While caffeine itself isn’t going to negatively impact your skin (big relief), certain additional ingredients can. Here are five quick and easy tips to make your morning beverage beneficial for your skin so you can supercharge your daily ritual: The goal here is to limit the side effects of consuming too much caffeine2, which include inadequate hydration and trouble falling asleep (just to name a couple)—both of which can influence your skin. To ensure your cup of coffee doesn’t influence your sleep, try to cut off consumption at least four to six hours before going to bed, as studies show that a dose of caffeine (specifically a hefty 400-mg dose3) can interrupt your sleep. The AAD notes a theory that hormones in the milk put one at a higher risk for breakouts. Milk consumption has also been linked to an increase in a hormone called IGF-15, which stimulates oil glands to produce more sebum. This has the downstream effect of an oilier complexion, which can lead to congested pores for some. If you’d like to go the alt-milk route, try to stick with almond, flax, coconut, hemp, and cashew milk instead, as these blends tend to be the most blood-sugar-friendly. Our pick? The mbg beauty & gut collagen+. While this unflavored powder does contain 17.7 grams of hydrolyzed collagen peptides, it packs a punch with additional skin-loving ingredients, too (making it a real bang for your buck). A few notable ones include hyaluronic acid to enhance skin hydration, vitamins C and E for antioxidant support, and biotin, which plays an important role in maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails.* For those who order a vanilla-syrup latte over black coffee, it can be hard to find a way to sweeten your beverage without causing a blood sugar spike. A few A+ options to sweeten your cup include stevia, honey, maple syrup, and monk fruit. (You could also opt for our beauty & gut chocolate collagen+, which comes naturally sweetened with plant-sourced ingredients: organic cocoa and organic monk fruit extract.) For every cup of coffee you drink, try your best to add another glass of water. If you sip on coffee slowly throughout the day, place a glass of water next to your cup to ensure you’re alternating between the two. After all, internal hydration is essential to maintaining healthy, dewy skin.
