Coffee and skin care? It may surprise you to learn that more than 140 caffeine-containing skin care products were launched in the United States in 2006 compared to just 21 in 2003.
Coffee had a hard time in the 20th century, while the US Food and Drug Administration wondered if it was good or bad for you. As we move steadily into the 21st century, more indications of coffee’s beneficial properties are emerging, and nowhere is it more evident than in the lucrative skin care market.
Mainly coffee and caffeine are finding their way into skin lotions and creams due to their antioxidant properties and tightening and firming qualities. Caffeine applied to the skin works in three ways: as an antioxidant, a diuretic, and a vasoconstrictor. Among others, Avon, Neuturogena and L’Oreal have included caffeine in some of their products.
For years, caffeine has been used in products sold to reduce cellulite. It is clear that caffeine dehydrates fat cells by energizing them in some way, which in turn causes the sodium/potassium component of the cells to be depleted. Consequently, the water also disappears. Simply put: the skin on the buttocks and thighs becomes smoother.
Caffeine’s vasoconstrictive property also makes it a favorite ingredient in eye gels to reduce puffiness and dark circles, as well as to tighten the skin around the eyes. Of course, nothing completely eliminates cellulite or troubled skin around the eyes. The best you can hope for is a noticeable improvement, perhaps for just a few hours.
With the explosion of coffee-based skin products, it is now seen in body scrubs, face creams, and fragrances. Several products even smell like coffee and contain coffee grounds that are meant to exfoliate. Some purveyors have even gone so far as to suggest that caffeine absorption through the skin will produce the kind of alertness one would expect from drinking coffee.
Not so fast say dermatologists. Neither product harbors sufficient concentrations to produce the jolt one might expect from a cup of coffee. Also, absorption is slow through the skin, so it is questionable whether enough of the coffee can penetrate to improve alertness. On the other hand, infusing the aroma of coffee into products is believed to stimulate joy by association.
Some promising studies in mice suggest that the caffeine in coffee may kill skin cancer cells in irradiated animals. So far, the results look promising, but they cannot yet be translated to humans. However, many sunscreens contain caffeine, as it has been shown to have some sun blocking effects.
Some people even suggest that investing in expensive skin care potions is unnecessary. It is claimed that you can receive the same benefits by making your own homemade coffee soaps and scrubs from used coffee grounds. Formulas are even offered.
Hey, now you can shower with your espresso!
