Ok, another great sales pitch - caffeinated shaving cream. Yes. You, too, can get up from a short night’s sleep, simply shave with this product, and be alert all day long.
Not bloody likely, I’m thinking. So, in the amount of time that shaving cream stays on a person’s skin, how little - if any - would be absorbed and make it to the blood stream? How much is that, compared to the amount in, say, a cup of coffee?
That website doesn’t seem to claim that their cream can replace coffee in terms of effects; rather on the contrary, the “learn more” link takes you to Put caffeine on your mug, not in it. Caffeinated Shaving Cream and Aftershave Set , which explains that the intended effect is primarily a direct one on the skin.
The concept of caffeine being absorped by the skin (and even more so, through hair follicles) and having positive effects seems to be legit: Caffeine and Skin Care Products
Yes, caffeine is absorbed topically.
The role of hair follicles in the percutaneous absorption of caffeine discusses the phenomenon.
Is there a time frame, QtheM? In other words, does topical caffeine sink in right away, or is it a matter of the longer it sits on the skin the more you absorb?
I’m not QtheM, but if you don’t mind:
Caffeine is fairly soluble in DMSO, which I suppose could facilitate absorption. Not that it’s a good idea.
What halfreal said.
FWIW, Pacific Shaving’s regular shave cream is terrific stuff, so it’s likely the caffeinated kind is pretty good as well.
Just like how tobacco can be absorbed in your mouth, the same can happen with caffine.
Ok - it looks as if there are some tiny amounts of caffeine that can be absorbed during shaving. The ads for the shaving cream, however, seem to imply, indicate, hint and move the less-discerning reader to think that the shaving cream will do the same thing that coffee does. Yes, they say, " It may not replace your morning coffee, but it will give a little extra kick to your morning routine." but that seems to be misleading just a tad. But, ok, I have my answer. Thank you, Dopers.
Yeah, but absorption through mucus membranes isn’t the same as absorption through, say, the skin on your arm.
ETA: thanks, halfreal!
I’ve always wondered about baristas, and how they handle and touch coffee grounds all day long. Not to mention standing in and probably inhaling a cloud of atomized grounds as well.
They probably need to drink no coffee at all!
I tried to find comparative blood caffeine levels after drinking a cup, but came up empty. Anyone know?