Okay, so you know how every brand is suddenly “clean” and “sustainable” now? I rolled my eyes so hard I saw my brain. But then UpCircle showed up claiming they made cleanser out of recycled coffee oil, and I had to call BS or give them a medal.
The real kicker? It’s not just a marketing gimmick. They literally scoop spent coffee grounds from London cafes to extract the oil. That’s either genius or a logistics nightmare, and I’m here for it.
It’s a 100ml pot of solid balm that melts into an oil. Retails for £19.50, which is mid-range but feels premium. The claim that got me? “Up to 25% recycled coffee oil” — they put the waste product front and center, not as an afterthought.
Zero-Waste Core
The base is 99% natural and uses upcycled coffee oil as the primary lipid, not just a sprinkle.
Texture Shift
It goes from a solid butter to a slick oil in 3 seconds flat on contact with skin.
Scent Profile
Smells like a cold brew latte, not a sugary frappuccino. Earthy, not artificial.
Photo: Chalo Garcia / Unsplash
Here’s where the “clean” label actually holds water. The ingredient list is short enough to read in one breath, and there’s no sneaky fragrance hiding at the bottom. It’s mostly oils, which is exactly what a balm should be.
- Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Oil: Antioxidant powerhouse that boosts circulation
- Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil: The heavy lifting cleanser that grabs makeup
- Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil: Balances the texture to not feel greasy
- Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter: The cushion that leaves skin soft, not stripped
Photo: Ali Pazani / Unsplash
First scoop is like digging into a frozen sorbet. It warms into a golden oil that glides, and it *immediately* dissolves waterproof mascara. I’m talking, it doesn’t even need a second pass. But the first rinse left a slight film.
Week 3 reality check: I stopped double-cleansing because I don’t need to. One pass with this, a warm flannel, and my face feels clean but not tight. The “film” I hated? It was actually just moisture. My skin drank it up.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
My pores are less… loud. The little black dots on my nose have calmed down, but my chin still gets a monthly hormonal visitor. So, it cleans deeply, but it isn’t a miracle serum.
Photo: Kaeme / Unsplash
UpCircle actually walked the walk. It’s a weird texture, but it’s the best deep-clean I’ve found that doesn’t make my face feel like sandpaper. I’m buying a backup.