From late-night scrolling to restless tossing and turning, sleepless nights can certainly wreak havoc on our skin come morning. Waking up to dark circles, puffiness and under-eye bags can feel less than pleasant. Luckily, there’s a way to jolt them back into oblivion. The answer comes in the form of caffeine — caffeine eye cream, to be exact.
“Caffeine eye creams help reduce puffiness and dark circles by constricting blood vessels and decreasing inflammation,” says Natalie Aguilar, the owner of N4 Skincare in La Jolla, California. “Many people notice a brighter, less-tired appearance after using one.”
As someone who’s suffered from raccoon-like dark circles since my high school days, I’m always looking for ways to make them less noticeable — and incorporating an invigorating ingredient like caffeine into my skin care routine is certainly a great place to start. (Not to mention, it won’t keep me up at night like an afternoon cup of coffee is bound to.)
Along with Aguilar, I spoke with other dermatologists and skin care experts who shared do’s and don’ts for finding the best caffeine eye creams to eliminate puffiness and dark circles.
Keep reading to get the ins and outs of how caffeine eye cream works and to find time-tested and recommended formulas. Let the eyes have it!
Best caffeine eye creams, according to experts
“This eye cream not only boosts circulation to brighten the under-eye area, but also features concentrated anti-aging vitamins and antioxidants to rejuvenate and awaken your skin,” Aguilar says. A blend of green tea, coffee cherry and green coffee work to tone, reduce wrinkles and boost collagen and circulation, while vitamin E protects against free radical damage and vanilla planifolia conditions the skin.
“If you are looking for a hint of tint without the heaviness, this daytime eye cream is perfect,” Erica Marie Gatt, the founder of EM Skin Studio in Hermosa Beach, California, says. “It has just enough color to skip concealer, and is packed with caffeine, vitamin C and niacinamide to brighten and refresh the under-eye area.” We also love the copper doe-foot applicator, which is cooling and makes application a breeze.
This caffeine eye cream is a favorite of Aguilar’s because of its rich texture and combination of nourishing ingredients. “It not only comforts and softens, but also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she says.
“You’ll love how it leaves your skin feeling firmer, smoother, and well hydrated.” The formula is also free of parabens, sulfates and silicones, and it comes in a beautiful blue glass bottle with an easy pump applicator.
With a combination of nourishing peptides, soothing rosemary leaf extract and brightening lactic acid, this caffeinated eye cream is certainly one to add to your skincare arsenal. “It’s great for dry skin and for anyone with fine lines and wrinkles,” Chacon notes. “There are lots of great hydrating ingredients, and you will see noticeable results.”
When it comes to dark circles and puffiness, this little tube packs a pretty major punch. “I absolutely love this product because it’s perfectly formulated to target dark circles, puffiness and tired-looking eyes,” says Gatt.
She especially loves that it’s formulated with kojic dipalmitate, which she calls “one of my all-time favorite ingredients, which works wonders to lighten dark circles.”
A balm-to-cream formula and brightening particles give this eye cream a unique leg up on its caffeinated counterparts. It’s a favorite of Chacon’s, who says it’s “great for fast results and instantly brightens up the eyes noticeably.” That’s thanks to a combination of ingredients that fight against advanced glycation-end products (aka AGEs), which can speed the appearance of dark circles, crow’s feet, and puffiness.
Best caffeine eye creams, according to editors
For a budget-friendly caffeine eye cream that delivers on depuffing and dark circle reduction, look no further than this one from The Inkey List. The fairly basic packaging belies the fantastic product within; I [Sanders] love that it’s formulated not just with caffeine, but with a collagen-boosting peptide to help, well, boost the thin skin under the eyes.
Jannely Espinal, a writer at Shop TODAY, has also applied this caffeine eye cream before. She says, "I like that is budget-friendly and easy to pack in your skin care bag. While I saw subtle changes, the cream provides a brighter complexion and de-puffs the eye area."
A tiny bit goes a long way, too, so you don’t have to squeeze too much out of the tube at a time, making your $12 go even further. Score.
"I don't have many wrinkles around my eyes just yet, but this eye serum does an effective job smoothing out the fine lines I do have while giving the area a more hydrated, bright look," explains deputy managing editor Jess Bender. "While this is pegged as an eye serum, the brand says this can be used for the entire face."
I’ve long been a fan of basically every Herbivore product, including their face oils, and this one does not disappoint. In addition to the depuffing wonder of caffeine, it’s formulated with an ultra-stable version of vitamin C to help improve the look of dark circles, and antioxidant-packed turmeric to help even skin tone.
On days when I need a little extra pep in my under-eye step, I reach for this little bottle of wonder. Its gel-cream consistency sinks into skin immediately upon contact without leaving behind any greasiness. It has caffeine, of course, but what I really love is the optical diffusers, which add a little glistening, fairy-light shine to even the darkest of circles.
