What If Upcycling Was Sexier Than Skincare?
From Coffee Waste to Cult Clean — A Founder’s Confession
I used to think good skincare came in fancy jars with botanical names I couldn’t pronounce.
I also used to throw out my coffee grounds like they were garbage.
Then one day, standing over the compost bin — caffeine in my system and self-doubt in my gut — I paused.
I looked at what I was about to toss: warm, rich-smelling, gritty gold.
And thought:
“This is still alive.”
Still fragrant.
Still full of potential.
Still beautiful in its own raw, used-up way.
And just like that, a weird, wild idea took root:
What if waste wasn’t the end?
What if it was the start of something better?
That’s how 2nd Ground began.
Not as a skincare brand.
As a rebellion.
The Story Behind 2nd Ground’s Upcycled Coffee Soap
We don’t make skincare.
We make rituals — from what’s been thrown away.
At 2nd Ground, we don’t chase trends.
We turn yesterday’s coffee into tomorrow’s clean.
Our signature bars are poured in two phases:
☕ One side is scrubby, raw, and grounding — made with upcycled coffee grounds straight from local cafés
🧼 The other is smooth, creamy, and nourishing — packed with organic oils and earth-safe clays
Each soap is a 2-in-1 alchemy ritual.
Each bar proves that you don’t need virgin plastic or lab-made beads to feel luxurious.
You just need a little intention.
And a bit of rebellion.
Sustainable Skincare Without the Greenwashing
Let’s be honest:
Skincare is full of BS. Ours is full of coffee.
“Clean beauty” has gotten… fake clean.
It still comes shrink-wrapped.
Still tosses “natural” on the label like it means anything.
Still creates more waste than it saves.
We flipped the script:
♻️ We use ingredients others throw out
🌿 Only organic oils — no synthetics, no filler
🚫 No essential oils, no microplastics
📦 100% plastic-free, compostable packaging
🛠 Small-batch, handcrafted in Brooklyn
We’re not perfect. But we give a F🜃CK — out loud and on purpose.
This Isn’t Just About Soap. It’s a Message.
Inside every bar is a reminder:
✨ You don’t have to start from scratch to make something magical.
🜃 You can reclaim what’s been wasted — in the world, and in yourself.
🧼 You can scrub away the old and still be soft after.
If that feels like more than skincare?
Good.
Because it is.
Try the Bar That Started the Rebellion
Citrus & Bubbles: Our Freshest Pour
This one smells like sunshine and rebellion.
Made with upcycled coffee grounds and exfoliating orange peel,
Citrus & Bubbles is the first bar that made people say:
“Wait… this came from coffee waste?”
Want to Try Alchemy?
You don’t need a lab.
Just a shower.
And one rebellious bar.
Because waste is only waste if you waste it.