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Does Caffeinated Soap Really Work?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

One of the popular trends today is the use of caffeinated soap. According to proponents of the product, caffeinated soap is a great way to get a boost in the morning when there is no time for morning coffee. However, there is some doubt about the effectiveness of caffeine in soap, at least as a means of getting a lift in the morning.

The basic idea behind soap with a healthy dose of caffeine is that people who tend to be sluggish in the morning can achieve a boost with the use of the product. This is accomplished by absorbing caffeine through the skin during the morning shower. Many brands claim to offer two hundred milligrams of caffeine per use, offering just the right amount to help get the morning in progress.

Caffeinated soap is no substitute for a cup of coffee.
Caffeinated soap is no substitute for a cup of coffee.

While there are a lot of testimonials regarding the effectiveness of caffeinated soap, there are a number of detractors that claim the product is more hype and less effect. Some point out that there are not at present any reliable scientific experiments conducted in controlled conditions to prove the claims made for caffeinated soap. Also, some users report that the morning boost they receive could be from the heavy peppermint scent that is included as part of the ingredients in many popular brands of the product.

It's unlikely that caffeinated soap works as advertised.
It's unlikely that caffeinated soap works as advertised.

There is also some concern that even if it is possible to absorb caffeine through the skin, chances are that caffeinated soap is not capable of offering as much of a dose as claimed. Given the fact that the water would dilute the soap very quickly, even if a thick lather were applied to the body before rinsing, there would not be much chance of absorbing more than one to two milligrams at best. Generally, this is understood to not be sufficient to cause much of a jump start first thing in the morning.

Some brands claim to offer two hundred milligrams of caffeine per use.
Some brands claim to offer two hundred milligrams of caffeine per use.

While there is no doubt that caffeinated soap can cleanse the body, it is doubtful that the product actually provides much in the way of augmenting or substituting for a cup of coffee. However, the power of suggestion, combined with the strong aroma of peppermint, may be sufficient to make waking up in the morning a little easier.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including BeautyAnswered, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum

After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including BeautyAnswered, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Discussion Comments

anon147574

Did that person just say a caffeine enema? Am I the only one that saw that? Who shoots coffee up their rear in the morning for a "lift".

anon113224

read in several health magazines that caffeine would be very good and fast absorbed through the skin, and it is good against cellulite and works good as fat reducer, but for the real caffeine kickstarter for the day, i think a mug of coffee does a better job.

anon8083

I'm not entirely sure if I subscribe to the idea that caffeinated soap would wake you up in the morning, unless you eat the soap. However, many cellulite-fighting products contain caffeine as a main ingredient. It helps stimulate circulation. There's an old stripper trick of using old coffee grounds in a wrap around your thighs and bum, purely for the caffeine. Maybe they're marketing this wrong...

drthreex

The caffeinated soap may not offer much caffeine "pickup" from absorption through the skin in the morning shower, but does the caffeine from coffee -- used in an morning enema -- give the desired "pickup," or is it just an ordinary, health-additive, kind of thing?

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    • Caffeinated soap is no substitute for a cup of coffee.
      By: Kirill Kedrinski
      Caffeinated soap is no substitute for a cup of coffee.
    • It's unlikely that caffeinated soap works as advertised.
      By: Lsantilli
      It's unlikely that caffeinated soap works as advertised.
    • Some brands claim to offer two hundred milligrams of caffeine per use.
      By: Syda Productions
      Some brands claim to offer two hundred milligrams of caffeine per use.