Photo by Estela Shaddix

Originally Posted On: https://artofscarremoval.com/coffee-body-scrub-for-stretch-marks-remedies-and-hacks/

I came across this story of Scarlett, a lovely lady from Brooklyn, NY who put this coffee scrub theory to the test; and she did it on camera. I’ll be telling you about her findings shortly, here’s what I’ve found about using a coffee body scrub to help with stretch marks.

When you apply it topically, coffee uses abrasive particles to effectively exfoliate the skin, thereby removing dead cells and allowing newer ones to grow. The new cells come with a more even tone, which gradually helps with stretch marks.

That’s to say coffee scrub for stretch marks is a thing – a great thing. Coffee scrub is a natural, affordable, and homemade solution in case you’ve been wondering how to get rid of stretch marks.

How Does Coffee Help with Stretch Marks?

So, I’ve mentioned that coffee uses abrasive particles to exfoliate the skin. This is known as mechanical action and it removes dead skin cells, replacing them with new ones.

When that happens, the new “layer” of skin brings a more evened tone than the older one, which then means your stretch marks will become less and less visible.

Don’t worry, you’re not actually peeling the skin when you exfoliate it with a coffee scrub. You’re simply enhancing the process through which the skin renews itself, which happens naturally after every 30 days or so.

Coffee does something else in addition to exfoliating the skin. The caffeine! It can be absorbed by the skin when applied topically, albeit very slowly.

But once it’s in there, it stimulates blood flow and skin cell regeneration. That too gets rid of old, stretched out cells and replaces them with newer, evened out ones.

It gently strips away the outer surface of your stretch mark-riddled skin and exposes fresh skin beneath. After some time, that fresh skin often brings a more even tone that’s closer to your natural tone.

Coffee Body Scrubs?

Count me in. There’s more to a coffee scrub than just helping with stretch marks. It also clears pores, removes dirt, and gets rid of unnecessary oils. That’s exactly what you need for the largest organ in your body. But things can also get very messy (literally) – as Scarlett found out…

Which leads me to her findings. The 24-year-old (at the time) concluded that coffee scrub for stretch marks doesn’t work.

Imagine my shock when I read that because I know from my own experience and a little research here and there that you should be able to see some results after several weeks of use.

And that right there is the issue. She put the coffee scrub (mixed with olive oil) on her thighs and bosom only once for 20 minutes and made the verdict. TWENTY MINUTES!

That’s a whole new level of impatience if you asked me. I mean, even those chemicals that are used for bleaching (which, by the way, you have no business even considering) take some time before they start to desecrate your precious skin.

Coffee Scrubs That Work Best for Stretch Marks

I probably should’ve started by explaining what a coffee scrub is – you know – just in case you’re completely new to it. It’s not too late anyway, so here you go:

A coffee scrub is basically a mixture containing coffee grounds and a carrier oil like olive oil. The mixture is usually a thick paste that has coffee grounds and sugar crystals.

Why a carrier oil? Because oils help the paste to stick on your skin. It doesn’t matter where you apply it – on the belly, thighs, hips, breasts, buttocks, you name it – it will stick.

But of course, you mostly want to apply the coffee scrub mixture in places where you have tiger stripes.

So, how can you prepare a coffee scrub that works best for stretch marks? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make DIY coffee scrub for stretch marks, starting with the ingredients:

Step 1: Collect ingredients

It’s a very shortlist. You only need 1 cup of fresh ground coffee and 1/2 cup of olive oil.

Note that you can use spent coffee from your coffee machine. It will work just as greatly and effectively. Similarly, you can substitute olive oil with coconut oil – whichever one you prefer most.

Step 2: Prepare the coffee

Put the coffee in a bowl. In case you’re using freshly ground coffee, start by adding some little warm water to moisten them. You just want to slightly dampen them, not to fully soak them in water.

Step 3: Add oil

Add olive oil to the coffee and stir until it forms a consistent paste. In case you opted for coconut oil, you’ll want to melt it first by heating. Otherwise, it won’t form a paste.

Step 4: Apply the mixture

Make sure that the skin where you’re applying the coffee scrub is clean. Therefore, start by washing the area thoroughly with water and soap.

