MOST WANTED

Is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution Worth The Hype?

By Olivia Howe and Stephanie Lyon

From body scrubs to skin-tightening formulas, caffeine has been used in skincare for years for its amazing benefits. The same way it helps with feeling more awake, it's a great ingredient to incorporate into your routine to brighten up the skin and get the feeling of renewed skin. The Ordinary understood the assignment when they released their Caffeine Solution 5% + ECGC, an undereye serum that works to reduce puffiness and dark eye bags.

Eye creams is an essential step to your skincare routine, as it will help keep that area of the face hydrated overtime. Packed with caffeine, this undereye serum promised to brighten up your eye area and make you look more awaken, tightening the skin under the eyes while reducing puffiness. The light texture makes it very easy to add into your routine without feeling like you're wearing something heavy. If you're new to skincare and want products that feel weightless, this is would make a great addition to your everyday skincare.

While this product is one of the original formulas from The Ordinary, it's still one of their bestsellers to this days. We wanted to know what the hype was about and had Stephanie, our Email Marketing Assistant and Olivia, our Paid Media Assistant give this product a try. Read on for their honest thoughts...

Olivia's Review

• Skin type: Oily

I naturally deal with extremely dark circles, so I've been on the hunt for an effective eye cream/serum to tackle my under-eye bags. I try to use one most days, though I occasionally forget or avoid due to worrying about layering with makeup (especially with creams I’ve used in the past).

I love the texture! My friend suggested storing it in the fridge, and it’s now such a soothing part of my routine that I look forward to using it. I only used this product in the morning, I like how it makes me look more awake.

Surprisingly, I noticed a difference in my undereyes quite quickly and I’m genuinely excited to keep using this serum. I can already tell this is the start of a good relationship with my new caffeine solution! I’d recommend this product to anyone who’s looking for something that is light and won’t pill under your concealer.

Stephanie'’s Review

• Skin type: Normal to oily

I have quite pronounced undereye bag that are quite blue and sometimes puffy, so I like to use an eye cream everyday, morning and night. When I first tried the Caffeine Solution, I thought it felt very different from any other eye cream I’ve used before. The consistency is quite thin and dries quite quickly, which I find ideal in the morning when I need to get ready quickly.

I used this product morning and night for a week and I noticed that my skin felt tighter and overall I looked less tired, so I will definitely keep using this in my everyday skincare routine. It’s a great way to make it look like I got more sleep than I actually did. I’d recommend this to anyone who needs something to help make them look more awake.

The Verdict on The Ordinary Caffeine Solution

The Pros: Both Olivia and Stephanie saw a difference from using the caffeine solution after only using it for a few days. If you're looking for a formula that will help with dark circles and puffiness, this might be the product your skincare routine has been missing.

The Cons: While the consistency is thin and makes it easy to work with, it's not very hydrating. "I think I would use with a more hydrating eye cream" says Stephanie.

More from The Ordinary

IThe Ordinary has always be renowned for its ingredient-focused formulas targeting specific skin concerns. If you're a fan of the Caffeine solution to help depuff the undereye, you might also enjoy The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, £19.90, crafted to hydrate the area.

The brand also released some newness like The Ordinary Multi Active Delivery Essence, £10.60, made to hydrate the skin and prep it for your other serums, it's a great first step to your skincare routine. They also recently came out with the The Ordinary GF 15% Solution, £13.50, a great product for those who deal with skin damage like hyperpigmentation and sun spots.