Does Coffee Really Harm Your Skin? The Facts Revealed

Short Answer: No, coffee is not bad for your skin.

Coffee serves us with many benefits and one of them is they’re good for the skin.

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants and essential nutrients that provide benefits to the body.

The caffeine in coffee helps protect the skin from sun damage and regulate blood flow to maintain healthy skin. Also, the chlorogenic acid found in coffee can reduce acne and aid in fighting skin infection due to its antimicrobial properties.

That said, you can incorporate coffee into your daily skincare! Still, you shouldn’t overdo coffee on your skin as it may cause irritation.

Don’t stop scrolling to find out more about the benefits of coffee for your skin!

What are the Antioxidant Properties of Coffee?

Coffee is undoubtedly the most widely consumed and adored caffeinated beverage. The caffeine in coffee is treated as a social drug due to its wide popularity and benefits.

Apart from caffeine, chlorogenic acid, melanoidins, polyphenols, hydrocinnamic acid, and trigonelline are some of the antioxidants found in your cup of coffee.

Let’s have a closer at each one of them for better understanding.

Antioxidant	Benefits
Caffeine	protect the skin from sun damage and regulate blood flow, maintaining healthy skin
Chlorogenic Acid	reduces inflammation caused by acne or eczema aids in fighting skin infection
Trigonelline	protects the skin from UV rays
Melanoidins	anti-inflammatory anti-bacterial
Hydrocinnamic Acid	neutralizes free radicals protects skin from cellular damage
Polyphenols	protect against UV rays and from premature ageing works against forming wrinkles and fine lines

Antioxidants Found in Coffee and their benefits to your skin.

What are the Benefits of Coffee for my Skin?

Some of the most talked-about benefits of coffee for the skin include:

sun protection
reducing the risk of skin cancer
cellulite reduction
exfoliation
acne treatment
calming effects
anti-aging benefits

Coffee aids in cellulite reduction; prevents skin cancer; and protects the skin against sun exposure.

Coffee plays a role in reducing the appearance of cellulite as caffeine helps in dilating the blood vessels beneath the skin.

As you know, cellulite is caused by a buildup of fat underneath the skin which causes lumpy skin around the thighs, abdomen, or stomach. The condition is prevalent among women although your genes, body fat, and age will also play a determining factor in it.

The best way to achieve this benefit is to scrub coffee grounds on your skin to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. The scrubbing motion does not only exfoliate the skin naturally but also plumps up the skin to make the cellulite less obvious.

The use of coffee scrubs to reduce cellulite has become very prominent. However, you need to wait a few weeks or longer to notice any significant changes.

Moreover, another amazing benefit of drinking coffee is the prevention of skin cancer.

A daily intake of 3-4 cups of coffee may reduce the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma by 20% in the case of women.

According to a researcher from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, caffeine is the substance that gives the cells the protective effect since decaffeinated beverages don’t have any effect on skin cancer risk.

Moreover, the breakdown of trigonelline in the coffee gives vitamin B3 (niacin) after being roasted. Niacin reduces the risk of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk people.

Of course, the antioxidants present in the coffee, mainly the polyphenols, give protection against sun exposure. The roasting process of coffee beans releases vitamin derivatives that protect against UV damage.

A study involving healthy middle-aged Japanese females showed that consumption of coffee was associated with low facial pigmented spots in the females and their skin was protected from photoaging.

The polyphenols, including chlorogenic acids, are speculated to contribute to the decreased hyperpigmentation of pigmented spots in their skin.

That said, drinking coffee is definitely good for the skin. Still, you shouldn’t overdo it to avoid the nasty effects of caffeine!

Does Coffee Age Your Skin?

Coffee may age your skin if you consume it regularly and in high amounts.

A study shows that caffeine may have adverse effects on the natural healing process of your skin and also on the ageing process.

I suggest adding some cream, milk, or sugary additives to your coffee to reduce the acidity of the drink and to reduce the potential damage it could cause to your skin.

Keep in mind anything sugary can lead to the aging of the skin through a natural process called glycation. So even if the caffeine is not the problem here, the sugar or cream will be.

Most of the caffeine in coffee or any other beverages is absorbed by other body tissues rather than the skin.

So, your skin might not get the desired portion and thus the coffee is not likely to have any major consequential effects on your skin’s appearance.

In that sense, health experts advised you to keep the intake in moderation and pay attention to your body.

Is Coffee Good or Bad for Skin Aging?

Yes, coffee is good for skin ageing!

The polyphenols and hydrocinnamic acid in the coffee help your skin against premature ageing. It protects your skin by slowing down the visual signs of ageing.

Also, the diuretic property of caffeine will help your skin in reducing unwanted swelling.

According to an article by the US National Library of Medicine, coffee has the potential anti-ageing effects that contribute to the prevention of age-related diseases.

