Every once in a while, skin care specialists are presented with a product that embodies a giant leap in the way we care for aging skin. Representing an evolution in professional anti-aging skin care, a new topical formulation successfully combats the signs of aging by harnessing the naturally super-potent antioxidant power of CoffeeBerry®. CoffeeBerry® is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of photodamage by strengthening the skin’s ability to defend against harmful environmental factors (sun, wind, temperature), while evening out skin tones and smoothing skin texture.

Antioxidants: Nature’s defense against the damaging effects of free radicals
Antioxidants are natural compounds found in many foods and may protect skin cells against the damaging effects of free radicals—molecules that are produced when the body is exposed to harmful extrinsic factors, such as tobacco smoke and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, as well as to intrinsic cellular metabolic processes. Free radicals attack healthy cells, break down collagen, and lead to internal aging and visible signs of external aging (skin wrinkling, mottled pigmentation or hyperpigmentation, loss of skin tone, and the appearance of fine lines).

Antioxidants also play an important role in skin barrier function. Depletion of the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol in the epidermis has been shown to be an early sign of environmentally induced oxidation. Researchers have demonstrated that routine application of topical antioxidants protects the skin against cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. Topical antioxidants not only protect the skin by penetrating the epidermis to provide essential moisture to damaged cells, but they also have demonstrated photoprotective effects against UV radiation and erythema.

CoffeeBerry®, a topically applied antioxidant in a 3-step skin care system (a facial cleanser, a day cream with SPF 15 sunscreen, and a night cream), has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and to improve facial pigmentation. In a double-blind clinical trial, subjects 30 to 70 years of age with mild to moderate signs of photoaging were randomly assigned to either a 3-step CoffeeBerry® system (n=25) or to a control (n=25) consisting of a cleansing wash and moisturizing lotion with SPF 15. Subjects were evaluated at weeks 3, 6, 9, and 12. Compared with baseline, the 3-step CoffeeBerry® system demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in transepidermal water loss as early as week 3 (P=.002) through week 12 (P=.002). At week 12, the CoffeeBerry® system also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the appearance of wrinkling, roughness, erythema, scaling, and global appearance. This system provides protection against environmentally accelerated skin damage (photoaging and photodamage).

CoffeeBerry® provides anti-aging protection in a super-potent antioxidant
The CoffeeBerry® extract evaluated in the clinical trials described herein is derived from the fruit of the coffee plant Coffea arabica, the same plant that provides us with coffee beans. To harness the full potency of this powerful antioxidant, CoffeeBerry® is harvested at a sub-ripe growth stage, then crushed and processed while the berry is at its peak antioxidant concentration. CoffeeBerry® is rich in polyphenolic antioxidants (condensed proanthocyanidins, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and quinic acid), which have demonstrated clinical efficacy in neutralizing damaging free radicals.

ORAC: A validated assay for measuring antioxidant capacity
The Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) assay, developed in 1993 at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore, Maryland, measures the antioxidant capacity of different food products. Accepted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the ORAC assay assesses the protective capabilities of the water-soluble and lipid-soluble components of natural substances by measuring the degree of free radical damage inhibition over time. Results of the ORAC assay allow scientists to rank natural products by their ORAC scores, with higher scores denoting products with higher antioxidant capacity.

A comparison of CoffeeBerry® extract with other skin care products demonstrated that CoffeeBerry®, with an ORAC score between 15,000 and 17,500 μmol TE/g, is a more potent antioxidant than commonly identified antioxidants such as green tea (1,200-11,000), pomegranate extract (2,500), vitamin C (1,900), and vitamin E (1,400).  

Combined with daily skin care regimens such as moisturizing and cleansing, the use of sunscreen, regular exercise, sufficient water, and ample sleep, daily application of a topical antioxidant such as CoffeeBerry® in a 3-step skin care system can help boost overall skin health.

Dr. Scott Miller is board certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery and is the director of the Miller Cosmetic Surgery Center at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, California. Dr. Miller, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, is an attending surgeon at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.  He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Dr. Miller also participates in the Interface International Surgery Program, operating on children with disfiguring birth defects.