Cicillini Uses Local Products to Create Skin Creams

Giovanna Cicillini loves coffee.

“The texture, the smoothness, can make you feel different once you drink it,” Cicillini said. “I wanted to turn that feeling into a reality for others.”

Cicillini has developed her own line of skin care products made from ingredients like coffee beans, olive oil, oranges, mangos, aloe vera and honeysuckle that she purchases from local markets. The Wayne resident sells the products at her store, G&D CoffeeMud, on Sherman Street.

Cicillini was born in Italy. She constantly worked in the garden with her family, growing her own herbs and vegetables. She was taught how to use fruits, vegetables and herbs to improve her health.

“We didn’t go to doctors when we got sick,” Cicillini said. “One day I realized that there are many other ways to cure common skin aliments like acne, eczema and poison ivy. I started to look up different things about fruits and vegetables. I began trying different combinations of things together, there was a lot of trial and error involved. Eventually I realized that they can be used to improve what is on the outside of a person and the inside.”

Her products include MudMe!, a cream made from coffee beans that exfoliates and softens skin; SmootheMe!, a hand and face cream with coconut oil, olive oil and honeysuckle that is said to minimize wrinkles; and CleanseMe!, a body wash made with cantaloupe juice and mango and orange nectar.

“They are all water-based products that contain the juices of fruits and vegetables,” Cicillini said.

Cicillini wants her products to make people feel less stress in their lives, naturally, without the use of artificial ingredients.

“If you feel better physically, you’ll feel better mentally. You’ll have less stress,” Cicillini said. “We are all so much stress in our lives now. If they can eliminate the stress they will feel better and that’s all I want.”