by S.Stillwell

Created on: February 10, 2009   Last Updated: February 11, 2009

Used coffee grounds are among the most useful beauty products out there - so much so that you may never toss your used coffee grounds in the trash again! Here are three unusual and effective beauty treatments you can make at home with your used coffee grounds.

1. All-Over Body Exfoliant/Energizer

Used coffee grounds make an excellent mild exfoliant and skin energizer. The coffee ground granules are softer and slightly larger than salt or sugar (also used in home made body scrubs) so they offer a gentler alternative for people who have sensitive skin.

I suggest using a plastic container to keep some used coffee grounds in the shower, and just grab a handful and scrub away as needed. If you want to save time, add some body wash or shampoo to your grounds to cleanse and exfoliate all at once. If you prefer to exfoliate after washing, mix the used coffee grounds with some olive oil or baby oil to exfoliate and moisturize at the same time.

2. Facial Mask to Reduce Puffiness

Used coffee grounds can also help reduce puffiness around your eye area. I strongly suggest recycling your coffee filter and your grounds for this facial mask to avoid getting coffee grounds in your eye.

Just place one or two tablespoons of used coffee grounds one third of the way in from one side of the filter. Make a line of the grounds, but don't let them get more than an inch from either edge of the filter. Gently fold the ends in where the meet the grounds, then fold the edge closest to the line of used coffee grounds over the grounds and folded side edges. Lastly, gently and loosely roll from the end you just folded until the entire filter is rolled into a tube shape.

Gently form the tube into a U, slightly dampen it, and place around your eye. Leave in place for 5-10 minutes to reduce puffiness.

3. Facial Treatment to Reduce Acne

Although it seems unusual, used coffee grounds can help treat and prevent acne. Mix a small amount of water with about a tablespoon of used coffee grounds to make a grainy paste. Gently - very gently if you are experiencing a current breakout - rub the paste on the areas where you have problems with acne.

Let the paste sit for one or two minutes then rinse the used coffee grounds off with cool water and pat dry.

So there you have it - three wonderful and frugal beauty treatments using used coffee grounds. You'll never look at that cup of coffee the same way again!

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