Why do some grooming products contain caffeine?
Words Pauline Alliones
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Like most people, you start your day with a cup of coffee, but are you really aware of all of caffeine’s benefits? Some people can’t wake up until they’ve had their morning coffee. But all of caffeine’s benefits can’t be found in an espresso. If you add some to your grooming routine, you’ll find this molecule can also give your skin a real boost and help eliminate visible signs of tiredness.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine, also known as theine, is a molecule (called alkaloid) and is found in some plants, particularly in their seeds, fruit, or leaves. While strongly associated with coffee, the molecule is found in numerous other drinks such as tea, sodas, mate, guarana, or cocoa, as well as certain foods (of which chocolate).
In its purest form, caffeine is a bitter white powder (a little like its cousin cocaine, also an alkaloid). Coffee isn’t a drug because there is no feeling of withdrawal if you stop drinking it. However, it isn’t only consumed for its taste: it has effects on the body.
An energising and invigorating substance
If a cup of coffee has the power to wake you up and get rid of your bad mood, it is because the molecule contained in the coffee beans is energising. Caffeine, the most widely consumed psychoactive substance on the planet, is renowned for its exciting properties.
By stimulating the central nervous and cardiovascular system, the molecule excites the organism and provides short-term effects: you’re not as tired, you have a greater capacity to stay concentrated, and your metabolism operates much faster, etc.
From your kitchen to your bathroom
Caffeine is no longer restricted to our kitchen: it has also made its way into our bathrooms, where it can be found in creams, shampoos, masks, and scrubs.
This psychostimulant, which is believed to have many benefits for the skin, is mainly used in slimming products. Known for its draining and lipolytic properties, i.e., it helps dissolve fatty substances, caffeine is found in many products that are supposed to fight cellulite or help make skin firmer.
A boost for the skin
The molecule is also frequently used in eye contour care: it slows down skin sagging and tones the epidermis. In particular, it helps fight against the puffiness that sometimes makes the eyes look heavy after a rough night, helping you look more awake. By massaging the area, the stimulant will have a decongesting effect and promote better circulation of the blood and lymphatic systems. Indeed, congested blood and lymphatic systems lead to under-eye bags. Last but not least, caffeine is included in anti-ageing products due to its potent antioxidising power.
We’ve detailed quite a few reasons why this natural molecule is an active ingredient in so many grooming products: it’s energising, stimulating, draining, antioxidising, etc. With that in mind, it seems wasteful to only have caffeine in our daily cappuccino.