Coffee and skin care? It might surprise you to learn that in 2006 in the United States over 140 skin care products containing caffeine were launched compared to just 21 in 2003. Coffee had a hard time of it in the 20th century while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration waffled over whether it was good or bad for you. As we move solidly into the 21st century, more indications of coffee's beneficial properties are surfacing, and nowhere is that more evident than in the lucrative skin care market.
Caffeine and coffee are primarily showing up in creams and skin lotions, due to their ability to firm and tighten the skin, as well as their antioxidant properties. When applied to the skin, caffeine does three different things. It acts as a diuretic, an antioxidant, and as a vasoconstrictor. Among other makers of skin care products, manufacturers like L'Oreal, Avon and Neutrogena have all included caffeine in their wares.
Caffeine has been used in products for cellulite reduction. It's evident that caffeine has a dehydrating effect on fat cells, energizing them somehow and causing sodium and potassium to leave them. This takes water with it, too. What does that means for users? Skin on the thighs and buttocks is smoother and more attractive.
Caffeine's ability to constrict the veins means that it's a common ingredient in many treatments for reducing dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. It also helps tighten skin in this area. While nothing will permanently reduce troubled skin in the eye region or cellulite, these products can bring about changes for a few hours.
Now, the explosion of coffee use in skin products means that you'll find it in fragrances, face creams and body scrubs. Lots of products not only smell like coffee, but also have ground coffee in them as an exfoliant. Some manufacturers even suggest that absorbing caffeine through your skin could produce some of the same alertness effects that drinking a cup of coffee does.
Dermatologists say otherwise, however. That's because none of these skin care products contain a high enough concentration of caffeine to give you the kind of jolt you'd get from drinking coffee. Skin absorption also happens quite slowly, making it questionable whether you'd get enough penetration from the caffeine to enhance alertness at all. On the other hand, the smell of coffee might be enough to stimulate feelings of alertness, just because we associate coffee with a burst of energy.
Some promising studies on mice suggest that the caffeine in coffee may kill off skin cancer cells on radiated animals. So far, the results appear promising, but cannot, as yet, be translated to humans. However, many sunscreens do contain caffeine since it has been shown to have some sun blocking effects.
A few folks are even suggesting that investment in expensive skin care potions is unnecessary. It's claimed that you can receive the same benefits by concocting your own home brewed coffee soaps and body scrubs from used coffee grounds. Formulas are even offered. Hey, now you can shower with your espresso! - 15634
Caffeine and coffee are primarily showing up in creams and skin lotions, due to their ability to firm and tighten the skin, as well as their antioxidant properties. When applied to the skin, caffeine does three different things. It acts as a diuretic, an antioxidant, and as a vasoconstrictor. Among other makers of skin care products, manufacturers like L'Oreal, Avon and Neutrogena have all included caffeine in their wares.
Caffeine has been used in products for cellulite reduction. It's evident that caffeine has a dehydrating effect on fat cells, energizing them somehow and causing sodium and potassium to leave them. This takes water with it, too. What does that means for users? Skin on the thighs and buttocks is smoother and more attractive.
Caffeine's ability to constrict the veins means that it's a common ingredient in many treatments for reducing dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. It also helps tighten skin in this area. While nothing will permanently reduce troubled skin in the eye region or cellulite, these products can bring about changes for a few hours.
Now, the explosion of coffee use in skin products means that you'll find it in fragrances, face creams and body scrubs. Lots of products not only smell like coffee, but also have ground coffee in them as an exfoliant. Some manufacturers even suggest that absorbing caffeine through your skin could produce some of the same alertness effects that drinking a cup of coffee does.
Dermatologists say otherwise, however. That's because none of these skin care products contain a high enough concentration of caffeine to give you the kind of jolt you'd get from drinking coffee. Skin absorption also happens quite slowly, making it questionable whether you'd get enough penetration from the caffeine to enhance alertness at all. On the other hand, the smell of coffee might be enough to stimulate feelings of alertness, just because we associate coffee with a burst of energy.
Some promising studies on mice suggest that the caffeine in coffee may kill off skin cancer cells on radiated animals. So far, the results appear promising, but cannot, as yet, be translated to humans. However, many sunscreens do contain caffeine since it has been shown to have some sun blocking effects.
A few folks are even suggesting that investment in expensive skin care potions is unnecessary. It's claimed that you can receive the same benefits by concocting your own home brewed coffee soaps and body scrubs from used coffee grounds. Formulas are even offered. Hey, now you can shower with your espresso! - 15634
About the Author:
For more information about skin care, please visit websites created by Robert Coooksey, including Details About Skin Care, and a series of Skin Care Products.
