Coffee's Relationship with Your Face

For years we have done three things every morning:

1. Get out of bed
2. Go to work
3. Drink coffee

But what if one of those 3 things is detrimental to your health?

No--it’s not what you’re thinking.

A routine work schedule is actually healthy as it fights depression and gives a sense of purpose. Our culprit here is actually our beloved morning coffee.

Since the rise of popular coffee chains like Starbucks and Bigby, the coffee industry has exploded. With wide-ranging menus and a never-ending social presence, coffee is here to stay, but before you install your top of the line espresso maker, make sure you take a look in the mirror.

Recent studies have shown that consuming consistent amounts of coffee could harm your skin’s overall health.

Wait, so you’re saying I’m going to have to choose between my morning coffee and my face?

Well maybe, but maybe not.

According to Esthetician Jillian Wright, coffee isn’t necessarily the problem; it’s what’s in it.

Along with things like sodium and alcohol, caffeine plays a role in the dehydration of our bodies. When we consume high amounts of caffeine, our liver must work overtime to break down the toxic build up that it causes in the body, leaving our skin defenseless. In fact, when these low-level toxins make their way to the skin, they can cause a world of damage.

“Dehydrated skin causes inflammation (redness) and premature aging (collagen loss) and without enough water flushing your system, toxic buildup in the skin can also cause acne.”

And that’s just from black coffee. Creamers and sweeteners can be extremely destructive to your skin’s health.

“Milk or sugar that’s in your coffee can trigger acne.” In fact, milk is said to be one of the worst things you can consume if you are trying to maintain clear and healthy skin because of all the hormones it contains.


On top of that, dairy negatively effects the production of sebum, which in turn glues dead skin cells together.

So what do I do? I want coffee and clear skin.

As with most everything, moderation is suggested to help keep this delicate relationship in balance. That being said, if you are someone who adds three creams and five sugars to every cup of joe, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try and cut back or even take your morning cup black.

At the end of the day, I love my morning cup of coffee and I love my face, so I’ll dedicate some time and energy into maintaining a healthy relationship between the two.