Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated November 10, 2026
5% caffeine serum rapidly depuffs tired under-eyes; dark-circle results stay temporary.
What the community says
A thin 5% caffeine serum for morning under-eye puffiness, especially the vascular, sleep-deprived kind. It can brighten eyes within minutes, but genetic pigmentation and structural bags usually resist it; delicate skin may sting or dry out.
What this means for you
Backed by 27 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction and 5 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
- Quick, temporary depuffing for morning eye bags
- Very thin serum that absorbs quickly
- Can make tired under-eyes look brighter
Watch out for
- Barely changes genetic or pigment-based dark circles
- Sticky texture can make concealer cake
- Can trigger dryness, irritation, or redder-looking under-eyes
Product details
Use caution
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
What TikTok says
From 12 TikTok videos9 sponsored, marked with outlined numbers
Most creators say it helps dark circles and puffiness, and sponsored creators make up most of them 12345678910. One unsponsored creator reports gradual results over several months and says genetic redness may persist 1. One unsponsored creator reports a burning reaction after nightly use 11, while a sponsored creator rates it 2 out of 10 and says it is not a first pick for wrinkles 12. Sponsored creators describe it as lightweight and affordable 489.
Sponsored means the creator disclosed a brand partnership or the video ran as a paid ad.
Videos open on TikTok in a new tab.
How to use it
From Reddit routinesHow Reddit uses it
Where to buy
Full ingredient list · 26
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG ingredients
Aqua/Water/Eau, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Propanediol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Melanin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Propyl Gallate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Listed in label order, highest concentration first. Linked ingredients have their own page.
Real Reddit threads — 192 mentions across 27 threads
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG on Reddit, in one place — 27 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/SkincareAddiction and 5 more, summarized.
“Occationals: Ordinary coffeine eye cream, and argeraline serum”
Positive
“Thank you! I do sometimes use the ordinary coffeine eyecream”
Positive
“I do use beauty of joseon retinal and the ordinary coffein eyecreams every now and again”
Positive
“I stopped using the ordinary caffeine solution under my eyes”
Cautionary
“Wait a minute, so the ordinary caffeine solution causes under eye dryness?”
Cautionary
“Iv been using that for a couple weeks now and have noticed some slight dryness 😭”
Cautionary
“I tried various Paula's Choice eye creams and The Ordinary caffeine solution and never noticed any positive results.”
Cautionary
“Over the past year I've noticed dark circles under my eyes that were not there a few years ago.”
Cautionary
“Surprised me because I had never seen it mentioned when I was looking for solutions.”
Cautionary
“The Ordinary Caffeine Serum (under eyes)”
Mentioned
“Morning”
Mentioned
“The Ordinary caffeine solution + a peptide eyecream and i have seen some noticeable difference.”
Positive
“Hello, i actually use these three products for my under eye area The Ordinary caffeine solution, Multi peptide Eyecream and boj eye serum.”
Positive
“They have given me some very visible changes in a short time”
Positive
“Night:”
Cautionary
“- The Ordinary caffeine under the eyes”
Cautionary
“I would stop caffeine and tret in the same routine in addition to adding sunscreen.”
Cautionary
“I recently tried to add caffeine to my routine and my retinal, which isn’t even applied to my under eyes got really angry.”
Cautionary
