A methylxanthine used in eye-area and other skin-conditioning products.
Sources: 1No alternative names recorded.
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Caffeine
What it does
Used in products targeting a temporarily refreshed appearance; claims about eliminating dark circles or fat need product-specific evidence.
Sources: 1Good for
- Eye-area cosmetic formulas
How to use it
Follow the finished product's directions and assess tolerance when introducing it. Ingredient research does not supply one universal dose or schedule.
Sources: 1Who should be careful
Avoid getting eye-area products into the eye. Persistent swelling or discoloration may have causes that a cosmetic cannot address.
Sources: 1Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Adenosine-receptor and other biological activity is known, but does not by itself establish a cosmetic benefit from topical delivery.
Sources: 1Potential adverse effects
Irritation or contact allergy may occur; stop a product that causes a persistent or marked reaction.
Sources: 1Formulation considerations
Solubility, crystallization and delivery can limit performance.
Sources: 1Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
caffeine
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 2519 | PubChem compound 2519: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C8H10N4O2 | PubChem compound 2519: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 194.19 g/mol | PubChem compound 2519: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (2)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Safety assessment of methylxanthinessafety assessment · 2024
- PubChem compound 2519: chemical identitychemical identity
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