At The Daily Grind, sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s a promise. We believe that beauty and environmental care can go hand-in-hand. That’s why we repurpose used coffee grounds and tea leaves — transforming what many would throw away into nourishing, eco-friendly skincare ingredients.
Let’s explore how these recycled botanicals benefit your skin, and why upcycling them is a win for the planet.
Why upcycling coffee grounds and tea leaves matters
Every year, millions of tons of coffee grounds and tea waste are produced globally — often ending up in landfills where they release greenhouse gases as they decompose. Turning this waste into skincare ingredients gives these materials a second life, reducing waste and the environmental impact of both the food and beauty industries.Research shows that spent coffee grounds are a promising raw material for eco-friendly cosmetic applications such as scrubs and emulsions.
This is sustainability in action — using existing resources rather than consuming new ones.
What’s left in used coffee and tea? Valuable plant compounds
Even after brewing:
Coffee grounds still contain:
- Antioxidants like chlorogenic acids and polyphenols, which neutralise free radicals that contribute to skin aging.
- Caffeine, a compound studied for its ability to stimulate microcirculation and reduce puffiness and inflammation when applied topically.
- Essential fatty acids and oils that can be extracted for use in skincare formulations. Research into spent coffee oil even demonstratesstrong antioxidant activity and no cytotoxic effects on skin cells — suggesting it’s suitable as a cosmetic raw material.
Tea leaves still contain:
- Polyphenols and catechins (e.g. EGCG) — powerful antioxidants studied both in tomatoes and tea — that protect skin cells from oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Green tea polyphenols have been shown to protect against UV-induced inflammation, inhibit harmful immune responses, and reduce oxidative damage —effects that translate into anti-aging and photoprotective benefits.
Infusing into oils and butters: preserving potency, naturally
Rather than discarding coffee grounds and tea leaves after brewing, The Daily Grind gently infuses them into nourishing oils and butters. This method:
- Transfers antioxidants and bioactives into a skin-loving lipid base.
- Avoids harsh chemical extraction, keeping processing low-impact and eco-friendly.
- Creates stable, shelf-friendly ingredients that support moisturisation and barrier health.
While research on traditional oil infusions isn’t as extensive as studies on purified extracts, the botanical compounds we are harnessing — like polyphenols, chlorogenic acids, caffeine and catechins — have documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
Skin benefits backed by science
Here’s how those compounds we capture through infusion can help your skin:
Antioxidants in coffee and tea help neutralise free radicals — unstable molecules that accelerate aging and damage skin structure. Studies link coffee polyphenols with reduced oxidative stress and improved skin hydration and barrier function.
2. Anti-inflammatory and calming effects
Both caffeine and tea catechins have anti-inflammatory activity. Tea polyphenols like EGCG are shown to reduce UV-induced inflammatory responses in skin cells.
Caffeine in coffee can stimulate microcirculation when applied topically, making it useful in formulations designed to reduce puffiness or improve radiance.
Used coffee grounds have been formulated in research into eco-friendly scrub bases, proving they can provide gentle exfoliation with minimal environmental cost.
Good for the planet, too
By repurposing coffee grounds and tea leaves:
- We divert waste from landfill.
- We reduce reliance on virgin raw materials and synthetic exfoliants.
- We create products that are meaningfully sustainable — not just greenwashed.
Recycling these botanicals is part of a circular approach: letting nature’s resources be reused again and again, just like they intended.
The bottom line
Recycled coffee grounds and tea leaves are more than upcycled ingredients — they’re carriers of bioactive compounds that scientific evidence shows support skin health in real ways. When infused into oils and butters, they help create skincare that is nourishing, gentle, and environmentally uplifting.
Good for your skin.
Good for the planet.
A reminder that beauty can be both effective and ethical.