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Signs of aging show up in the most inconvenient places on our skin, yet nowhere is more noticeable than the eyes. Late nights and early mornings manifest into puffy eyes and wrinkles that even the most powerful cold compress can’t fix. That’s where a good eye cream comes in—not just any cream, but one supercharged with awakening, brightening, and nourishing abilities with just a few swipes: caffeine eye creams. Just as caffeine in our daily pick-me-up drinks fuels us to make it to the end of the day, caffeine in skin care helps to renew and reenergize the delicate skin around our eyes.
“Caffeine in eye creams works by decreasing puffiness and improving circulation. Under-eye puffiness is extremely common if you are low on sleep, dehydrated, or suffering from seasonal allergies, which makes caffeine a great addition to almost everyone’s skincare products,” says Dr. Nazanin Saedi, a Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist.
What’s more, the best caffeine eye creams are coupled with ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, or ceramides, that moisturize and plump the skin to ward off dryness or common eye troubles like crow’s feet or rough patches. Below, we pored over dozens of customer reviews to create a list of the 13 best caffeine eye creams for all skin types.
Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum
Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum
Pros
- Firms and brightens the eye area
Cons
- May not be suited for sensitive skin
They say good things come in threes, and this serum features a trio of transformative ingredients that packs a serious punch. Along with caffeine, retinol, bakuchiol, and ferulic acid firm, smooth, and brighten the under-eye area to keep dryness and fine lines in the past.
Skin type: All skin types
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Dermstore rating: 4.53/5 stars
A Dermstore reviewer said: “I use a small amount of this eye serum at night. You only need one pump for both eyes. I apply under my eye and on my eyelids. I definitely see a difference. My skin looks firmer and tighter. Absorbs quickly into my skin.”
The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream
Pros
- Super affordable
Cons
- Can leave behind residue
Welcome to the world of Inkey List, where skin care is pared down to its simplest form to deliver effective results at an affordable price point. Naturally, the brand has its own caffeine eye cream that combines the star ingredient with peptides—to firm and plump—and plant extracts, gently exfoliating the area to reduce signs of aging.
Skin type: All skin types
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Sephora rating: 3.8/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer said: “Very impressed with this for dark circles and puffiness. Using A.M. and P.M. Non-greasy, absorbs well, and pairs nicely with an under-eye roller.”
LAZ Skincare InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE
LAZ Skincare InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE
Pros
- Brightens the eye area over time
Cons
- Pricey for the size
Crow’s feet are no match for this splurge-worthy eye cream. The hydrating formula soothes puffiness and reverses dryness, thanks to a blend of peptides, plum extract, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.
Skin type: Normal
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Laz Skincare rating: 5/5 stars
A Laz Skincare reviewer said: “Favorite eye cream I’ve ever used! This keeps my under-eyes looking so youthful and hydrated! It’s truly the best one on the market.”
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex
Pros
- Improves skin elasticity
Cons
- Reviewers say cream takes a while to brighten dark circles
Droopy, dull skin around the eyes can make you look as if you haven’t slept for weeks. SkinCeuticals’ A.G.E. Eye Complex works to keep your skin looking young and fresh for as long as possible using fruit extracts, peptides, and Proxylane to hydrate the area and improve dullness.
Skin type: Dry, mature, normal
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Dermstore rating: 4.59/5 stars
A Dermstore reviewer said: “An aesthetician recommended this eye cream and I am glad she did. It has a creamy feel and immediately softens the skin under my eyes while providing hydration. It also helps reduce puffiness and keeps my eyes looking great! It is well worth the price.”
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel
Pros
- Super affordable
Cons
- May not be best for sensitive skin
Think of this eye cream as an energy drink for your eyes. This cream is built around yerba mate, a South American herb that contains caffeine to energize your eye area. It also contains hyaluronic acid for added hydration, as well as peptides for nourishment.
Skin type: All skin types
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Ulta rating: 3.9/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer said: “I love this eye gel! It smooths the skin around my eyes.”
ILIA Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream
ILIA Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream
Pros
- Cooling applicator
Cons
- Can be irritating for super sensitive skin
As the name suggests, this eye cream adds a touch of brightness to your morning eyes, so you kick off your day looking awake and full of life. It’s slightly tinted but dries down clear, and is designed with a cooling tip that helps glide the product under the eyes to keep the pressure controlled.
Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 0.05 fl oz
Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer said: “Love this product! It’s so easy to use and I love the applicator tip. It makes it so much easier to apply. It helps hide my dark circles and it’s very light coverage.”
Sunday Riley Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream
Sunday Riley Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream
Pros
- Depuffs
Cons
- Pump can be faulty
Leave all your troubles to this handy cream from Sunday Riley. Using caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract, this cream depuffs, plumps, and brightens dull, dark circles. After a few uses, eyes are reenergized and youthful.
Skin types: Normal
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer said: “I’ve been using this cream for awhile and it has lightened up the dark circles around my eyes.”
100% PURE Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
100% PURE Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
Pros
- Encourages collagen production
Cons
- Heavily scented
This Amazon bestseller has over 4,000 ratings—and for good reason. Green tea, vitamin E, green coffee, and more work together to improve the appearance of wrinkles and encourage collagen production.
