You may be surprised to find out that your favorite morning beverage offers more than just a delight to the palate and a fresh start of the day.

Applied externally in the form of home-made face masks, coffee, cocoa and green tea are loyal allies in the battle against skin aging, as well. 

“Coffee with cream” mask

Ingredients:

1 tbsp ground coffee

1-2 tbsp sour cream

Mix the two ingredients and apply the aromatic paste on the thoroughly cleansed and still damp skin on your face. After 10-15 minutes, rinse the mask off with lukewarm water.

Coffee beans are abundant in antioxidants and caffeine, which support the apoptosis (the programmed cell death) of the damaged by ultraviolet rays keratinocytes (the main type of cell in the epidermis, responsible for the production of keratin) and protects the skin from photo-aging. Along with this, the plant stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin – the structural proteins of the extracellular matrix, providing the strength and flexibility of the skin tissues.

The sour cream not only gives the mask a creamy texture, but also contains significant amounts of vitamins A, B2, PP and calcium that contribute to the rejuvenating effect of the mask.

“Chocolate milk” mask

Ingredients:

1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa

1-2 tbsp whole milk

Add the required amount of milk to the cocoa until you get a homogeneous but not too liquid mixture. Smear your face with a thin layer of the prepared mask and leave it for 15-20 minutes.

Cocoa is an excellent source of caffeine, and also of flavanols – substances with a strong antioxidant effect, which protect the protein fibers of the skin from the destructive impact of various external and internal factors. The aromatic plant contains also the crystalline alkaloid theobromine (“food of the gods” in Ancient Greek), which being a strong vasodilator, enhances the blood flow to the skin, facilitating its nutrition and regeneration.

Milk makes the application of cocoa powder on the face easier, while gently exfoliates and moisturizes the skin, too, helping it to retain its resistance against the formation of wrinkles.

“Tea with honey” mask

Ingredients:

1 tsp loose green tea

1-2 tbsp natural honey

Add the tea to the honey and stir well, then spread the mixture on your face with massaging circular motions. Let the mask act for 15-20 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

Thanks to its abrasive structure, ground tea leaves remove dead epithelium, thereby stimulate cell regeneration. This plant, however, does not counteract the aging just mechanically, but biochemically, as well, because it contains some of the most powerful antioxidants created by nature – catechins. To them namely, and also to some other specific substances, the tea owes its ability to inhibit the activity of collagenases and elastases (the enzymes that break down the peptide bonds in collagen and elastin), the excessive activity of which leads to premature appearance of wrinkles.

The honey acts not only as a supporting component, but also as a Ph regulator, assisting the natural protective functions of the skin against a number of aging factors.

Easy and delicious, these home-made masks can really do wonders. But, in order for the miracle not to last only “three days”, the mature skin requires a more complete and regular care with the appropriate anti-aging cosmetic products.