Suffering from puffy eyes, dark spots, dry skin, or acne? Don't worry – just add some coffee masks to your skincare routine and leave any harsh chemicals behind. Coffee is an excellent exfoliator and helps stimulate the blood flow, which reduces acne and even cellulite and stretch marks. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants that kill dead cells and remove impurities, making skin smoother and brighter looking. Some 10 years ago, many beauty companies started using caffeine as an ingredient in skin-care products because of its magical tightening effects. While coffee is cherished for its ability to refresh a person from the inside, it also has a great role to play in refreshing the skin from the outside. This involves making a mask, scrub or paste from fresh coffee grounds and applying them to your skin directly. Here are some simple and effective homemade coffee masks so that you can enjoy the skin-care benefits of coffee: Mask for skin whitening: Mix one tablespoon of coffee powder, one tablespoon of turmeric and one tablespoon of yoghurt. Stir well until you get a smooth paste. Apply the paste on your cleansed face and neck. Leave it on for 20 minutes until it is dry. Wash your face with cold water. Repeat twice a week. The Vitamin C in the turmeric removes dullness from the skin and lightens dark spots while the alpha-hydroxy acids found in yoghurt reduce acne and nourish your skin. Mask for tightening the skin: Mix well one tablespoon of coffee powder, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of yoghurt in a bowl. Apply the mixture on your cleansed face. Gently massage in circular motions. Let it sit for up to 20 minutes to dry. Then, rinse it off with water. Repeat the process twice or three times a week. Coffee has anti-aging properties that help make the skin firm. The oxidising formula in honey and coffee will give you a healthy, glossy and moisturised skin. Mask for dark spots: Mix half a cup of coffee powder, half a cup of cocoa powder, one cup of whole milk, one tablespoon of lemon juice and one tablespoon of honey in a bowl. Stir until you get a smooth paste. Apply the paste to your cleansed face and neck. Leave the mask for 20 minutes to dry, and then wash off with water. Apply this mask once a week. Both coffee and cocoa are rich in antioxidants and can improve skin damage. This mask helps in removing dead cells, reducing dark circles and fighting acne. Mask for skin brightener: Mix half a cup of ground coffee with a few spoonfuls of milk for a thick consistency. Apply the mixture to your cleansed face. Leave it for ten to 15 minutes to dry. Wash off with water. Coffee is an excellent exfoliator. This mask will help to get rid of dead skin cells, leaving behind a glowing skin. Mask for reducing puffy eyes: Whenever you treat yourself with a cup of coffee, keep the grounds aside. Let them cool for few minutes, and then apply the leftovers under your eyes and eyelid area. Leave for almost ten minutes. Rinse off with cold water. Coffee ice cubes will do the trick too. Coffee is high in anti-oxidant properties. It increases circulation and helps to shrink blood vessels and thus works well to reduce eye puffiness. Mask for pimples: Mix one tablespoon of coffee powder, half a tablespoon of coconut oil and a quarter spoonful of cinnamon powder to get a smooth paste. Apply the paste on your cleansed face. Let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water. Apply moisturiser to soften the skin. Repeat once a week. *A version of this article appears in print in the 3 December, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
