UpCircle takes your morning espresso leftovers and turns them into face cream. I respect the hustle — but does that make it *clean*?
Their whole thing is upcycling. Sounds noble. But “clean” isn’t just about where ingredients come from — it’s about what they leave out. And this cream has a few surprises hiding behind that eco-friendly label.
It’s a lightweight day moisturizer, $28 for 50ml. The pitch: coffee oil (from spent grounds) hydrates, chia seed locks it in, and you save the planet one pump at a time.
Texture is weirdly thin
Feels like a lotion that forgot to thicken — almost watery at first.
Fragrance is divisive
You get that roasted coffee smell, but it fades to… nothing. No added perfume, which is rare.
Absorption is instant
Sinks in under 15 seconds. No greasy film. Your skin just drinks it.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
Hero ingredients: *Coffea arabica* (coffee) seed oil — antioxidant-rich, fights puffiness. *Salvia hispanica* (chia) seed oil — omega-3s for barrier repair. But there’s also glycerin and cetyl alcohol — standard stuff, not scary, but not “clean” cult-level either.
- Coffee seed oil: Reduces under-eye bags fast
- Chia seed oil: Locks moisture without clogging
- Glycerin: Hydrates like a sponge
- Cetyl alcohol: Thickener, not a drying alcohol
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
First pump: it’s alarmingly thin. Spreads like a serum, not a cream. Absorbs in 10 seconds flat — no residue, no shine. My dry cheeks felt… okay. Not plump, not tight. Just fine.
Week 2: I noticed it actually calmed some redness around my nose. Didn’t expect that. But it’s not enough for winter — I had to layer a heavier oil on top. The coffee scent? Gone by the time you blink.
My skin looked slightly less tired — the coffee oil works. But it didn’t transform anything. No breakouts, no glow-up. Just a solid, middle-of-the-road moisturizer that happens to be eco-friendly.
It’s not a greenwash — they actually use real spent coffee grounds. But it’s also not a miracle cream. Good for what it is: a light, eco-conscious daily moisturizer that does its job without drama.