Caffeine

What Is It?

Caffeine is a naturally occurring compound found in plants. In cosmetics and personal care products, Caffeine is used in the formulation of bath products, cleansing products, makeup, shaving and skin care products.

Why Is It Used?

Caffeine enhances the appearance of dry or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness.

Scientific Facts

Caffeine is a heterocyclic compound found in the beans, leaves, and fruit of over 60 plant species. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea and chocolate.

Safety Information

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Caffiene on the list of substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a multipurpose food substance. Caffiene is considered GRAS when used in cola-type beverages. Caffeine is also approved for use as an active ingredient in Over-the-Counter (OTC) stimulant drug products. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel has deferred evaluation of this ingredient because the safety has been assessed by FDA. This deferral of review is according to the provisions of the CIR Procedures.

The FDA’s Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) concluded that while no evidence in the available information on Caffeine demonstrates a hazard to the public when it is used at current levels, uncertainties exist suggesting that additional studies be conducted. The Committee also concluded that the evidence on Caffeine is insufficient to determine that the adverse effects reported are not deleterious to the public health should it be used at former levels and in the manner formerly practiced.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/opascogc.html

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for Caffeine

Caffeine may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation: 
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

Caffeine is a methylxanthine compound. In cosmetics and personal care products, Caffeine functions as a skin conditioning agent – miscellaneous.

Resources

Find out more about the regulation of over-the-counter drugs by the Food and Drug Administration

OTC Drug Home Page: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSa…

Information about OTC Drug monographs: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/over-counter-otc-drug-monograph-process

Find out more about the regulation of Food Additives by the Food and Drug Administration

Food Ingredients and Packaging: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/default.htm

Food Contact Substances: http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/PackagingFCS/defaul…

Substances Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): http://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GRAS/default.htm

Search the Code of Federal Regulations http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm

EU Cosmetics Inventory http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/