Why Caffeine Helps and Hurts Your Skin

Those of us who need our morning jolt of coffee know that caffeine can be a wonderful thing. But, when it comes to skincare, caffeine is a double-edged sword. Lauded for its anti-inflammatory properties, caffeine is also a diuretic that can cause moisture loss in the skin.

To maximize the skin benefits of caffeine, it’s important to find a balance. This means that your caffeine use has to work with your products, your lifestyle, and even your diet.

Caffeine: The Up Side

The best part of caffeine is what it does. It revives and brightens more than your mood in the morning, but also your skin. Caffeine is a molecule with antioxidant and vaso-constrictive properties. That means that it detoxes your skin while increasing circulation.

This is especially good news if you have inflammatory skin problems. People with rosacea or facial redness can utilize the vasoconstrictive properties of caffeine to treat problem areas. Also, those puffy eyes you get in the morning? Caffeine can boost the circulation at the surface to reduce puffiness and keep your eyes looking well-rested.

Caffeine is also effective for the treatment of cellulite. Hale Cosmeceuticals’ Cellulite Sculpt Gel utilizes caffeine to increase the blood flow to stimulate the circulation of fat cells while firming the tissues covering fat deposits.

Caffeine: The Down Side

Caffeine is a stimulant and a diuretic – this means that your body loses water every time you consume it. Loading on lattes throughout the day may be depleting your body of the vital H20 your skin needs to look luminous.

Drinking caffeine throughout the day can negatively affect your skin in other ways, too. As a stimulant, caffeine intake affects sleep in a serious way. Even if you limit yourself to one afternoon jolt – it can impact your ability to reach REM sleep. This means that your skin doesn’t have the time it needs to rejuvenate and promote cell turnover.

In addition to looking tired, sleep deprivation can stimulate the production of cortisol, a stress hormone that can cause acne. To maintain a well-rested complexion, aim for 8 hours of sleep every night and limit your caffeine intake to the AM only.

What a Healthy Balance of Caffeine Looks Like

Just because you are using caffeine on the outside of your body doesn’t mean your internal nervous system will feel the jolt. But, both methods of absorbing caffeine can have a serious impact on your skin. To maximize the benefits, the key is balance. And you can achieve it! Just try these tips:

• If you need more caffeine today to stay alert, try to drink more water as well.
• Watch how much caffeine you need to feel alert. To decrease dehydrating effects, gradually lower your intake. Ex: Instead of a double shot latte, go for a single shot.
• Use caffeine eye creams before going to bed at night. This maximizes the anti-inflammatory properties so you can wake up free of puffiness.
• Find a healthy balance with skincare products. Depending on your skin type, you may not need to use caffeine-based products on a daily basis. It’s always advisable to consult a professional to ensure that you get the best results.

Caffeine Skincare at Hale Cosmeceuticals

To learn how you can use caffeine to smooth skin and improve the appearance of inflammatory skin problems, contact us today! 1-800-951-7005