Brew A Better Tan

Summer finally feels as though it is upon us; with that comes warmer weather, longer days, and of course fun in the sun. For many summer signifies the time to be tan, some people have this naturally, some people fake it, some people choose the lizard method and simply soak, soak, soak up the sun. Our generation has been made aware of the harm that sun damage can do unfortunately. So is there a way to  get that gorgeous glow without harming your skin?

The answer is yes! Many of you might not be surprised by this as things like self-tanners and spray tans have become more common, but this is not the solution I speak of. No, this is a far most cost-effective and natural one. I'm talking about coffee and tea, when used together you will be the envy of everyone at the beach, pool, grocery store etc.



For this you will need:

• A small spray bottle
• 4-5 black tea bags
• Fresh coffee grounds

Step 1: Caffeinate to Exfoliate

If you have read my other posts you might recall one where I recommended using coffee grounds as an exfoliator (they also work wonders on cellulite so if you're not feeling quite so beach-bod-ready check out Buzzing Beauty). First things first when it comes to self-tanning you must exfoliate. I am somewhat of a product queen, so believe me when I say I have tried more than my fair share of exfoliators, and coffee grounds, while maybe a little messier are by far my favorite. Not only does the scrubby texture of the grounds smooth away bumps and rough skin, the caffeine and astringent properties in the grounds help to tighten skin. 

So, before you plan to tan shower first, after the water is warm and some steam has accumulated take the warm soaked coffee grounds, (I recommend just using little scoops, as taking a whole handful usually just makes more of a mess)in small, circular motions rub over entire body. Focus on parts that you know to be particularly rough, dry or bumpy. After you've given yourself the once over be sure to completely rinse off then pat yourself dry. 

Step 2: Brew Tea for Tanning 

Using your teapot (or small pot) boil water (roughly 2 cups), do not over boil! When the water has reached the boiling point remove from heat and add your teabags. Steep for 15 - 20 minutes. Allow the tea to cool, remove the bags, then pour into your spray bottle. 

Once the tea has cooled you can apply! Take your spray bottle and simply spray all over, I recommend standing in your shower to do so as the tea will go places other than just your body (simply wipe the walls down afterwards). When you feel you have given yourself a thorough coating pat off any drips, drops or excess tea on the skin and allow it to dry. 

To achieve a darker tint repeat the process until you have achieved the shade you want. You can also always brew stronger tea by adding another teabag or two. Before dressing make sure you are totally dry, it won't take more than a few minutes since the tea is a light liquid that will absorb into your freshly-exfoliated skin rather quickly. Your color will last around 3 days depending on how often you're in the water, showering etc. 

Now you will have a perfect tea-tinted glowing tan. If that's not enough the astringent properties in tea will also help to tone skin and provide a clean, fresh scent. 

Get brewing!!! 

Sip, smile, stay awhile

 

Buzzing Beauty

As you may, or may not know, caffeine has become a star ingredient in many beauty products and treatments over the past year. As a person who has recently entered the wonderful working world of coffee I have been eager to find out as much as I could regarding these caffeinated beauty secrets. As a recent college graduate, I am also looking for ways to keep costs low. So why am I so excited about the use of coffee for beauty? No, it's not that I'm already on my third cup of coffee (just getting my health benefits), it's that so many of the effective but expensive beauty products and treatments on the market today can be recreated for a fraction of the cost in the privacy of your own home! 

• Coffee Face Mask 
• Coffee Cellulite Treatment Body Wrap 
• Simple Coffee Body Scrub 
• Coffee with Sugar Body Scrub 
• Skin-tightening/Pore-refining Face Scrub 
• Coffee Grounds Puffy Eye Treatment 
• Shiny Hair Coffee Rinse 

While there are many different types of recipes for these great DIY treatments, I have discovered that some work better than others. So allow me to be your grounds-for-beauty guru and guide you through the recipes I have done myself and had the best success with. 

Quick-Fix Coffee Mask  (from pureandhealthy.com) 

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons of ground coffee (organic and not of the “instant coffee” variety)
• About ¼ cup of whole milk
• 1 tablespoon of honey (Olive oil or lemon juice as alternatives)

Procedure

• Mix the ingredients together. Add more milk or coffee to achieve a paste consistency.
• Smear the paste on your face with a gentle circular massage to help with absorption and improve skin circulation.
• Cover everything even the under eyes, but avoid the lips. You may also smear a layer on your neck.
• Leave it on for about 20 minutes before washing off. Gently pat dry the skin.

The dark color may make you look scary at first, but at least you have that sweet aroma to keep you company! Immediately after washing you’ll feel an instant tightness to your skin, and notice a clean glow about you. Do this once a week for a regular facial boost.

Cellulite Treatment (from livestrong.com) 

Ingredients 

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup fresh coffee grounds 
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 

Procedure

Gather about ¼ to ½ cup of fresh coffee grounds in a bowl. Add about 2 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil to the coffee grounds and stir them together. If the coffee grounds are not warm from recent use, warm them up in the microwave for about 10 seconds. 

Standing in the bathtub or on some old newspaper, take a loofah mitt and massage the warm coffee grounds and olive oil in a circular motion. Work this solution onto problem areas such as the thighs and buttocks. Leave as much of the coffee grounds sticking to the area as possible. Use plastic wrap to create a firm wrap around the area. 

After staying wrapped for about 10 minutes, remove the plastic wrap and wash the area with warm water.

