The Secret Ingredient: The Beauty Benefits of Caffeine
- Published: Tuesday, September 29th 2015
- in Beauty
With today being International Coffee Day, we thought there was no better time to highlight the secret powers of caffeine. No, not the “get you out of bed and ready for the day” power but the beauty benefits of caffeine that help to wake up and energize tired complexions.
Caffeine is a stimulant drug which interacts with our central nervous system to energize our bodies and minds and while often consumed within beverages such as coffee, tea, and sodas, it’s also a key ingredient in a lot of topical products. When applied topically, caffeine has a similar energizing effect, working to boost circulation, reduce inflammation, redness, fine lines, and the appearance of cellulite. As well, it contains antioxidants that help battle the effects of aging.
Overall, caffeine is found most commonly in eye creams, cellulite-reducing lotions, and anti-aging skin care products. Here are a few of our favorite products that contain this secret ingredient!
Mama Mio: Get Waisted – Formulated for new moms who want to get their body-before-baby back, Get Waisted helps to firm, de-bloat , and tone tummies (and love handles) everywhere! I tested the entire container and truly saw visible results as the month progressed. The lotion uses pharmaceutical grade caffeine to boost circulation and firm the skin, along with many other tightening and toning active ingredients. $56; mioskincare.com
mybody: Calm After the Storm Soothing and De-Puffing Eye Cream – After an especially late night I always reach for mybody’s Calm After the Storm Soothing and De-Puffing Eye Cream, a lightweight eye cream that banishes bags and dark circles in addition to fighting wrinkles. I keep mine in the fridge so the cooling metal applicator is even more effective, and gently glide under my eyes, and massage in the excess before applying makeup. The cream uses coffee seed extract to help with microcirculation which minimizes the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. $75; dermstore.com
Kiehl’s: Facial Fuel Energizing Tonic for Men – Created for just-shaved skin, this men’s toner from Kiehl’s wakes up dull, tired skin to help balance and tone the complexion. It energizes skin with a dose of caffeine, hydrates with vitamin E, and helps to fight the signs of aging with vitamin C. $18; kiehls.com
You can also harness the power of caffeine in these DIY spa treatments:
In “The Secret Ingredient!” we showcase a mix of popular and not-so-well-known power-player ingredients found in your favorite products and detail their benefits, unveil some fun facts, and share products and treatments you can find them in! Have an ingredient you want to learn more about? Tell us what it is below!
Jackie Burns Brisman
