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We’re used to drinking it in coffee and energy drinks, but caffeine can also be isolated and used as an ingredient in cosmetic products. But is it safe? Does it do anything, or is it just another snake oil ingredient? Let’s take a coffee break and get into it!

What Is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant and alkaloid compound that affects the central nervous system. It occurs naturally in over 60 plants, so it’s not a manmade chemical. 

Is Caffeine Good for Your Skin?

We could always use more research when it comes to skincare products. However, studies show that caffeine could benefit skin when used topically. 

People love it in skincare because it’s a natural and strong antioxidant. Antioxidants have our back. They protect our bodies from oxidative damage by neutralizing free radicals. 

Basically, free radicals are like evil pirates who want to steal your youth and bury it with their treasure. Antioxidants are Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean fighting them off with his sword skills.

Caffeine can benefit your skin by: 

• Increasing Collagen and Elastin: Collagen and elastic keep your skin looking smooth and young. These are proteins that firm, tone, and brighten. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it gives you (and your skin) an energy boost. This wakes the fibroblasts that produce collagen and elastic, giving you more of those ‘pretty’ proteins.

• Reducing Inflammation: Caffeine and other antioxidants reduce inflammation, redness, and puffiness by tightening your blood vessels. This promotes microcirculation, which helps your eyes look fresher and brighter.

• Blocking UV Rays: We all know sun damage ages you. It discolors your skin, speeds up wrinkles, and creates blemishes. Caffeine can reduce sun damage by reducing your skin’s absorption rate. 

Is Caffeine Good for Your Hair?

Caffeine cosmetic products aren’t limited to your skin. There’s also evidence that caffeine can help out your hair!

When applied to your scalp and hair, caffeine can:

• Encourage Hair Growth: Again, caffeine is super energizing. It can wake up your hair follicles, encouraging them to get you that long, luscious hair faster. The antioxidant can also extend hair’s growth phase, which means your hair is healthier for longer. It can even help with hair thinning and balding.

• Promote Softness and Shine: The power of antioxidants cannot be overstated. They can repair hair damage and protect your hair from further damage. That means shinier, softer hair. It can help if your hair is dull, brittle, or dry. Caffeine can also balance your hair and scalp’s pH.

• Volumize and Thicken: Along with encouraging hair growth, caffeine can also widen the hair roots and elongate the shafts. This, combined with the soft, shiny benefits of antioxidants, leaves you with thick and full-bodied locks.

Is Drinking Coffee Good for You?

The jury on coffee’s healthiness is still out. Ample research shows drinking coffee and consuming caffeine in other ways has benefits and downsides. Moderately consuming caffeine might lower your risk of developing certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer. However, consuming caffeine regularly might not be ideal for your skin.

• Less Beauty Sleep: Caffeine might help you get up earlier or stay up later, but you need that precious beauty sleep to keep your skin glowing.

• Dehydrated Skin: Caffeinated drinks, especially coffee, can dehydrate your body, eventually dehydrating your skin, too. Just be sure to pair your latte with a glass of water!

• Higher Cortisol Levels: More exposure to cortisol, which caffeine consumption can trigger, can lead to earlier signs of aging.

• Pesky Acne: It’s debatable if drinking coffee causes acne, but it can worsen acne if you already have it because it triggers a stress response.

Hey, live your life. Five espressos a day isn’t ideal, but experts say moderate coffee consumption can be part of a perfectly healthy diet. Just don’t replace water with caffeinated beverages!

Our Favorite Caffeinated Beauty Products

We recommend a few products if you’re ready to have a java treatment for your skin and hair. From serums to shampoo, these caffeine products are even better than the ones you get at Starbucks.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

This serum is loaded with caffeine and formulated to reduce puffiness and perk up those sleepy eyes. But you can use it all over your face. It also contains Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, an antioxidant-abundant compound found in green tea that promotes skin health.

Belif Aqua Bomb Depuffing Eye Gel with Caffeine + Hyaluronic Acid

The Aqua Bomb Eye Gel is a refreshing boost for your eyes. It depuffs and brightens eyes, helping reduce dark circles, redness, and eye bags. Along with caffeine, it contains hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Vitamin C, collagen, and adenosine — all skin-nourshing ingredients.

The INKEY List Caffeine Stimulating Scalp Treatment

This scalp treatment promotes natural hair growth by handing your hair follicles a cup of coffee. It’s also formulated with Redensyl™, which causes faster cell division. That means more hair follicles for longer, thicker hair.

Biossance Caffeine Toning Body Cream + Squalane

You can encourage skin health from head to toe with this body cream. It also contains squalane from sugarcane, which naturally moisturizes and soothes, and niacinamide, which improves texture and supports your skin barrier.

Briogeo Destined For Density™ Peptide Shampoo for Thicker, Fuller Hair

Aside from having a cute name, the Destined For Density™ shampoo improves hair density and encourages microcirculation for lush, healthy hair. It contains biotin, a powerful protein that gives the body fuel for processes like hair, skin, and nail growth.

Adding a Shot of Espresso to Your Beauty Routine

Whether you try an at-home coffee rinse or one of these perky products, it’s worth giving caffeine an audition for your skincare and haircare routine. 

Caffeine in cosmetics promotes flawless skin and thriving hair. So, wake up and smell the makeup, and put caffeine in your beauty routine.