* Hint - This one gets messy so be generous when laying down the newspaper, probably want to do this when no one's home, or with a friend for fun 

Simple Coffee Body Scrub (from lifestyle.iloveindia.com) 

Ingredients 

• 2 C Coffee Grounds 
• 1/2 C Raw Sugar or Sea Salt 
• 2/3 tbsp. Massage Oil (*I substituted Olive Oil) 

Procedure 

The first step would be to add coffee grounds, raw sugar or sea salt and massage oil, in a large mixing bowl and blend well. Apply the above blended mixture to a damp body in a circular motion and rinse off. Finish off by applying your favorite moisturizer. 

Coffee with Sugar Body Scrub (from lifestyle.iloveindia.com) - this one is a little more complicated but great

Ingredients 

• 1/2 C White Sugar 
• 1/2 C Brown Sugar (packed)
• 6 tbsp. Fresh Coffee Grounds 
• 8 tsp. Tea Tree Oil 
• 4 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
• 8 tsp. Almond Oil 
• 4 tsp. Honey 
• 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract 
• Oil from 2 Vitamin E Capsules 
• Dash of Cinnamon 

Procedure 

The first step would be to mix white sugar, brown sugar and coffee grounds in a large bowl. Mix until the ingredients are well-blended. To the above blended mixture, add tea tree oil, extra virgin olive oil and sweet almond oil. Make sure that the oils are well mixed to the sugar and coffee mixture. 

The next step would be to add honey, pure vanilla extract, vitamin E oil and cinnamon in the mixing bowl. Blend the mixture until the oils are completely incorporated with the other ingredients. Now, all you need to do is take a warm shower and massage your body using the coffee and sugar body scrub in circular motions. Do not forget to store the rest of the body scrub in a sealed glass jar, in the refrigerator, until you use it next time. 

Exfoliating Face Scrub (from ehow.com) 

Ingredients 

• 1/4 C Used Coffee Grounds 
• 2 to 4 pinches of Course Sea Salt 
• 1 Egg White 

Procedure 

Combine the coffee grounds, sea salt and egg white in a bowl. Mix well. 
Wash your face with warm water and pat it dry.
Apply the coffee mixture to your face, steering clear of your eyes and hairline and massaging it into your skin. Let the scrub dry for about 20 minutes. Rinse your face with warm water, gently scrubbing the coffee mixture into your skin with a washcloth. 
Dry your face. Apply moisturizer to your face if you are prone to dry skin, or if your skin feels especially tight. 

*Hint - If your skin tends to be a little dry, or sensitive, I added a drop of olive oil and tea tree oil once and really liked the extra emollient 

Coffee Grounds Eye Treatment (from speedyremedies.com) * Also great for dark circles! 

Ingredients 

• 3 tbsp. Clay Powder (* This was not something I had on hand, or really knew where to find so I substituted a bit of flour, water and salt - worked like a charm!) 
• 2 tbsp. Ground Coffee 
• 1 tbsp. Organic Honey 
• 1/4 tsp. Aloe Vera 
• 1/4 tsp. Vitamin E Oil 

Procedure 

Combine all ingredients together to make a paste. Apply carefully to under eye area, be sure to pat onto skin (or paint if you have a brush) so as not to pull the delicate eye skin. Leave on for about 5 min, then use a warm wash cloth to wipe away the mask.

Coffee Hair Rinse *For dark hair only!! 

Procedure 

Simply brew a strong, dark pot of coffee. Allow it to cool. Wash your hair with shampoo then massage some of the grounds into the scalp, leave on head for remainder of shower. Before finishing rinse out hair with the cooled coffee, then just rinse once with lukewarm water. This is great for dark hair, it adds a hint of color and a lot of shine. 

Now go on, I know you want to try one (or all) of these great DIY treatments. Trust me, you'll be buzzing about it in no time. 

Sip, smile, stay awhile

Tea Envy

For once it's ok to be green (tea) with envy; the health benefits and multiple uses for green tea make it a drink worth coveting. I'm sure this is not the first time you have come across green tea health benefits, so let us go over a few you may not have heard of and some that are just so impressive they are worth repeating.

Weight Loss - Green tea works to promote weight loss by boosting metabolism. Green tea contains a polyphenol that increases fat oxidation and speeds up the rate at which your body turns food to calories.

Diabetes - Green tea helps regulate glucose levels, helping to keep blood sugars from rising too highly after eating.

Heart Disease - Scientists have found that green tea helps to line blood vessels, keeping them relaxed and better able to handle changes in blood pressure. It can also help to reduce clotting, the primary cause of heart attacks.

Esophageal Cancer - Green tea can help reduce the risk of this cancer as well as help kill cancer cells.

Cholesteral - Drinking green tea lowers bad cholesteral in the blood and helps balance the ratio between good and bad.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's - Drinking green tea is said to slow the process of deterioration caused by Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, some studies have even begun to show that green tea may help protect and repair brain cells.

Tooth Decay - Green tea contains a chemical antioxidant, "catechin", that can rid the mouth of bacteria and infections that can cause things like throat infections and dental conditions.

Blood Pressure - Drinking green tea regularly can help reduce the risk of having high blood pressure.

Depression - Green tea and other teas contain an amino acid, theanine, that helps provide a relaxing, calming effect.

Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial - Some studies have shown that green tea stops the spread of many diseases, and the "catechins" have strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that are helpful in treating things from the flu to several types of cancer.

Skincare - Green tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce the appearance of aging, fighting off the free radicals that cause wrinkles and and sagging.

So I don't know about you but I'm going to brew some green tea now, and get my health on. For more ways to use and enjoy green tea, check back later for posts on how to create your very own green tea skin treatments.

Sip, smile, stay awhile