But always keep your intake under check. Don’t overdo it since overconsumption may lead to stress and a burning sensation in your body which might have an impact on your skin indirectly.

Other Benefits of Coffee for the Skin

Other highlighted skin benefits of coffee include boosting collagen levels and clearing the dead skin cells.

Caffeic acid, a potent antioxidant present in coffee boost collagen levels and helps in avoiding the unwanted premature ageing of skin cells. This also has antimicrobials properties and has been intensively used as a scrub to clean away dead skin cells and germs.

In addition, chlorogenic acid, another antioxidant found in coffee is an active acne-fighting stimulant that also clears dead skin cells and unclogs the pores.

Have a look at this video to know more about the benefits of coffee!

WATCH AND LEARN: Coffee Benefits

Can You Apply Coffee to Your Face and Body?

Of course, you can!

In fact, it is an active ingredient in thousands of skincare products.

Coffee scrubs serve as an acne-fighting agent that helps in reducing bacterial infection. It also unclogs the pores and removes dead skin cells.

The advantage of using it externally over the body or face might not be as efficient as consuming it. Still, with its anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties, coffee masks and scrubs may serve a great deal to your skin.

How is Coffee Used in Skin Care?

Nowadays caffeine and coffee have been widely used in skincare products like cream, moisturizer, face masks, and lip scrub, due to their antioxidant, diuretic, and vasoconstrictive properties.

Different cosmetic brands claim to have systematic functions like Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulation and blood circulation. They claim that topicals can treat cellulite, local fat, puffed eyes, and suntan.

Hair cair products that contain coffee are said to promote hair growth and a stronger scalp.

Research shows that the functionality of caffeine in the products depends upon the type of skin.

However, coffee has proved to reduce the puffiness of eyes and the appearance of dark circles as claimed by the products under research.

Is Coffee Good for Skin Brightening?

*Coffee scrubs can help brighten your skin!*

Yes, coffee is good for skin brightening!

The antioxidant properties are the main agent behind this skin benefit. It benefits the skin by removing dead cells and impurities.

Several face masks are marketed nowadays with caffeine or coffee as an active ingredient. Many skincare products infused with coffee are also said to give you a radiant and glowing complexion.

The caffeine in coffee performs the following functions to brighten your skin:

protects the skin from harsh UV carcinogens
increases skin elasticity
enhances blood circulation that leads to a healthy and clear skin
reduces pigmentation and acne spots
reduces swelling tissues and de-puffing areas

With these benefits clearly stated, trying out skincare products with coffee ingredients is worth considering!

Will Giving Up Coffee Improve Your Skin?

Well, that’s questionable since the influence of coffee on your skin depends on your intake amount and type of skin.

The main point here to note is that coffee won’t directly cause any acne or infections in your skin. However, if you have sensitive skin and you drink too much coffee, then the caffeine may trigger a bacterial infection.

Blemish-prone skin tends to form bacterial infection faster and acne pop out immediately.

Adding sugary content to your coffee will increase the chance of having blemishes and acne if you have sensitive skin.

You should take note of the following details if you have acne-prone skin:

Caffeine heightens your stress and as you know stress may make your existing acne worse.
Due to restlessness and stress after having coffee, hormones like cortisol may increase the production of oil by the sebaceous gland which may trigger blemishes.
Coffee with sugar and milk increase the insulin level in the body that plays a major role in acne formation.

However, many people have admitted that quitting coffee helped them in getting less irritated and acne-free skin.

The effects of coffee on your skin comes down to the type of skin, your nutrient intake from other diet, and of course caffeine sensitivity.

Generally, coffee works as a good antioxidant for your skin but if it is triggering breakouts then stop consuming. Also, keep in mind quitting coffee abruptly may lead to certain counter effects like:

more pigmentation
more breakouts
prominent dark circles

So, try to find the real cause behind your breakouts if you are having any.

If quitting coffee makes your skin better then start skipping it slowly and replace it with a tea (black or green tea). If quitting caffeine doesn’t make it better, then the underlying cause might be a different one.

Final Thoughts

Coffee is adored by millions of people not just because of its rich flavor but also for its health benefits.

Coffee won’t have any adverse effects on your skin if you are not overdoing it. If you are drinking a lot of coffee and loading it with sugar or milk, this may trigger your breakouts.

People react to coffee and caffeine differently. If you have sensitive skin, it’s very likely you’ll get some kind of effect, especially when consumed too much.

On the other hand, coffee is beneficial to your skin. Research has proven its efficacy in protecting the skin against UV rays, clearing dead skin cells, and lowering the risk of developing skin cancer.

Of course, don’t just rely on coffee to achieve healthy glowing skin. Drink lots of water, live a healthy lifestyle, and stay away from vices for better overall health.

But for now, enjoy your cup of coffee in moderation!