I’ve never been a cigarette smoker, and as a working mom with two school-aged kids, I rarely have time for a drink (though the desire pops up frequently). I workout regularly and eat pretty darn healthfully. So totally vice-free am I, I have *no shame* in my coffee-drinking game. If coffee is my one “addiction” in life, so be it. I truly look forward to my Nespresso every. Single. Morning.

For so long, caffeine was seen as little more than an extremely addictive (yet quite useful) drug to be consumed in controlled quantities–a necessary evil without which the world would grind to a grumpy halt.

Then, a few years ago, numerous studies started to surface that declared coffee a life-extending, brain-benefitting wonder food. It was with great pleasure (not to mention vindication), that I read these studies, knowing I was on to something ALL ALONG. And, really, it all made sense: Coffee is an antioxidant rich plant! As long as you’re not drowning it in cream and sugar ( I would NEVER), it should be good for you, no?

Given the beauty industry’s obsession with all things antioxidant, it wasn’t long before caffeine–in the form of black coffee, white tea, green tea, etc.–started popping up as a featured ingredient in all sorts of beauty products. Color me intrigued. I wondered how, exactly, caffeine benefits skin. The same antioxidants that help fight dementia when you ingest coffee also fight signs of premature aging caused by light, pollution and free radicals when slathered onto skin. Caffeine constricts blood vessels, reducing redness (making it an ideal treatment for rosacea and/or flushed skin) and puffiness (hello under eye area!). And–hold onto your venti no whip double pump caramel macchiato–caffeine can even temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. Because caffeine is a diuretic, creams and serums containing it can temporarily minimize the visibility of cellulite by dehydrating fat cells. This shrinks their size, resulting in a tightening  and smoothing effect (less lumps).

Just as drinking a green tea makes you feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, using products containing caffeine will leave you *looking* bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, too.

Ready to caffeinate from the outside in? Here are some of my favorite skin and body care picks to give your dermis a rejuvenating java jolt.

Perk Up Your Peepers With These Caffeinated Cosmetics!

Institut Esthederm Lift & Repair Eye Contour Lift Patches – These fast-penetrating (only five minutes!) under eye masks target all eye areas of concern: bags, shadows, wrinkles, swelling and sagging. An intensive eye treatment that deeply restructures and instantly lifts the fragile eye contour area. Dark circles, puffiness, sagging and signs of fatigue are visibly minimized. The caffeine they contain is part of a decongesting complex that activates circulation and breaks down fatty deposits under the eye, whilst hyaluronic acid repairs, hydrates and improves elasticity. The skin around the eye area is instantly moisturized, protected and repaired. Try them at the end of a long flight, or the morning after a long night.

Cosmetics 27 Eyes 27 – This tube’s got coffee and tea! Eyes 27 is incredibly effective at reducing the signs of aging, fatigue and stress that show around the eyes first. Its patented MA2 Complex, a combination of three purified extracts of Centella Asiatica, offers exceptional repairing, regenerating, soothing and antioxidant properties. Black coffee, White Tea Extract and Kombucha cause a draining and detoxifying action. Black Coffee and White Tea Extracts work together to stimulate microcirculation and drain away the toxins and fluids that build-up to create puffiness. Features are relaxed, dark circles and bags significantly reduced and skin’s radiance and youth are restored. Especially soothing after an aesthetic treatment.

Get Your Tummy Taut With…

Mio Skincare Get Waisted Sculpting Body Shaper. Used every day, this 5-star reviewed caffeine-infused body shaper will whittle your waist and tighten your tummy. Formulated with Rhodofiltrat Delessaria™ and pharmaceutical grade caffeine, Get Waisted’s Oat Protein Complex helps to replenish moisture to improve the look and feel of abdominal skin.

Go Green (Tea) With Our Face/Body Combo Favorite

Yu-Be Foaming Skin Polish. This scrub can be used on face and body–it’s gentle on body and powerful on face. Unlike many scrubs, no additional soap is needed with it; just polish, rinse and go. Foaming Skin Polish contains fine grains of rice bran and bamboo to exfoliate dead skin cells, while gentle cleansing agents purify and refresh. The rich, foaming texture thoroughly removes excess oils and buildup, allowing skin to immediately look bright, pure and smooth. Ginger root and ginseng extracts balance and tone skin as green tea, camphor and geranium oil calm, nourish and supply antioxidant protection. Skin is left smooth, soft and radiant…and ready to soak up all your skin care treatment products. There is no other product under $20 that will instantly improve your skin like this scrub.

