The surprising benefits of Caffeine

Coffee & Caffeine

We drink a coffee to wake up in the morning, we share a coffee with friends or we enjoy a coffee at the balcony with a good book… Espresso, filtered, boiled or instant, coffee is always delicious and rich in caffeine. But what does caffeine have to do with skin care?

Why is Caffeine so widely used in cosmetics?

Caffeine is a natural and biologically active compound. We often find it in our cosmetics and that happens for a series of reasons:

• Caffeine stimulates the metabolism, prevents the accumulation of excess of fat in the cells but also stimulates the breakdown of existing fat and that’s why caffeine a great anti-cellulite ingredient.
• When combined with Centella Asiatica polyphenols, it prevents fat storage, protects the skin from oxidation and maintains its elasticity.
• When combined with ivy extract, it decongests and detoxifies adipose tissue, while preventing the recurrence of cellulite and localized fat.
• Caffeine increases the microcirculation of the blood in the skin, helping to remove toxins from the body.
• Caffeine also has strong antioxidant properties, as it protects cells from ultraviolet radiation and slows down the skin’s aging process. Thus, its usage in sunscreen products,
  promotes skin protection from the formation of free radicals and photoaging caused by the sun’s UV radiation.
• Caffeine slows down hair loss and stimulates hair growth.
• Caffeine effectively reduces the swelling of the tissue under the eyes.
• And the highlight is left for the end; Caffeine due to its low molecular weight penetrates the skin barrier and it is easily absorbed by the skin. In fact, its penetration is greater when it is formulated in emulsions, such as creams, compared to aqueous solutions, such as serums.

Caffeine’s multifunctional and holistic properties, along with its natural origin, turned it in one of our favorite ingredients, found in many of our products:

Body firming and moisturizing cream CHARIS – against cellulite

Face & Body sunscreen cream HELIATOR – SPF 30

Anti-wrinkle eye cream APHRODITE

Anti-oxidant day cream with coenzyme Q10 EROFILI

Sources:
 Caffeine’s Mechanisms of Action and Its Cosmetic Use Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2013; 26:8–14
 Burlando B, Verotta L, Cornara L, Bottini-Massa E: Herbal Principles in Cosmetics. Properties and
Mechanism of Action. London, CRC Press, 2010, pp 178–179.
 Kim C, Shim J, Han S, Chang I: The skinpermeation- enhancing effect of phosphatidylcholine: caffeine as a
model active ingredient. J Cosmet Sci 2002; 53: 363–374.
 Trauer S, Patzelt A, Otberg N, Knorr F, Rozycki C, Balizs G, Bόttemeyer R, Linscheid M, Liebsch M,
Lademann J: Permeation of topically applied caffeine through human skin – a comparison of in vivo and in
vitro data. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2009; 68: 181–186.
 Rawlings AV: Cellulite and its treatment. Int J Cosmet Sci 2006; 28: 175–190.
 Okuno T, Sugiyama T, Tominaga M, Kojima S, Ikeda T: Effects of caffeine on microcirculation of the human
ocular fundus. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2002; 46: 170–176.