This eye serum is so unique, I simply had to see if it was worthy of adding to my morning skin care routine. Spoiler alert: Yes, yes it absolutely is.
Not only is it packed with rejuvenating ingredients like caffeine, peptides and hyaluronic acid, but the packaging itself makes it an immediate love. It has a rollerball applicator, which feels super cooling against the skin (so lovely first thing in the morning), and a gel-serum formula that sets it apart from its caffeine eye cream competitors.
Does caffeine eye cream work?
The short answer? Yes. Caffeine eye creams can help tighten up the skin under your eyes and make your eyes appear fresher. But there’s a caveat.
“Caffeine eye creams are a great option for a quick fix before an event or night out,” says Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Miami Derm in Coral Gables, Florida. “They’ve been shown to reduce the appearance of under-eye circles and puffiness around the delicate eye area.”
However, Chacon cautions that the results from using caffeine eye creams are temporary. “Yes, they work, but not for long-term results,” she says.
So, while incorporating a caffeine eye cream into your skin care routine is certainly beneficial for eliminating those pesky dark circles after a restless night, just be aware that it won’t make them disappear for good.
What other ingredients should you look for in caffeine eye cream?
Just as layering skincare products like serums or face masks can be effective, so can layering ingredients, so to speak. “Stacking ingredients that work in tandem to combat puffy, fatigued eyes will provide better, longer-lasting, more comprehensive results,” Chacon says.
Aguilar agrees. She notes a few ingredients that work well with caffeine, including:
- Hyaluronic acid, which helps boost hydration.
- Peptides, which help boost collagen.
- Vitamin C, which helps brighten skin.
- Niacinamide, which helps ease rosacea and redness.
- Green tea extract, which soothes and provides antioxidants.
However, it’s best not to layer too many products at once — after all, too much of anything may not be a good thing. “Since the eye area is delicate, it’s best not to overload with too many actives,” Aguilar says. “Opt for a formula in a hydrating base for the best results.”
Frequently asked questions
If you have dark circles, puffiness and under-eye bags, you may find that incorporating a caffeine eye cream into your skin care routine is beneficial. “They can really make a difference in how the eye area looks and feels,” Aguilar raves. “If you’re dealing with tired eyes, a good caffeine eye cream can be a game changer.”
Some of the most notable benefits for using a caffeine eye cream include constricting blood vessels, decreasing inflammation and improving circulation.
Chacon notes that caffeine eye cream isn’t a permanent solution, but still certainly has its benefits. “Caffeine is a great option if you need a quick fix in a pinch before an event or photo shoot,” she says.
The good news is, results from caffeine eye creams can be fairly immediate. “You can often see an instant result from caffeine eye creams, about 10 to 15 minutes after applying,” Gatt says.
She notes that eyes will appear more awake and refreshed, but the effects won’t last for more than a few hours. However, using caffeine eye cream consistently can help provide longer-lasting results. “Applying caffeine eye cream daily for four to six months can provide more noticeable improvement,” she says.
Aguilar agrees. “For longer term benefits, it can take a few weeks of consistent use to see noticeable changes,” she says. “Everyone’s skin is different, so it’s important to be patient and give it time to work its magic.”
Caffeine eye creams can come in cream, gel-cream or serum formulas, all of which have their own benefits. The most important thing is making sure they’re not too heavy, especially since you’ll typically be applying them during your morning skin care routine and don’t want to cake on products underneath your makeup.
“Look for lightweight gel or cream formulations that absorb easily into the skin,” Aguilar advises. “They’re often more refreshing and perfect for the delicate eye area.”
Aguilar is firmly in the once a day category, and recommends applying it in the morning. “Using it twice can sometimes be too stimulating for the delicate skin around the eyes,” she says. “Morning application helps you look fresher throughout the day, which is always a plus.”
“Caffeine eye cream is generally suitable for most skin types, including normal, oily, and combination skin,” Aguilar says. “Its lightweight formula can help reduce puffiness and brighten the eye area without clogging pores.”
She does note, though, that those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema or rosacea should be cautious when introducing it into their skin care routines, and encourages patch testing. “Caffeine eye cream can be a great addition to your routine to really brighten and wake up the eye area,” she says.
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How we chose
We chose caffeine eye creams based on advice given by experts regarding the benefits of each, including reducing the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, under-eye bags and wrinkles. We also considered specific additional nourishing and brightening ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol and vitamin C.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on caffeine eye creams. We also make sure that all expert guidance and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Natalie Aguilar is a nurse, esthetician and owner of N4 Skincare in La Jolla, California.
- Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist, global dermatology innovator, teledermatology pioneer, and founder of Miami Derm in Coral Gables, Florida.
- Erica Marie Gatt is an esthetician and the founder of EM Skin Studio in Hermosa Beach, California.
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