugar, brown sugar or organic sugar all work well. Brown sugar is the finest and least abrasive, regular granulated is next and works just fine, and organic sugar is the coarsest. Pick the one you like or mix and match until you find your favorite combination.”
How frequently can I use this scrub?
Healthline says, if you have normal skin, 2-3 times a week. If you have sensitive skin, once a week at most (maybe opt for brown sugar too).
Yesss this is so amazing! I even tried this on my body around stretch marks too – the coffee grounds work wonders! Love love love ❤️
That’s amazing!! Coffee grounds are such a powerful, natural ingredient for our skin and so underrated! Thank you so much Jill for sharing your experience(: