Did you know that we created a sustainable coffee scrub made exclusively for our Soap Bar Café customers late last year? Since opening The Soap Bar Café in 2020, located in The Somerset Toiletry Company HQ, we had the idea to create an exclusive Soap Bar Café body product – a fun way for the two sides of our business to collaborate.
After identifying a gorgeous lathering whipped soap base in September 2022, an idea was born. Like all popular cafés, SBC goes through a lot of coffee beans. The by-product of coffee beans is coffee grinds, and we had an abundance.
It’s common for coffee grounds to be thrown in the general waste after use as it’s assumed that the environmental impact is low due to coffee being biodegradable. However, we were shocked to discover that used coffee grinds actually emit methane, a greenhouse gas which can be 34 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
Keeping our used coffee grounds out of the general waste and developing a sustainable second life for them became our mission. With our whipped soap base in place and bags full of excess coffee grounds we spent several weeks developing a sustainable, exfoliating body scrub. Using only three key ingredients (whipped soap base, used coffee grounds and brown sugar) we were able to achieve amazing results. Launched in November of 2022, Urban Café Coffee & Brown Sugar Whipped Body Scrub has been a hit in our gift shop ever since.
Benefits of Coffee Body Scrubs
Inflammation Calmer
Coffee contains many polyphenols such as hydrocinnamic and chlorogenic acids. These polyphenols reduce oxidative stress from free radicals that have the potential to cause harm to your skin’s natural barrier. Using a coffee scrub can restore skin’s barrier and therefore reduce inflammation.
Acne Curer
As mentioned above, coffee boasts useful anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains effective anti-bacterial by-products like chlorogenic acid which has been scientifically proven to help reduce the occurrence of breakouts and redness while soothing skin in the process.
Cellulite Combater
Coffee scrub can help to reduce cellulite by increasing blood circulation and removing excess water from skin cells due to its powerful natural properties. As a result, skin becomes firmer after multiple uses and cellulite slowly fades away. Pro tip: get a palm full of your coffee scrub and massage it in the direction of your lymphatic flow; up and towards the heart.
Dead Skin Destroyer
Coffee grounds are naturally a brilliant exfoliator. The large granules that make up coffee grounds act as a natural exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and impurities from your skin and pours. What sets coffee apart from an added value standpoint is that it removes dead skin cells and leaves skin with an additional layer of protection thanks to its naturally occurring antioxidants which work to repair and promote skin cell growth.
Potential Anti-Ager
Coffee has been attributed with several anti-aging benefits thanks to its amazing natural repairing properties. Sunspots, dull skin, and scars are known to shudder when confronted with a good coffee scrub.
Now that you are aware of coffee’s plethora of benefits for the skin, why not stop by The Soap Bar Café for a cup of coffee, slice of homemade coffee cake and a whipped coffee scrub?!
For those who live far away, we have attached our simple but highly effective coffee scrub recipe below, all in the name of promoting sustainable practises and spreading awareness of the magical powers of coffee.
How to make a DIY Coffee Body Scrub
Ingredients
- 500g Whipped Soap Base or Bath Butter (Use Coconut Oil for a cheaper alternative that’s easily accessible at the grocery store)
- 500g Brown Sugar
- 100g Coffee Grinds
Utensils
- Stand Mixer
- Mason Jar
Step 1
Take 500g of your chosen soap base and place in a stand mixer. Whip on low, slowly increasing the speed for ten to fifteen minutes or until the base looks like a whipped cream.
Step 2
Take 500g of brown sugar and add to sufficiently whipped base.
Step 3
Continue to mix until brown sugar is thoroughly mixed into base. Weigh out 100g of freshly ground coffee. Add into the mixer and continue to mix until all contents are mixed evenly throughout.
Step 4
Once ingredients are sufficiently whipped and blended, stop the mixer and spoon the scrub into a container of your choice. We love a mason jar.
Step 5
Sprinkle a few whole coffee beans on top of the contents for an artsy finish.
Step 6
Get in the shower and watch the magic happen!
And that’s all, the ticket to gorgeous soft skin in six simple steps! For those of you who don’t want to make a coffee scrub but want to find a sustainable outlet for your leftover coffee grinds, why not use them in your garden as a raw fertiliser. The slow releasing nutrients in coffee can hold the key to nutrient-rich soil and make for some yummy worm grub.
The Somerset Toiletry Company was founded in 1999 and has been developing beautiful body care and gifts ever since. Please read our about us page to find out more, or explore all our scented toiletries, home fragrances and more on our website.
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