Is Coffee Good for Your Skin?

When you need a morning jolt, coffee typically does the trick. Can it do the same for sagging or aging skin if it’s used in creams, lotions and serums?

Dermatology resident Angela Wei, MD, explains why there’s buzz about coffee skin care products and outlines what exactly coffee can do for your skin.

Is coffee good for your skin?

Caffeine is one of the key ingredients that give coffee its benefits for skin care. And it’s become so popular that you can find it in a variety of products, ranging from under-eye lotions and face masks to anti-cellulite creams and beyond.

Marketing claims say it can “wake up” your skin. But there’s much more going on underneath the surface when you’re drinking coffee vs. rubbing it in.

“If you want antioxidant effects to have a direct effect on your skin, topical methods are the most effective way to deliver them,” explains Dr. Wei. “When you consume them, like drinking coffee, they’re distributed throughout the body and only a small fraction reaches the skin.”

As coffee has antioxidant effects that help fight off free radicals, coffee can be good for you inside and out.

Skin care benefits of coffee

Topical coffee products can provide temporary benefits for your skin. Like vitamin C serums and other skin care products, creams and lotions containing coffee or caffeine will wear off over time if you stop using them. That means they won’t cure wrinkles, fine lines, under-eye bags and puffiness forever.

“It may improve the appearance of your skin in the moment, while you’re using it, but it’s not a permanent fix,” clarifies Dr. Wei. “When you stop applying the skin care products that contain coffee or caffeine, those benefits fade and your skin returns to normal.”

You might still be interested in working it into your skin care routine if you’re trying to address short-term issues related to puffiness or sagging skin. But other options may be more beneficial in the long run.

“There are other ingredients out there with better evidence for long-term skin benefits, like vitamin C, retinoids and niacinamide, that might be more helpful than products that contain coffee or caffeine,” she adds.

If you’re still hot on the coffee idea, here are benefits you can expect in the short term.

1. Protection from free radical damage

Coffee contains polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid. These antioxidants can fight damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that break down your collagen and cause fine lines, wrinkles and otherwise saggy, sallow skin (among other harmful effects).

“Antioxidants are huge in skin care right now,” Dr. Wei notes. “You get free radical damage from UV rays and toxins in the air. Applying antioxidants is good for your skin because it can potentially help stop some of that damage.”

2. Reduction of under-eye bags

Wake up with a huge hangover? Just didn’t get enough sleep last night? A skin care product containing coffee or caffeine may just be the trick to reducing the appearance of those dark circles and under-eye bags that can come with general exhaustion.

The caffeine in coffee is a vasoconstrictor, which means it makes your blood vessels constrict or tighten. That, in turn, reduces blood flow to your skin and makes your undereyes look brighter and less puffy — like a real-life Instagram filter for your face!

“If you have under-eye bags due to genetics or structural factors, though, caffeine is not going to help,” Dr. Wei says. “In those cases, other treatments, like dermal fillers or lasers, may be more beneficial.”

3. Reduced inflammation and swelling

Research suggests coffee’s anti-inflammatory properties, when applied to the skin, may help soothe inflammation. As a result, it can reduce redness and swelling.

“Coffee has vasoconstricting effects that can temporarily reduce minor puffiness and redness. However, the effect on the skin may be modest and most noticeable in areas like under your eyes,” Dr. Wei reiterates.

4. Improves the appearance of cellulite

Caffeinated creams and coffee for skin care become particularly popular in the summer, Dr. Wei reports, when people are preparing to bare it at the beach. That’s because they can be a quick fix to temporarily lessen the appearance of skin dimpled with cellulite.

“In lab studies, caffeine has been shown to stimulate enzymes that break down fats, and it can temporarily dehydrate the surrounding tissue,” she explains. “This may result in a smoother and firmer appearance for a little while.”

When using cellulite creams, the best way to apply them is to massage them into your skin. The massaging motion teams up with the caffeine itself to help with lymphatic drainage and reduce fluid retention that can make cellulite more noticeable.

5. Helps exfoliate the skin

Coffee scrubs use finely ground coffee as a physical exfoliant to remove dead skin cells, leading to brighter and smoother skin. It can also contain some of the temporary helpful benefits of caffeine on your skin.

“Like most physical exfoliants, overusing it more than once or twice a week can cause irritation and should be avoided in those with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema, rosacea or psoriasis,” warns Dr. Wei. “Additionally, coffee scrubs may be too harsh and abrasive for use on the face.”

When to use coffee skin care products

If you’re using coffee and other caffeinated skin care products for temporary tightening, brightening and the like, it’s best to use them in the morning. Why? As the product wears off, so, too, will its benefits. But as long as you’re using it, it could do some good if your body tolerates it.

“Coffee in skin care is generally safe, but if you have sensitive or compromised skin, it could be irritating and not well-tolerated,” says Dr. Wei. “It’s important always to be mindful about using new products on your skin.”

Avoid using coffee products for the first time around your eyes, as that tissue is very delicate. Instead, use it a few times on several different areas of your body. If your skin tolerates it and you don’t have any itchiness or irritation, it’s probably safe to use on your face. If you’re not sure a coffee-infused product is safe to use for your skin, run it by a dermatologist.

“We can help guide you on which products are most beneficial for you to incorporate into your personal skincare routine,” says Dr. Wei.