I absolutely love the scent of coffee, whether it is being freshly brewed, is within a fragrance or a candle and even within skincare. One of the brands I came to know and love, Optiat, have rebranded themselves and are now known as Upcircle and just when you think a brand couldn't better what you came to love, but manage it, you want and need everything within their range.
I was kindly sent the Face Scrub and Body Scrub by Anna, one of the brand owners to try and having used them for the past few months, I can confirm that they are absolutely brilliant, but then I kind of knew they would be.
The Upcircle Face Scrub with Coffee and Floral Oils (£12.99) was the product I was most wanting to try and the fact it is perfect for sensitive skin makes it all the more appealing. The scrub which is made from reused, repurposed and reloved top-quality Arabica coffee grounds which are sourced from artisan coffee shops. The coffee grounds themselves make an incredible yet gentle exfoliator on the skin and it has some amazing properties. It helps to stimulate blood flow to the area of application, it is high in antioxidants and caffeine has natural anti-inflammatory properties which help to calm swelling and redness.
Alongside the coffee grounds, this scrub also uses Chamomile which is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties and chamomile also helps to soothe redness and irritation. Rosehip Oil which is rich in essential fatty acids, including linoleic and linolenic acid. Rosehip oil is also effective in hydrating dry, itchy skin and my skin absolutely loves it as an ingredient. Jojoba Oil which is rich in vitamins E and B and interestingly, jojoba has a very similar composition to sebum, so it helps the skin to maintain a balance and prevent an excess build up of it. Jojoba Oil is also deeply moisturising and helps dry, dehydrated skin regain hydration.
Bringing all of those ingredients together, this scrub, which is a little bit messy but not the messiest I have ever used, feels just so soothing on the skin. Packaged inside a metal tube, the scrub is always fresh feeling and smooth on the skin. The best advice when using this scrub is to vigorously shake the tube to mix the ingredients together inside the tube and then apply it to damp skin in circular motions and leave it on the skin for between 1 and 2 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Similar scrubs I have used leave a slight tackiness to the skin after rinsing, but this one leaves no residue on the skin at all. Instead, what it does is leave soft, smooth and refreshed skin. Designed to be used 1-2 times a week.
The second product is the Upcircle Body Scrub with Tangerine (£14.99) and again, as with the face scrub, it comes packaged inside a tube to keep the ingredients as fresh as they can be.
Again using top quality ground Arabica coffee, again it works as a gentle exfoliator as the caffeine stimulates blood flow and minimises the appearance of cellulite. The high level of antioxidants also helps to minimise the appearance of the signs of ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles. One of my favourite skincare ingredients is Shea butter and within this scrub, we have unrefined raw which is not only naturally high in Vitamins A, E but also in essential fatty acids. In a scrub like this, Shea butter helps to provide intense moisturisation to the skin post-scrub. To give it a tangy scent, this scrub is blended with grapefruit, tangerine and lemongrass oils which create a beautiful citrusy, uplifting scent that not only gives your skin a revitalising boost but it also helps to lift the mood and awaken the senses.
As with any scrub of this nature, it is a little bit messy but again, not as messy as other products that I have used. To use, again, shake the tube vigorously for a couple of minutes to mix together the ingredients and then apply it to damp skin in circular motions to encourage the ingredients to work on the skin. Once on the skin, allow it to sit there for a few minutes before rining away. Again, my skin feels so soft and smooth after using and the citrus scent lingers on the skin and it is the perfect remedy for dry, scaly legs that have spent the winter trapped under jeans and chunky knit tights. Ideal for using 2-3 times a week.
Alongside this face and body scrub, there is a whole range of products to choose from within the Upcircle range and now you can choose my skin concerns such as oiliness, redness, dullness or even dry skin to name just as few. From there you will find bars of soaps, oils, cleansers and other exfoliants as well as pamper kits and bundles. If you love the scent of coffee but with a slight twist then both of these products tick boxes. They are both sustainable, Vegan and cruelty-free as well as having no SLS, SLEs, parabens, mineral oil, parfum or sulfates.
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