Why Caffeine Is A Popular Skin Care Ingredient

Believe it or not, caffeine has become a rather popular skincare ingredient in recent years. From face masks to under-eye serums, caffeine can be found in a variety of different types of skincare products, but what exactly is caffeine and what can it do for your skin? As it turns out, caffeine is a natural stimulant and one of the most commonly used ingredients on the planet (via Healthline). Found in coffee and tea, caffeine works by activating your central nervous system to help keep you awake and alert.

While most people use caffeine to stay awake and ward off tiredness, it can also be used to help improve the quality of your skin. According to Allure, caffeine can also help wake up your skin, but in a slightly different way than it does your mind. That's because it acts as an antioxidant and a vasoconstrictor, which means that it helps tighten the space inside your blood vessels.

Caffeine is sometimes referred to as a microcirculation enhancer. "When used in skincare, caffeine reduces blood flow to the skin and makes it look brighter and tighter," Dr. Jeffrey Hsu, a board-certified dermatologist and co-director of Oak Dermatology, told Everyday Health. Because of this, it is often viewed as an anti-aging ingredient. However, just because a skincare product contains caffeine doesn't necessarily mean it will work. In order to reap the skincare benefits of caffeine, you'll need to use products with highly concentrated doses.

That's why Dr. Hsu recommends using medical-grade skincare products, which can be found at a doctor's office or even a med spa. Since caffeine impacts circulation, it can also reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. While these effects are fast-acting, they typically don't last very long. For this reason, it's better to look for products that contain other active ingredients to help repair your skin, like shea butter, vitamin C, and tea tree oil.