Everything You Need To Know About Caffeine For Skin

Caffeine seems to be that wonder antioxidant that people are unsure if it's good for them or if they should avoid it. Extracted from coffee beans and tea leaves, this energy booster can be found in products you consume everyday. These days, caffeine is being added to more and more anti-aging products. They are commonly found in eye serums that are focused on puffy eyes and Crow's feet. On one hand, caffeine is known to dehydrate skin and strip away calcium from bones; but, on the other hand its antioxidants has the potential to outweigh the cons.

Here are some of the essential benefits that caffeine has to offer when it comes to your skin care regime!

Pump It!

Caffeine has the ability to constrict the small blood vessels found on the face, especially in thinner areas like around the eyes. This mechanism leads to a reduction in inflammation, dark circles and puffy “tired” looking eyes. This is where the dehydrating qualities play a significant role, when caffeine is applied topically to skin, it removes excess fluid from cell sacs that retain water.

By stimulating blood flow, this action leads to an increase in collagen production to fight off fine lines. Also take into consideration that caffeine is a naturally acidic compound that works in harmony with skin ph.

Free Radicals

For starters, what exactly is a free radical? A free radical is any substance found within the environment that damage cells or contribute to cancer. Unknown to most, caffeine is filled with a vast amount of antioxidants that can counter the effects of free radicals. Two of the antioxidants found: theobromine and xanthine have been clinically proven to boost to chemo preventive activity.

Even more surprisingly, the caffeine found in beverages has the ability to stabilize free radicals and provide protection from further damage. Not only do free radicals cause damage to the surface of skin; but, over a long period of time they can contribute to chronic diseases.

Cellulite Buster

By definition, caffeine is a stimulant  in every sense of the word. Although there are many causes to cellulite, one of the main attributions is lack of blood circulation. Caffeine works by jump starting blood flow which then causes fat cells to break down. Once applied, caffeine can tighten the appearance of skin and can even be accelerated with the use of retinol.

Rosacea

The appearance of redness on cheeks is a common sign of rosacea. While in most cases, roseacea is not harmful or painful, it can lead to poor self-confidence, Caffeine works to reduce the appearance of red skin by constricting blood vessels. In the case of rosacea, it is better to apply caffeine topically as opposed to drinking a hot beverage because the heat can cause skin to become flushed.

Brighten Your Peepers

There's nothing that screams exhaustion faster than “raccoon eyes”. Whether caused by lack or sleep or product overload, dark circles can be challenging. There are plenty of home remedies that can be used to lighten eyes; but, caffeine works to increase blood flow and brighten pigment. The skin around the under eye area is the most sensitive, so a caffeinated gel or under eye cream should be used every other day to avoid irritation.