The Ordinary Caffeine Solution Review

If you have dark circles and puffiness under your eyes, then you know that these are two skin concerns that are difficult to treat.

The Ordinary’s one and only eye product, The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, targets these skin concerns, as it is formulated to diminish the appearance of under-eye circles and puffiness.

In this The Ordinary Caffeine Solution review, I will discuss my experience with using The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG and let you know my thoughts on the formula, results, and overall value of this eye treatment.

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It’s made with caffeine, which works to constrict blood vessels around the eyes. Caffeine stimulates blood flow helping to reduce puffiness and those pesky dark circles.

Caffeine also helps inflammation and makes your undereye area appear brighter and more awake.

It also contains epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside (a version of EGCG found in green tea), which has antioxidant properties to protect against free radical damage.

The Ordinary points out that this eye serum is not intended to treat shadows resulting from hollowness in the eye contour due to the structure of sub-dermal tissues such as fat and bone.

It’s also not intended to treat fat deposits in the eye contour since topicals aren’t effective on these deposits.

This eye serum and all products from The Ordinary are cruelty-free and vegan.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Review

PROS	CONS
✅  Targeted Effectiveness: The serum is specifically formulated to reduce under-eye circles and puffiness, making it a focused treatment for these common concerns.	❌ Limited Moisturizing Properties: Unlike eye creams, this serum does not provide significant moisturizing benefits, requiring a separate eye cream for added hydration.
✅  Texture and Application: The serum has a lightweight, gel-like texture that absorbs quickly without leaving any stickiness or greasiness.	❌ Specificity of Results: The results, particularly the degree of improvement in dark circles and puffiness, may vary from person to person.
✅  Multi-Functional: It contains caffeine, EGCG, and other active ingredients known for their beneficial effects on the skin, such as improving blood circulation, offering antioxidant protection, and reducing inflammation.
✅  Affordability: Compared to other skincare products, especially in the eye care category, this solution is very affordable.

The first thing that stands out about The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is that it is serum. Most eye products come in the form of an eye cream.

An eye cream usually has more moisturizing ingredients, while an eye serum is formulated with actives that target your skin concerns but don’t necessarily have all the moisturizing benefits of eye cream.

So you usually follow a serum with a separate moisturizer.

I wasn’t sure about adding one more product to my skincare routine. But I figured since I always use a serum and moisturizer on my face, why not use a serum in addition to my eye cream/moisturizer on my eyes, since my eyes are the main area on my face where I struggle with the signs of aging.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG has a water-based running gel-like texture that sinks in quickly without stickiness or any greasiness.

It has a lightweight consistency with a slight yellow tinge. Once it dries, it doesn’t create a lot of moisture under the eyes, so I felt like I definitely needed to follow up with an eye cream.

After using it consistently for weeks, I’ve noticed:

• A slight improvement in the dark circles under my eyes. The skin under my eyes feels softer and smoother, too.
• An improvement in eye puffiness, but I don’t experience too much puffiness, just those dreaded dark circles.

What I really like is the potent antioxidant protection from caffeine and EGCG. I love using antioxidants on the rest of my face, and my eyes are no exception.

I think these antioxidants could be very helpful in preventing the signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines.

Related Post: The Ordinary 10% Mandelic Acid + HA Review

Is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Worth It?

Is it worth it, considering it doesn’t really replace an eye cream in your skincare routine?

Only you can decide based on your eye area concerns, but for me, I think this eye treatment is worth it since I have a noticeable issue with dark circles, and I want any extra antioxidant protection that I can get.

The price is very affordable, too, and is less expensive than the typical drugstore eye cream.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG: Key Ingredients

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution is one of The Ordinary’s more complex formulas as it contains multiple actives:

• Caffeine: Caffeine is a popular ingredient in eye products, as it improves circulation of blood vessels, helping to reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness. It’s also a potent antioxidant, protecting skin from UV radiation and photoaging.
• Glycerin: Glycerin is an underrated moisturizer that improves skin hydration and reduces transepidermal water loss.
• Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside (EGCG): A stable and purified form of EGCG, an anti-inflammatory catechin (antioxidant) found in green tea leaves.
• EGCG has been researched for its potential to hydrate and moisturize the skin, reduce wrinkles and fade hyperpigmentation.
• Gallyl Glucoside: A protective antioxidant and soothing anti-inflammatory form of gallic acid.
• Hyaluronic Acid: A humectant that attracts water to hydrate the skin. Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge and helps skin cells retain moisture.
• Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract: Soybean extract is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
• Lactic Acid: Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that increases cell turnover. AHAs exfoliate old surface dead skin cells, revealing the younger-looking skin underneath.

