Welcome to Ingredient 101 with Volition Beauty! Where we break down some of your favorite skincare ingredients, give you the facts and figures, and answer commonly asked questions.
Today, let's talk caffeine! Let's break down what this ingredient is and why you should want it to be in your products.
Caffeine in skincare has long been an ingredient being touted for its benefits. Caffeine, when ingested, acts as a stimulant; and for skincare it has a similarly brightening effect on our complexion.
First and foremost, caffeine is an alkaloid and a vasoconstrictor, which means that it constricts the blood vessels and in turn this helps to reduce inflammation and puffiness. The idea is that with topical application on the skin, caffeine reduces blood flow to the area, thereby reducing the appearance of redness and puffiness simultaneously. It is important to note however that these effects are not long-lasting, so it is recommended to use caffeinated skincare daily for best results.
Caffeine can also help improve the microcirculation of blood in the skin and this can really help with achieving a glowing complexion. Caffeine also contains lots of antioxidants which help fight against free radical attack and minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles; and it is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps to soothe skin and calm redness.
The majority of caffeine in skincare comes from the coffee bean or from tea, both of which grow best between the two tropics in Asia, Africa and parts of South America. In addition, there are other popular sources specifically from Latin America: kola nut, guarana and yerba mate. The only natural source of caffeine in North America is the yaupon holly. We use the brightening, de-puffing and soothing benefits of in our new caffeinated face moisturizer, Yaupon Tea Glow-Awakening Moisturizer. One advantage of sourcing yaupon holly from the USA is that we reduce the ecological footprint by sourcing from the same country in which we manufacture the Volition formulas.
