Why Are People Rubbing Coffee Grinds on Their Skin?

DIY skin care fans are reaching for something unexpected in their routines — leftover coffee grounds. While they may seem better suited to the compost pile, these gritty remnants are finding a second life as a popular skin treatment. From exfoliating away dead cells to temporarily tightening the skin, coffee grounds offer a few notable benefits that go beyond your morning brew. But is this practice safe? 

Yes and no, says Emme Diane Burg, esthetician and founder/CEO of Emme Diane Skincare. She signs off on the DIY beauty trick — but only on the body. “Coffee grounds are amazing for the body — they’re natural, super effective at exfoliating, packed with antioxidants that help defend against free radical damage, and even have caffeine that some research suggests can temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite,” she explains. “Plus, since they don’t dissolve in water, you get a good, long-lasting scrub.” 

This makes coffee grounds effective for rough areas such as elbows, knees, and feet. However, it's important to be gentle when scrubbing, especially if you have sensitive skin, to avoid irritation. An area that may be too sensitive for coffee grounds at all? Your face.

“They’re too rough and their jagged edges can create microtears in the skin, leading to irritation and a compromised skin barrier,” Burg says. “It reminds me of those harsh scrubs we all fell victim to back in the day — thankfully, we’ve learned a lot since then.” For facial exfoliation, she recommends sticking to gentler options, such as chemical exfoliants or a mild physical exfoliant with smoother particles like silica beads. And be sure to hydrate with a good moisturizer after exfoliating on both your face and body.