Lactic acid has a larger molecule size than glycolic acid, another AHA, making it more gentle on the skin and ideal for sensitive skin.

For a more advanced eye concentrate that is also much more expensive, check out sister-brand NIOD’s Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate.

It uses 28 complex approaches to address the signs of aging around the eye contour. It’s a very advanced formula!

You can read my complete review here.

How To Use The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

• After cleansing, toning, and face serums, I apply two drops to the palm of my hand and then gently massage a drop per eye around the eye contour from the center to your eyes outward.
• I allow this The Ordinary eye serum to sink in for a minute or two and then follow with an eye cream (see below).
• I finish my routine with a face moisturizer (not on the eye area) and sunscreen in the AM.

I’ve been using this eye serum both morning and evening without any irritation. The Ordinary recommends patch testing this eye serum and all new skincare products before using them on your face for the first time.

Where To Buy The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EG

You can purchase The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG at online retailers like Target, Sephora, and The Ordinary’s website.

Eye Creams to Pair with The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

On my face, I like to use a vitamin C serum in the morning and a retinol serum in the evening.

I like to follow the same routine for my eye area as well: a vitamin C cream in the morning and a retinol eye cream in the evening.

Olay has excellent eye creams that contain vitamin C and retinol, so that is usually what I reach for.

CeraVe and Neutrogena also have effective and affordable eye creams. All of these eye creams work well with The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is a vitamin C derivative that brightens and smooths the under-eye area, fades hyperpigmentation, provides antioxidant benefits, and improves collagen production.

This eye cream also contains brightening and soothing niacinamide (vitamin B3), which boosts collagen synthesis in the skin for firmer skin with improved elasticity.

Niacinamide also improves ceramide production, which supports a healthy skin barrier.

The eye cream also contains Olay’s amino peptide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, to firm the skin. Panthenol soothes and glycerin moisturizes the skin.

Related Post: Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Review

The formula uses two retinoids: retinol and retinyl propionate, a retinol ester, to smooth the skin.

Niacinamide works to brighten, moisturize and gently exfoliate dead skin cells. Tocopheryl acetate, a form of vitamin E, offers protective antioxidant benefits.

The silky-smooth fragrance-free eye cream is ideal for evening use, as it targets multiple signs of aging while you sleep.

Even though it contains retinoids, this eye cream is gentle enough for the delicate skin around the eyes.

Related Post: Olay Retinol 24 Review

It is enriched with CeraVe’s proprietary three essential ceramides to moisturize, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) for hydration and niacinamide to brighten and strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

The eye cream also contains a Marine & Botanical Complex for additional brightening. CeraVe’s MVE Delivery Technology continually delivers moisturizing ingredients for long-lasting hydration.

This fragrance-free eye cream is non-greasy and lightweight, making it the perfect partner to pair with The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG.

Retinol SA helps to smooth wrinkles and reduce the look of dark spots with its sustained action formula that works continuously throughout the day.

Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) hydrates and moisturizes, while a glucose complex helps get quicker results.

The lightweight eye cream is perfect for layering with The Ordinary eye serum. It targets fine lines, wrinkles, dark under-eye circles, age spots, and crow’s feet wrinkles around the eyes.

Related Post: Olay Retinol 24 vs Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG: Affordable Eye Serum

I wasn’t sure that I needed to add an eye serum into my skincare routine, but now that I am regularly using The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, I see a slight improvement in dark circles, and my skin texture has improved around my eyes.

It’s hard to say if this The Ordinary best seller will work for everyone since everyone’s skin is unique, but it may be worth trying if you struggle with dark circles and puffiness, especially since it is so affordably priced.

Thanks for reading!