Plant power

The actual berry (not the seed, which is the bean) is the jewel in the crown when it comes to potency. Priori skincare’s Joe Lewis says this is because the plant has developed antioxidant defences from being stuck in the sun. “It has evolved super rich defence compounds known as polyphenols, and whole coffee cherry is loaded with the most potent mixture.” And there is more good news: US-based dermatologist Michael Gold says caffeine might be useful for helping prevent skin cancers. That is not the green light to toss out your sunscreen, but experts say there is no harm in slathering skin with a caffeine-enhanced cream, before and after a day in the sun.