Ever since my son announced his impending marriage I have been
making and trying out various eye serums and wrinkle creams.  I like those with caffeine because they enliven the skin and tend to decrease bags.  You can get pure caffeine crystals to use in your cremes, but I’m pretty much a whole herb kind of gal because of the cofactors.  Coffee is a lot more than caffeine. And coffee is one of my favorite herbal beverages. So here is my coffee eye serum.

Now this won’t do away with eye bags caused by food sensitivities or lack of sleep- there are root causes!  But it will make you look and feel better.

This makes an oil type serum to use around your eyes.  I especially use it on undereye circles (I was born with them) but it also helps with eyebrows so I usually moisturize the whole outer eye area.  It is NOT an eyedrop as someone asked, so keep it out of your eyes.

Coffee is one of the beverages highest in antioxidants that we usually consume.  It has several chlorogenic acids (like blueberries.)  The caffeine applied topically improves circulation and plumps up the skin, diminishing the appearance of the circles. It also helps constrict blood vessels to reduce swelling and helps protect against UVA. I don’t find that the dark roasts color my undereye area but you can use any roast in an espresso (fine) grind. I use Life Extention’s high antioxidant coffee.  If you are sensitive to mold, use Bulletproof coffee.

Avocado oil is a great anti-aging oil in its organic cold-pressed form. It comes with an assortment of fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial for the skin. These inclulde Vitamin E complex,  sterolin, antioxidants, lecithin and potassium. It can stand up to heat without turning rancid unlike most seed oils.

Ricinoleic acid found in castor oil has many healing abilities, including: supporting the lymphatic system, increasing circulation. lowering inflammation, preventing the growth of microbes and molds. fighting skin disorders and infections. This goes around the eyes so I like the antiseptic quality.  Topical castor oil is also good for your eyelashes and brows. Brown Jamaican castor oil may offer extra benefits, but I just use what I can find.

Here is what you need:

• 1/4 cup espresso grind organic coffee.  You can use green, blonde or dark grinds.  They all have different ratios of  chlorogenic acids, antioxidants and caffeine
• 1/3 cup cold-pressed avocado oil which tends not to go rancid
• Small jar with a lid- at least 3/4 cup capacity
• 2 Tbsp castor oil
• 2 two-ounce dropper, pump or roller-top bottles
• small funnel that fits the bottles
• cheesecloth, coffee filter or nut milk bag

Put the espresso-ground coffee and the avocado oil in a small jar and cover.  Leave in a warm place and shake daily for two weeks.  Note that a crock pot is too hot for the oils even at the lowest settings. Mine is sitting by the radiator.

Pour through the filter- either paper or muslin bag- into a small bowl.  Add the castor oil and filter again if grounds still remain.  Pour through the funnel into the bottle and cap.  (You can use the oil-soaked coffee grounds as an exfoliant!)

Pour through the filter paper or muslin bag into a small bowl.  Add the castor oil and filter again if there are grains of coffee- they don’t hurt but it is nicer without them.  Pour through the funnel into the bottles and cap.  You can use the oil-soaked coffee grounds as an exfoliant.

If you use a water-soluble serum, use it first, then follow with your coffee serum.  Oil floats on water.  In summer I refrigerate it for the cool rush and extra anti-puffiness.

The serum can be used in face creams, simply substituting for the liquid oil.  It is best made in small batches since you are not heating the oil.  You can add a few drops of Vitamin E to preserve it.  Don’t add essential oils if you use it around the eyes.

I had been using roller bottles, but it lasts longer in a pump top bottle which don’t contaminate the rest.  I found those on Amazon and I have converted my serums over to pumps.