Skin type: Normal
Size: 0.3 fl oz
Amazon rating: 4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I kept reading about caffeine being effective for eye bags, so I tried this cream. Magical! I definitely noticed a marked difference—and I’ve tried countless products. So far, this is the best. Yay!”
Pros
- Nourishing formula
Cons
- Results take time
Aging can cause us to lose the luminosity and smoothness of our youth. Luckily, Empelle’s Eye Cream restores all of that and more, courtesy of a blend of emollients to nourish the skin, caffeine, and peptides to address anti-aging, and the brand’s MEP Technology to firm.
Skin type: Mature
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Dermstore rating: 5/5 stars
“One of my recommendations for a great eye cream is Emepelle’s Eye Cream. It has caffeine, peptides, antioxidants and humectants, and it also has their non-hormonal MEP Technology that helps restore collagen loss. This combination along with caffeine not only helps improve puffiness, but it will also help with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it will brighten the skin around the eyes. I love that it has the immediate benefit of depuffing in combination with the lasting anti-aging benefits of helping to restore lost collagen.”—Dr. Nazanin Saedi, Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
Pros
- Creamy, lightweight formula
Cons
- Doesn’t do much for dark circles
If rough, dry patches start to form around your eyes, reach for this moisturizing eye cream from CeraVe. This tube is chock-full of nourishing niacinamide, ceramides, and peptides to reverse crow’s feet and soften the skin.
Skin type: All skin types
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I use this eye cream daily and really like the moisturizing effects and the creaminess of the formula.”
Dr. Koo Skincare Replenishing Eye Serum
Dr. Koo Skincare Replenishing Eye Serum
Pros
- Encourages collagen production
Cons
- Pricey
This serum gives you the exfoliating benefits of retinol with the hydrating cushion of jojoba oil and hyaluronate to stimulate collagen and boost skin elasticity. The eyes appear brighter and softer, sans any irritation.
Skin type: All skin types
Size: 5 oz
Dr. Koo Skincare rating: 5/5 stars
A Dr. Koo Skincare reviewer said: “I’ve tried many eye serums and this is the best I’ve tried. Highly recommend.”
Herbivore Super Nova 5% THD Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream
Herbivore Super Nova 5% THD Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream
Pros
- Brightens dark circles
Cons
- Can be irritating for sensitive skin
For a smoother and brighter under-eye before makeup application, Herbivore’s Super Nova combines potent vitamin C and caffeine to gently address dark circles and plump the area for softer, smoother eyes.
Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily
Size: 0.5 fl oz
Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer said: “Wow! Okay Herbivore! You really have impressed me with this eye cream. I woke up looking rough and tired. I applied this eye cream for the first time and the results blew me away! Bright, hydrated, and awake-looking under-eyes! Thank you for this amazing product!”
Neutrogena Hydro Boost + Eye Cream for Dark Circles & Puffiness
Neutrogena Hydro Boost + Eye Cream for Dark Circles & Puffiness
Pros
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Can be irritating for some
Improve your skin’s barrier with this fragrance-free eye cream from Neutrogena. Found in the aisles of your favorite drugstore, this multitasking cream depuffs, hydrates, and brightens the eyes, all while working to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin type: Dry
Size: 0.5 oz
Amazon rating: 4.1/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I really think this has helped my dark circles a lot. It goes on easily and is refreshing.”
What purpose does caffeine serve in skin care?
“Caffeine comes from coffee beans and has antioxidant properties, helping to decrease the damaging effects of free radicals from UV radiation and pollution,” Dr. Saedi explains. Commonly found in eye creams and, sometimes, body creams and lotions, caffeine also increases blood flow. “Like most things with skin care, you have to wait to see results. It typically takes about four to six weeks of consistent use to see results with these creams,” she adds.
Do caffeine eye creams really work?
Caffeine eye creams work well, but it’s wise to manage your expectations. “Don’t expect miracles. You must be realistic about what topical treatments are able to do. Caffeine can help depuff and brighten the under-eye area by helping with the congestion of the vessels under the eyes,” Dr. Saedi offers.
Is retinol or caffeine better for the under-eyes?
Both ingredients are powerful in skin care, but deliver different results. “Caffeine is good for de-puffing and for improving circulation. Retinols work by increasing cell turnover to improve the skin texture and improve the appearance of wrinkles. Oftentimes, I suggest patients use a caffeine-containing product in the A.M. and then the retinol at night. Then, you are addressing both the puffiness and some of the discoloration, as well as the skin texture,” Dr. Saedi says. Because retinol is powerful, you can build up your tolerance over time. “Just remember that the skin around the eyes is delicate and thin. Retinoids can be irritating, so if you incorporate this ingredient into your under-eye care, choose eye creams with lower levels of retinol or retinoid to avoid inflammation and irritation,” she adds.
Why trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com Beauty Commerce Editor, Nerisha Penrose, spoke with a skin expert about the benefits of caffeine in skin care and scoured reviews for the top-rated eye creams on the market.
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends way too much time re-watching 90s sitcoms.
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