The latest beauty trend to cause a buzz—literally, in this case—is the rise of caffeine makeup products. While caffeine can often be found in skincare formulas (and understandably so, since they can offer some major benefits there), there are now makeup products, such as concealer and skin tints, which harness that power for other areas of your beauty routine.
It’s not just hype—you’re getting proven perks across your routine. Plus, there’s little to no downside to using the energy-boosting ingredient. Here, we take a closer look at the caffeine makeup products and skincare essentials to pair with your morning macchiato, stat.
How does caffeine benefit your skin?
For starters, caffeine is brimming with its own nutrients. “Caffeine has potent antioxidant properties and can help protect your skin from damage from free radicals—and may therefore help to slow the process of photoaging of the skin,” says Hadley King, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.
Plus, research has shown that when applied topically, caffeine can penetrate the skin barrier. That’s beneficial for you in a number of ways: “Caffeine increases the microcirculation of blood in the skin and may help to enhance absorption of other ingredients,” Dr. King says. “It also can cause vasoconstriction of superficial blood vessels, which can decrease puffiness and inflammation.”
In restricting those blood vessels, caffeine can also prevent blood from pooling beneath the eyes, which is a primary contributor to dark circles. That means—and as research confirms—caffeine can help brighten dark circles, too. It’s an overall win for your area.
Is caffeine safe for skin?
As far as safety, there’s little risk of a reaction with caffeine. “It is generally well tolerated,” says Dr. King. While some people—such as those who are pregnant—may be advised to avoid ingesting caffeine, using it in its topical form shouldn’t pose a problem. It’s pretty fair game as long as you’re comfortable with it.
Which Milk Makeup skincare products have caffeine?You’ll most often find caffeine as an ingredient in products used around your eyes. That’s partly a strategic move to take advantage of its absorption abilities. “The eye area is one-tenth the thickness of the skin, so it works there the best,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. Once applied, it can do its work to brighten and tighten the area. “Caffeine is often used in eye creams because of its ability to vasoconstrict superficial blood vessels, which can decrease interstitial fluid accumulation and therefore decrease puffiness,” says Dr. King. In our Cooling Water stick, caffeine is paired with hydrating seawater, which further helps reduce the look of puffiness. For a more intensive refresh, try our Cooling Water Eye Patches, formulated with caffeine and a blend of seawater, aloe, and lavender to soothe the area. Pro tip: Store both in the fridge for extra cooling action. Not only does that further reduce the look of puffiness, it just feels nice, too. |
|
What does caffeine do in makeup?
Both caffeine’s antioxidant properties and eye-brightening abilities translate well to makeup formulas. That said, it works best on target areas—you’ll see the most benefits from using caffeine makeup products geared towards the eyes. For instance, “it can be used for under eye concealer,” says King. “Since it’s a great antioxidant, it’s suitable for daytime makeup as well.”
It’s a clever match-up, as makeup offers immediate payoff while caffeine delivers its skincare perks over time. Our Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer, for instance, delivers lightweight, medium-to-full coverage with a natural finish—while its 9.5% caffeine actively minimizes puffiness and reduces dark circles.
|
|
|
Our Sunshine Under Eye Tint + Brighten lets you double up on antioxidants, thanks to the inclusion of vitamin C alongside caffeine. While the vitamin C works to visibly brighten your skin, caffeine helps reduce puffiness. It’s a one-two punch of eye-brightening power.
Bottom line? Whether you choose to get your caffeine from your skincare, makeup, or both, you can’t go wrong with it.
Meet the Experts
Hadley King, MD (she/her) is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. King graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in biochemistry. She received her M.D. from Columbia University. She trained in medicine at Greenwich Hospital, affiliated with the Yale University School of Medicine, and completed her dermatology residency at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
Ginger King (she/her) is the founder & CEO at Grace Kingdom Beauty, a cosmetic product development firm in New Jersey specializing in helping create beauty brands from concept to launch. She has been the keynote speaker for brand launches and has spoken at various trade conferences on product development and In-Cosmetics on product innovation. Ginger is an often-quoted beauty expert and has been on radio and video chat with leading beauty magazines as well as a regular TV appearances on Good Day Sacramento. She has been quoted by over 35 top beauty magazines such as Allure, Self, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Shape, Teen Vogue, and Women’s Health.
"
