Any caffeine lovers among us know the power of a freshly brewed coffee. Whatever your reason, from unexpected delays to 5 AM wake-up calls, we all know why we crave it: the energising boost of caffeine.
But here’s the real question: if caffeine has the power to perk you up, can it perk up your skin and hair too? Good news: coffee is great for more than just an energy boost. Explore how you can enjoy the glow-boosting and strand-strengthening benefits of caffeine.
Can caffeine be absorbed through the skin?
It might be surprising to some that yes, caffeine can be absorbed through your skin – and quite efficiently. Studies show that caffeine applied topically can be absorbed by your skin through the skin barrier. In other words, your skin can also drink up caffeine.
Caffeine benefits for skin
1. Soothes inflammation and brightens skin
Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it temporarily makes blood vessels appear smaller. For your skin, that means reduced puffiness, less visible redness, and brighter under-eyes. It’s especially effective around the eye area, where darker patches and puffiness tend to stand out more.
2. Helps support sun-stressed skin
Caffeine has been shown to help damaged skin cells self-destruct (a process called apoptosis) before they can cause trouble and significant damage. While it’s absolutely never a replacement for using a high-quality SPF, caffeine can support skin as it is high in antioxidants after sun exposure.
3. Reduces the appearance of cellulite
At UpCircle, we love celebrating skin in all its realness – cellulite, stretch marks, dimples and all. But if minimising cellulite is a personal goal of yours, caffeine-rich body care may help. By naturally dehydrating fat cells and boosting circulation, caffeine contributes to a smoother, firmer appearance.
4. It’s a powerful antioxidant
Free radicals are unstable molecules triggered by stressors such as UV exposure, pollution, stress and smoke. When they build up, they target healthy skin cells and proteins (like collagen and elastin), leading to dullness, fine lines, uneven tone and increased inflammation. These can cause any breakouts or sensitivity you have to worsen.
Antioxidants help neutralise these molecules before they cause more serious damage, supporting smoother, brighter and more resilient skin. Because antioxidants are used up as they work, your skin needs a consistent supply, which is why caffeine-rich skincare can play a valuable role in strengthening and protecting the skin barrier.
Using coffee oil for skin
We upcycle used coffee grounds from an ever-growing portfolio of artisan cafes into coffee oil used in several skincare products. Interestingly, the antioxidants in coffee actually increase as it’s brewed. For skin, coffee oil helps to restore the skin by:
- Locking in moisture
- Supporting collagen and elastin production
- Helping skin feel firmer and look more radiant
- Brightening dull or tired skin
It’s why our Caffeinated Duo (Coffee Face Oil + Eye Cream) continues to be one of our most-loved combinations. It brightens, hydrates and firms your skin while adding radiance and reviving the delicate under-eye area.
You can also find coffee oil in our scrubs – where UpCircle began.
Our Body Scrub is formulated with coffee oil from upcycled grounds to gently exfoliate and buff away dry skin. It helps to brighten skin, fade dark spots, and leave you feeling soft, smooth and refreshed. The scrub is high in vitamins A and E to help moisturise the skin, and blended with shea butter to moisturise post-scrub.
Suitable for all skin types, our Natural Face Scrub helps to soothe redness and irritation, fade dark spots, and reduce pigmentation. Formulated with upcycled coffee grounds, shea butter, and rosehip, sweet orange, and lemon verbena essential oils, it’s also intensely nourishing.
Orange oil is both antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, which soothes any irritation. Uplifting lemon verbena oil helps to tone the skin. This means our face scrub is also suitable for acne-prone skin, as it works to treat acne and spots for a clear complexion.
Caffeine for hair: what you need to know
Caffeine has long been studied for its impact on the hair follicle, as well as how it works for skin.
Does caffeine help with hair growth?
Topical caffeine has been shown to help stimulate the hair follicle at the root. This means it can support reduced hair shedding, improved hair density, stronger roots, and a reduced appearance of hair thinning.
That’s why caffeine for hair regrowth has become such a popular area of research. Many people experiencing hair thinning look to caffeine-rich formulations for support.
Is caffeine good for hair?
Caffeine is increasingly recognised in research as a supportive ingredient for healthier, stronger hair – especially when applied directly to the scalp. Early studies show that topical caffeine can help to counteract some of the processes linked with hair thinning, supporting follicles as they grow. This means keeping strands in their active growth phase for longer. It can also improve microcirculation in the scalp, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the roots.
We want to be clear: caffeine in coffee oil is not a standalone solution for hair loss, but it can play a valuable role in a well-rounded routine. Leave-on products such as our Scalp + Hair Oil allow caffeine to stay in contact with the scalp for longer, giving it the best chance to support fuller, more resilient hair over time.
Why it works
Coffee oil for hair has a beautifully lightweight texture, making it ideal for use on your scalp as well as lengths. It helps to nourish the scalp with antioxidants, improve softness and shine, support stronger, healthier roots, and create an optimal environment for hair growth
Meet our coffee oil-infused Scalp + Hair Oil
Our Scalp + Hair Oil is formulated to soothe the scalp, nourish roots and support strong, glossy, and healthy hair. Coffee oil helps to energise the scalp and support hair density, while rosemary oil works to support healthy roots. Upcycled Bacuri butter, rich in amino and fatty acids that help restore and repair damaged hair, helps to boost natural shine and softness.
If you’ve ever wondered whether rosemary and caffeine hair oil is worth the hype, the answer is yes. Blending coffee oil with stimulating botanicals creates a powerful duo for scalp care. Don’t just take our word for it!
How to use: Use as a pre-wash treatment directly onto hair, focusing on the scalp, roots and ends. Gently massage with your fingertips for two to five minutes to stimulate microcirculation and nourish your scalp. Leave the oil on for a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes, or overnight for an intensive treatment. Wash and style as usual.
Can you use caffeine products if you can’t consume caffeine or coffee?
In most cases, people who can’t consume caffeine can still use caffeine in skincare and haircare formulations. Topical caffeine behaves very differently in the body compared to if you were drinking it.
Topical caffeine doesn’t enter the bloodstream in the same way as drinking coffee. While caffeine can be absorbed through the skin, the amount that penetrates is much smaller than what you’d get from a cup of coffee.
Someone may need to avoid caffeine skincare if they have:
- A true caffeine allergy
- A medical condition where any caffeine exposure is restricted
- Instructions from a doctor to avoid caffeine entirely, including topical sources
If you’re concerned about using caffeine products, it’s always best to get personal advice from your GP, who knows your medical history.
Shop our full collection of natural skincare, haircare, and bodycare. Here’s to glowing skin, healthy roots and a routine that really wakes you up.