There’s Tea Time For Men, Too…

Alchimie Forever Antioxidant Skin Repair Gel. Alchimie Forever Antioxidant Defense Gel hydrates, protects and soothes your dude’s face to leave it feeling soft, healthy and refreshed. Its invigorating oil-free formula features an antioxidant-rich complex of green tea and tomato extracts to counter premature aging. Soothing rosemary, menthol and turmeric extracts reduce inflammation, while panthenol softens and conditions. Ideal for use as an aftershave to prevent ingrown hairs and in sticky summer months when a cream could be too much.

What’s your favorite caffeinated cosmetic? Share with us!

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram

As an avid reader of all things beauty (it’s not just my job…it’s my passion), I hear every week of a magical new skincare ingredient that’s going to transform my skin. These days, it’s often an oil with an exotic name that is derived from a rare flower that only grows in South American rain forests. Or something like that. It’s dubbed a “game-changer” and we beauty writes lose our collective minds until the next game-changer comes along.

All this hullabaloo has really made me appreciate the skin care stalwarts—those ingredients that have been around for a while, aren’t going anywhere and, most importantly, do what they’re supposed to do. Hyaluronic acid is one such ingredient.

Hyaluronic Acid

If you’ve used hyaluronic acid products, and/or had HA fillers, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this molecule is so popular (The New York Times just wrote a feature about it). Though HA is a naturally occurring “cushion” throughout the human body (from your eyeballs to your toe joints), its skin benefits that make it an anti-aging all-star.

The Magic of HA Lies in Its Ability to Retain Moisture

It has a greater capacity to hold moisture than any other natural or synthetic polymer. In fact, one gram of hyaluronic acid is able to hold up to six liters of water! This is significant in regard to aging because one of the hallmarks of youthful skin is its moisture content…think plump, taut and dewy. As we age, our skin loses moisture, resulting in a loss of firmness, luminosity and pliability. Because of its unique ability to hold in so much moisture, hyaluronic acid plays a critical role in overall skin health.

As hyaluronic acid boosts the skin’s ability to retain moisture, it also strengthens its barrier—or outer layers. A sturdy skin barrier looks and feels plumper, softer and smoother—all characteristic of young skin.

Now that you know why HA is such a popular skin care ingredient, are you ready to get your hyaluronan on? Here are some of our favorite products that contain this all-star ingredient.

For Face

Emma Hardie Midas Touch Face Serum & Amazing Face Age Support Treatment Cream – Emma Hardie is an ingredient queen. From algae extract to avocado peptides, if Emma included it, it works.

Institut Esthederm E.V.E. Serum Source – The hyaluronic acid in this best-selling serum will help reverse signs of sun damage and aging.

B. Kamins Laboratories BB Cream – Provides sheer, luminous coverage with a light tint, moisturizing agents and light-reflecting particles. It also fights damage caused by UV, stress and aging, corrects inconsistencies in skin texture and targets sagging, dullness and wrinkles.

For Eyes

Lavido Alert Eye Cream – Our best-selling eye cream is clinically proven to show significant improvement in skin hydration, elasticity, texture, and firmness. It brightens, moisturizes and relieves puffiness around the eye area, while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

For Body

Mio Skincare Get Waisted Sculpted Body Shaper – This dream cream tightens, tones and boosts elasticity. Medical-grade caffeine enhances circulation to invigorate tired and puffy skin for a more firm and contoured appearance while hyaluronic acid hydrates to impart a healthy glow.

For Hair – Yes Hair!

Caretrico After Treat Enrich Milk - If you color treat, or even frequently blow dry, your hair, you know how easy it is to dry out strands. This genius styling product brings the moisture-adding benefits of hyaluronic acid to your stressed tresses. It also has the most subtle of rose scents that is downright divine.

By: Claire McCormack, Twitter & Instagram