All scans / Eye creams / The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG ingredients: is it worth it?
Decent depuffing eye serum, but the dark-circle promises are much bigger than the evidence.
Decent depuffing eye serum, but the dark-circle promises are much bigger than the evidence.
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The efficacy score is 3.5/5: caffeine is unusually prominent and present at the stated 5%, while glycerin, propanediol, hyaluronic acid, and urea provide credible short-term hydration; however, the formula does not contain a proven pigment-correcting treatment, the EGCG derivative is not disclosed at a meaningful concentration, and the marketed oxidized glutathione and melanin do not justify extra efficacy credit. No fragrance or essential oil is listed, but benzyl alcohol and the acidic formula may irritate exceptionally sensitive eye contours. The water-based serum format is preferable to a jar for antioxidant stability, though packaging and pH are not enough to make it a clinically optimal dark-circle treatment.
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DemythSkin rates The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 3.5/5 for efficacy and 4.4/5 for safety.
CONTAINS COMMON SENSITISERS⌄
Fragrance components and essential oils that more often cause reactions in sensitive skin: Benzyl Alcohol. Most people tolerate them; patch test if your skin reacts easily.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (13)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Aqua (Water), Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Propanediol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Melanin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Urea, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propyl Gallate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (24)⌄
- Aqua (Water)
- Solvent and formula base
- Caffeine
- Depuffing stimulant active
- Maltodextrin
- Carrier and texture modifier
- Glycerin
- Humectant for skin hydration
- Propanediol
- Humectant and solvent
- Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside
- Green tea antioxidant active
- Gallyl Glucoside
- Antioxidant and skin conditioner
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Film-forming humectant
- Oxidized Glutathione
- Antioxidant marketing active
- Melanin
- Colorant and marketing active
- Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract
- Botanical skin-conditioning extract
- Urea
- Humectant and skin conditioner
- Pentylene Glycol
- Humectant and solvent
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
- Viscosity controlling thickener
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
- Gel-forming texture modifier
- Xanthan Gum
- Rheology controlling thickener
- Lactic Acid
- pH adjuster and humectant
- Dehydroacetic Acid
- Preservative
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- Chelating agent
- Propyl Gallate
- Antioxidant stabilizer
- Dimethyl Isosorbide
- Solvent and delivery enhancer
- Benzyl Alcohol
- Preservative and solvent
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- Humectant and preservative booster
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Preservative booster and conditioner
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Caffeine: Topical caffeine is used in cosmetic eye products for temporary reduction in the appearance of puffiness; the product lists caffeine second and states a 5% concentration.
Glycerin: Established topical humectant that increases water content in the outer skin.
Hyaluronic Acid: Film-forming humectant supporting temporary surface hydration.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG: common questions
Is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG worth it?
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG scores 3.5 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Modest) and 4.4 out of 5.0 for safety (Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Decent depuffing eye serum, but the dark-circle promises are much bigger than the evidence.
What are the key active ingredients in The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG?
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG. It scores 4.4 out of 5.0 for safety.
How is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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