Jul 09, 2020

8 Coffee Oil Benefits That Will Stimulate Your Skincare Routine

If you're like most people, a cup of joe gives you the boost you need to get through the day. In fact, more than 64% of Americans drink a cup of coffee every day. But you may not know you can actually apply coffee to your skin. Browse through any beauty or personal care product site and you'll find coffee in everything from cosmetics, body scrubs, and massage oils to undereye lotions and cellulite creams.

While coffee oil seems to be having a moment in the skincare spotlight, it's been used for centuries, especially in Brazil, Colombia, and other South American countries where it originates.

But will a daily dose of caffeine in topical form energize your skin as much as your mood? In this guide, we'll review the benefits of coffee oil for skin so you can determine if it's time to amp up your skincare routine with this popular ingredient.

What Is Coffee Oil?

Whether you call it caffeol, coffee bean oil, coffee essential oil, or coffee seed oil, coffee oil is just what it sounds like ⁠— oil that comes from coffee beans. While there are many species of coffee beans, the most common is Coffea arabica (the botanical name for Arabica coffee).

You can buy premade coffee oil in little glass vials much like you would other essential oils, or you can go the DIY route. To make coffee oil, there are two basic processes: heat infusion and cold infusion.

Just remember, whether you want to purchase products with coffee oil or make your own, choose high-quality ingredients to avoid any harsh and potentially toxic synthetics. After all, what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body.

How to Make Coffee Bean Oil

To make coffee bean oil through heat, boil freshly-roasted coffee beans with a carrier oil for about six hours and then strain the mixture through a cheesecloth to get rid of any sediment.

Note: A carrier oil is an oil that can dilute the essential oil (in this case, coffee oil) so it is carried to your skin. Some examples of carrier oils include jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, and olive oil.

For a cold infusion, all you need to do is mix ground coffee beans with a carrier oil in a jar and let it infuse for a few weeks. As with the heated process, use a cheesecloth to remove any leftover bits of coffee grounds.

8 Coffee Oil Benefits for Your Skin

Now that you've brushed up a little bit more on coffee oil, it's time to discover some of its skin-enhancing benefits.

1. Anti-Aging

Coffee beans are loaded with antioxidants, which fight free radicals and help stave off the signs of aging. One study found caffeine reduced the appearance of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation in middle-aged women. Other research also demonstrates extracts of Coffea arabica exhibit antioxidant activity, thus "improving fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, and overall appearance."

Try: Primal Life Organics Non-Surgical Facelift Kit to bring your skin back to life at any age.

2. Deeply Moisturizing

Coffee bean oil is loaded with polyphenols and essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid. This fatty acid is an essential building block for ceramides, which strengthens your skin's barrier (your outermost skin layer). This helps your skin lock in moisture and keep out irritants. Research finds that coffee polyphenols reduce skin dryness, maintain proper pH balance, and improve microcirculatory function.

Try: Primal Life Organics Coffee Bean Elixir moisturizing face serum for smooth, plump, and healthy skin.

3. Anti-Inflammatory

Because of its high polyphenol content and other anti-inflammatory compounds, coffee can reduce inflammation. Specifically, these anti-inflammatory effects might be a result of chlorogenic acid (CGA) found in coffee. As such, including coffee oil in your skincare ritual can reduce redness and breakouts and prevent flare-ups for acne-prone skin.

Try: Primal Life Organics detoxifying Char-Glow mask, which also contains antibacterial colloidal silver and soothing kaolin clay.

4. Aromatherapy

The best part of waking up might be the coffee in your cup, but you can still reap the aromatic benefits of coffee scent when using products with roasted coffee oil. Even though drinking coffee is stimulating, research shows taking a whiff of roasted coffee bean aroma can reduce stress.

Try: Primal Life Organics Blu Coffee Revival Package, a skin-saving (and delicious-smelling) combo that includes a morning pick-me-up and soothing bedtime serum.

5. Reduces Cellulite

As if the anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and aromatherapy benefits weren't enough, coffee may also diminish the appearance of cellulite on the skin. As it turns out, the caffeine content in coffee dilates blood vessels beneath the skin and stimulates overall blood flow. As a result, it can improve the surface appearance of skin by making skin look tauter and shrinking those little dimples.

Try: A homemade coffee scrub to exfoliate and polish your skin for a smoother look.

6. Lightens Dark Circles

Drinking too much coffee could leave you with sleepless nights and dark circles. But applying coffee oil under your eyes might have the opposite effect. That's because the caffeine in coffee helps dilate the blood vessels that contribute to dark circles. At least one study has demonstrated that applying coffee gel under the eyes can reduce darkness and puffiness.

Try: Primal Life Organics Coffee Bean Elixir works just as well under your eyes as it does on the rest of your face.

7. Protects Against Sun Damage

Studies show caffeine can protect against UV damage, sun spots and hyperpigmentation. Even more impressive, it can help protect against skin cancer caused by sun damage. Caffeine can function as a sunscreen as well as a cancer cell killer.

Try: Primal Life Organics Natural Sun Protection stick after applying your Coffee Bean Elixir.

8. Helps Heal Wounds

More research is needed on the healing properties of coffee bean oil, but there's some promising news. In 2017, one study revealed topical use of coffee oils on rats led to faster wound healing.

Try: Primal Life Organics Healing Balm made with organic ingredients rich in essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid.

Bean There, Done That

Enjoying a hot (or cold) cup of java is nothing new for most people, but adding coffee oil to your beauty regimen might be a novel experience. As with so many ingredients that nature provides, coffee oil can offer a host of skincare benefits.

From its anti-aging, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and calming properties to its ability to heal wounds and minimize the appearance of cellulite and dark circles, it's no wonder caffeine has become the center of attention.

As always, read the fine print and pay attention to product details when it comes to your skincare routine. For more of the latest tips, tricks, and techniques for clean beauty, check out our Primal Life Organics blog.