Can caffeine really wake your skin up?
Who doesn’t love coffee, a quick pick-me-up whenever you need it and for some, it has become a staple in their lifestyle. Those sips of coffee wake you up, aids concentration and gives you that boost in energy, surely that same notion would apply to your skin as well with a few drops of caffeine in your moisturiser or eye cream to revitalise and brighten your skin?
Benefits
De-puffs the face
- Caffeine is a potent antioxidant that can help treat ageing skin concerns, particularly the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as caffeine works to improve blood circulation which tightens the skin and reduces puffiness. Hence, why caffeine is so prominent in eye creams as many people are concerned about sagging skin at the under-eye area, which can make one look tired and dull.
Collagen synthesis
- There have been some studies that show that caffeine may stimulate collagen and elastin production through the amino acids it possesses, though more research has to be conducted.
Antioxidant
- As an antioxidant, caffeine can help to protect your skin from free radicals and environmental factors (pollution, UV rays), preventing the damaging effects of oxidative stress that can lead to premature ageing skin and a weakened skin barrier.
- Caffeine is also anti-irritant and can help soothe the skin.
Reduces cellulite
- You may not have realised this but plenty of slimming and cellulite creams contain caffeine due to their ability to dissolve fat from the fatty layer by converting it to fatty acids that are later removed by the improved blood circulation, and metabolised to energy and carbon dioxide.
Brightens the skin
- Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it will constrict blood vessels which will help brighten the overall skin complexion and reduce redness and inflammation. Being a vasoconstrictor is also why caffeine is a popular choice in products that aim to depuff the face and reduce eye bags.
What to note?
- It is important to note that caffeine only removes subnormal fat, not those around the inner organs, so please do not assume that caffeine is a short-cut to get skinny, and it is not guaranteed that caffeine will 100% dissolve fat.
- As caffeine promotes blood circulation, redness may appear.
- Do conduct a patch test prior.
Products we recommend
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
This light-textured formula contains an extremely high 5% concentration of caffeine, supplemented with highly-purified Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside (EGCG) from green tea leaves. Independent studies have shown that topical use of each of caffeine and EGCG can help reduce looks of puffiness and of dark circles in the eye contour.
This product harnesses the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant powers of coffee to bring them to your skin. Helping to reduce puffiness, minimise dark circles and prevent skin damage caused by free radicals which can make dark circles more prominent.
Klairs Fundamental Eye Awakening Gel
Brighten and moisturise your undereye are with this Eye Awakening Gel. Enriched with caffeine and red bean extract, both rich in de-puffing and anti-oxidising properties for a fresh complexion.
This eye sleeping mask moisturises, revitalises and brightens the skin around the eye area, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed every morning. The ceramic ball applicator provides a cooling effect to help reduce any puffiness or swelling.
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