Better yet, you can always apply this scrub after your evening shower (or morning shower if you have the time afterward).

Now, gently apply the paste on and around the area where streaks of stretch marks appear. Rub gently for 3 to 5 minutes, preferably in a circular motion so that the exfoliation process can start immediately.

Step 5: Leave for 20 minutes

Let the scrub sit for at least 20 minutes before you clean it off. Use a damp cloth to gently remove the paste.

Step 6: Moisturize the area

We’re going all-natural, so I would recommend using a natural moisturizer after cleaning off the scrub. You’ll get the best results if you use a moisturizer that contains some essential oils.

Argan oil is especially nice because it can improve skin elasticity. But it’s not the most easily available now, is it?

For that reason, you can also consider moisturizers that have almond, orange, lavender, or frankincense oil.

Repeat, repeat, repeat the process!

This is where most of us usually fail. Does coffee body scrub help stretch marks after one use? Nope! It’s not a piece of magic that you can just use once and poof – flawless skin! You have to apply it at least once a day until you start to notice some improvement in the way your stretch marks look.

There’s no specific timeline because the severity of stretch marks varies from one person to another. Therefore, the results may come sooner for one person and later for the next person.

Needless to say, you’ll want to store your scrub inside an airtight container and under in-room temperature conditions.

Coffee Scrub Home Remedies and Hacks

1.) Use olive oil (whenever you can) to make your coffee scrub: It not only kills acne-causing bacteria, but it also penetrates the skin and treats layers that lie underneath. People who use olive oil frequently have a lasting youthful skin because it prevents premature aging.

2.) Brown sugar can do wonders: When preparing a coffee scrub, you can add brown sugar to make the scrub a better abrasive. Besides, sugar is famous for hydrating the skin. Just like olive oil, it works inner skin layers, which in turn makes the outer layer look fresh and rejuvenated.

3.) Add other skin-friendly ingredients to your coffee scrub recipe: Essential oils like argan, almond, orange, lavender, and frankincense are great for your skin. Add a few drops of one or two of these oils into the coffee-carrier mixture when preparing your coffee scrub. If you want to go a step further, you can also include vitamin oils as well.

4.) Grind the coffee thoroughly: If the coffee is not finely ground, you can feel some irritation whenever you apply the coffee scrub. The scrub works through mechanical action, and if your skin is fairly sensitive, you may feel a pinch. Therefore, make sure to grind your coffee finer. If the irritation persists, stop using the scrub immediately.

5.) Not all coffees are made equal: Arabica coffee is the best for making scrubs. Luckily, there are so many brands out there that make genuinely natural Arabica that you can use to make coffee scrub for stretch marks. First Botany, ArtNaturals, and Handcraft Blends are just a few brands that spring to mind.

Here’s a video with more on DIY coffee body scrubs:

Video Via: LoveHealthOK

Are There Any Side Effects?

Unfortunately, coffee scrub for stretch marks CAN have a few side effects. Top on the list is the fact that caffeine can prevent the body from creating new collagen.

Collagen is basically the primary raw material for creating our body’s structure, including the skin. More particularly in this context, it gives the skin elasticity.

“If the skin isn’t elastic, then I can’t get stretch marks, right?”

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple and you totally need collagen. The good news is that the amount of caffeine absorbed by the skin is not nearly enough to inhibit collagen production. Therefore, the risk is extremely low.

Another potential risk of using coffee scrub is skin irritation. If your skin is very sensitive, you may feel some irritation after using a coffee scrub for a few days.

This may be accompanied by reddening of the area where you applied it. It’s not a life-threatening risk, hence you can try to minimize it by using finer coffee. And if the irritation persists, stop using the scrub altogether.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, then congratulations because I’m about to tell you something that most other people who root for coffee scrub for stretch marks won’t.

This practice doesn’t actually remove stretch marks. Stretch marks are permanent by nature, and that means you can’t entirely get rid of them. But what you can do is minimize their visibility and restore your skin to its original tone. That’s precisely what coffee scrubs do.

So, does coffee body scrub help stretch marks? Yes, but it doesn’t address the root cause of stretch marks. Therefore, it won’t remove them; it will simply make them significantly more pleasant to the eye.