Coffee & Cocoa Facial Mask for All Skin Types

Coffee and cocoa masks have long been a favorite of beauty aficionados. As a combination, they decrease puffiness in the face and the eye area, brighten skin and wake up a dull-ish complexion (hello caffeine!).

What I love most about this mask is that the ingredients are so readily available in the average person's kitchen and you can use so many substitutions based on what's currently in your cabinets or fridge. While coffee and cocoa powder are the staples of this popular mask, you can tailor it for your skin type by adding yogurt or cream and honey if you have dry skin or lemon juice if you haveoily skin. If you have super dehydrated skin, oils work as a substitute for dairy.

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp. finely ground espresso or coffee beans (I use my own grinder, but already ground coffee and even instant coffee work, too)
• 4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder (your basic Hersheys is perfect here)
• 8 Tbsp. dairy product. Choose whole milk, heavy cream, yogurt (must be unflavored!), almond milk or coconut milk. Use less dairy if you like a thicker paste. Substitutions are allowed: Try an egg instead of dairy if you are an egg mask lover, or substitute oils, such as olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil or almond oil if you have dehydrated skin. If using oils, halve the amount or it will be too runny.
• 2 Tbsp. honey (if you have dry skin) or lemon juice (if you have oily skin)

Preparation:

If you have whole beans, finely grind beans in a grinder. Remember, beans should be finely ground so they don't scratch your face. If you just made coffee, you can use the freshly brewed coffee grounds, although they won't contain as much caffeine.

Mix coffee and cocoa powder in a bowl.

Add the dairy product and stir until a smooth paste forms. You can use less dairy if you like a thicker paste.

Stir in the honey. (I like to warm up the honey in a warm water bath or in the microwave so it mixes better).

Apply the paste to your clean face and neck.

Let the mask dry.

Wet a washcloth and press it to your face to loosen the mask, then rinse with warm water. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid rubbing your face because the coffee grounds could potentially scratch your skin. It's really up to you, you'll get a feel for what your skin can take and how finely ground the coffee is.

You can store the leftover paste in the refrigerator for several days.

Link  http://beauty.about.com/od/homemadefacemaskrecipes/r/Coffee-And-Cocoa-Facial-Mask-For-All-Face-Types.htm