• Caffeine

Caffeine

A lovely cappuccino, cafe au lait or just a nice cup of coffee. It is the reason for me, instead of an extra 5 minutes in bed, to get up in the morning! And since I have read that caffeine contains many positive properties, that cup of coffee tastes even better…

The beneficial properties of caffeine

Caffeine is found in many products such as coffee, tea, cola and chocolate. Although it doesn’t get such a good press, it is, if the scientists are to be believed, actually even a very useful substance. According to one Jorge Rafael Leon-Carmona and Annia Galano (Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2011; 115 (15)) caffeine can reduce the risks of getting heart and cardiovascular disease, Alzheimers (dementia) and skin cancer. All just have one more then!

Caffeine in cosmetics

You see increasingly more often caffeine in the list of ingredients on cosmetic products. If you are to believe the adverts (we don’t of course…) your wrinkles will disappear like snow melting in the sunshine after applying a caffeine cream just a couple of times. It is even true that a certain caffeine cream (whose name I won’t mention) had a waiting list of a thousand people…. Sadly after a quick scan of the ingredients list it appeared that the concentration was very low, in fact almost negligible. The product in question did contain mica, this has no beneficial effect on skin, but contains light reflecting particles and therefore gives a better visual effect…. The hype then completely unjustified, but compliments to the marketing department!

Caffeine works and not only in coffee

It is well known through research that caffeine can do a number of good things to skin. It’s a pity that removing wrinkles isn’t one of them. It does though have an anti-oxidating effect and so theoretically can in this way limit the onset of wrinkles. Furthermore, it can, just like ice if you have banged your head, minimise the build-up of fluid. That also explains the inclusion in eye creams. Though this effect is only temporary. In addition to this it has a soothing effect and, following very recent studies, can reduce the risk of skin cancer when applied to the skin. Unfortunately caffeine dries the skin out somewhat, so it always needs to be combined with hydrating substances.

Searching for a needle in the haystack

So caffeine, just like many cosmetic ingredients (such as Green Tea, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Vitamin A Acid), has a number of good properties. Now we just need to find a product with a concentration high enough to be able to do something. I’m afraid that we are again searching for a needle in the haystack….(see also the blog ‘Angel Dusting’).

Regards Jetske.

(Dr. Jetske Ultee-Research Physician Cosmetic Dermatology)

You can also read the blogs
Argan Oil; The New Wonder Product?‘,
Green Tea’,
Alcohol in Skincare Products; Rather Not!’,
Do Anti-Oxidants also Work in Skincare Products?‘,
The Perfect Eye Cream’ and
Is There a Cure for Bags?

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