Caffeine + Green Tea: Can This Antioxidant Combo Reduce Puffy Eyes, Too?

Last Updated on June 11, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

I’m a skincare minimalist. I like to strip down my skincare routine to the essentials. That’s why I don’t usually bother with eye care. Why pay twice when my face moisturizer does the job just as well? But when I found out The Ordinary had an eye serum, I just had to try it. Because, why not?

1. It’s cheap
2. The Ordinary products are packed with actives that work
3. I’m a The Ordinary fan girl

If someone can do eye care right, it’s them. But, then, how many eye products do you know that can really reduce eye puffiness? The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG may be the dud in the line after all (they must have one, surely?). I put it to the test. Here’s what happened:

What’s In The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG?

CAFFEINE TO FIGHT PUFFY EYES AND DARK CIRCLES

Let’s do a quiz! Are your eye puffiness and dark circles due to:

A. Fat deposits under the eye contour

B. Hollowness in the eye contour

C. Leaky blood vessels (vasodilation)

If you’ve answered A or B, hard luck. Caffeine (or any other skincare products, for that matter) won’t do anything for you. Answered C? Let’s talk:

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, so putting it on your skin may reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes – when they are caused by leaky blood vessels. Then, again, it may not. Science doesn’t have a clear answer yet. For example, this study showed that a gel with caffeine did reduce puffy eyes. BUT, the scientists weren’t sure if it was caffeine or the cooling effects of the hydrophilic gel that did the trick.

There’s a much better reason to use caffeine. It has powerful antioxidant properties. It fights free radicals, protects skin from UV damage and prevents premature wrinkles. The catch? High concentrations of caffeine can be irritating. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is loaded with it. 5% instead of the 3% found in most eye creams. I didn’t have a problem with it, but if your eye area is super sensitive, it may not like so much caffeine.

Related: The Complete Guide To Caffeine In Skincare

Confused about The Ordinary? Click on the image below to subscribe to my newsletter and get “The Ordinary Products Guide” Cheatsheet. It’ll help your choose the right Vitamin C serum, the right retinoid serum, and more from this affordable brand:

EGCG (EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATYL GLUCOSIDE) TO FIGHT WRINKLES

EGCG is a cute acronym for the unpronounceable Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside (cos who would remember that?). If you’re a skincare nerd, you’ve probably noticed its similarity to Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, the key antioxidant in green tea. This one is a godsend for your skin:

• It fights free radicals (it’s 200 times more effective than Vitamin E)
• It has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe inflammation (one of the main causes of premature aging)
• It protects skin from sun damage 

Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside does the same thing. The only difference is that this one is upgraded with a glucoside group to make it more stable (and last long).

Related: What Does Green Tea Do In Skincare?

HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN

If your eye area feels a little dry, it’s probably begging for hyaluronic acid. This humectant draws water from the environment into the skin and binds it in. It works so well, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! You’re basically bathing your skin in moisture. You know what else this moisture does? It plumps up your crow’s feet so they don’t look so noticeable anymore.

Related: Why You Should Use Hyaluronic Acid, No Matter Your Skin Type

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Aqua (Water): It’s the solvent that dissolves all the other ingredients and makes the whole thing spreadable and usable.
• Maltodextrin: A polysaccharide derived from starch that acts as a texture enhancer and stabiliser in the formula.
• Glycerin: A classic humectant that pulls moisture from the air into your skin.
• Propanediol: Another humectant, but it’s also a solvent that helps other ingredients penetrate better. It’s got a nicer, less sticky feel than glycerin, so it contributes to that lightweight texture.
• Gallyl Glucoside: Derived from gallic acid, it works alongside the EGCG to boost the overall antioxidant protection in the formula.
• Oxidized Glutathione: Glutathione is an antioxidant your body naturally produces, and the oxidized form is actually the more stable version used in skincare. It helps protect cells from oxidative damage and is sometimes linked to brightening effects.
• Melanin: Yes, the same pigment that gives skin and hair their colour. In skincare, melanin acts as a natural antioxidant.
• Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract: Soybean extract is rich in isoflavones and fatty acids that help with skin conditioning and have mild antioxidant effects.
• Urea: It’s a natural component of your skin’s moisture barrier and acts as both a humectant and a gentle exfoliant, depending on the concentration. At lower levels like in this formula, it’s mainly here to hydrate and support barrier function.
• Pentylene Glycol: It’s a humectant that helps with hydration, a solvent that helps ingredients mix properly, and it has mild antimicrobial properties that help preserve the formula. It also improves the feel of the serum on skin.
• Hydroxyethylcellulose: A thickener and gelling agent derived from cellulose. It’s what gives the serum its gel-like consistency so it doesn’t just run off your face.
• Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6: Another texture agent, this one gives a silky, smooth feel on application.
• Xanthan Gum: A natural polysaccharide used as a thickener and stabiliser.
• Lactic Acid: An AHA that exfoliates dead skin cells and helps with hydration. At low concentrations (which is likely the case here) it’s mainly used to adjust the pH of the formula rather than for active exfoliation.
• Dehydroacetic Acid: A preservative that prevents bacteria and mould from growing in the product.
• Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate: A chelating agent, which means it binds to metal ions in the formula that could otherwise destabilise it or reduce effectiveness.
• Propyl Gallate: An antioxidant used as a preservative in the formula. It stops the oils and fats in the product from oxidising and going rancid.
• Dimethyl Isosorbide: A penetration enhancer, meaning it helps other ingredients absorb deeper into the skin.
• Ethoxydiglycol: Another solvent and penetration enhancer. It helps dissolve ingredients that don’t mix well with water and improves delivery of actives into the skin.
• Benzyl Alcohol: A preservative with mild antimicrobial properties.
• 1,2-Hexanediol: A multifunctional ingredient that works as a humectant and preservative booster.
• Ethylhexylglycerin: A conditioning agent and preservative booster derived from glycerin.
• Phenoxyethanol: One of the most common preservatives in cosmetics, it keeps the formula safe from microbial contamination.
• Caprylyl Glycol: Pulls triple duty. It’s a humectant, a conditioning agent, and a preservative booster.

Texture

This serum has a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that spreads easily and doesn’t feel heavy on. That’s key because rich creams can cause milia seeds around your eyes and those buggers are hard to treat. Phew!

Fragrance

It’s fragrance-free. And I dig that. As much as I love anything citrusy or floral, fragrance is the most irritating ingredient in skincare. The eye area is the most delicate area of your skin. See where I’m going with this? Thank goodness there’s no fragrance here.

Packaging

A small, dark bottle with a dropper applicator. Not the most practical, but it gets the job done.

How To Use It

Pat it on with your ring finger, after serum but before moisturiser. A little bit goes a long way. You can use it both in the morning and/or night too.

Performance & Personal Opinion

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG has a lightweight texture that absorbs fairly quickly into my skin (unless I apply too much… ahem…). Here’s what I noticed:

• It helps depuff my eyes a little bit
• It does nothing for my dark circles
• It’s fairly hydrating, but if your eye area is dry, you still need a moisturizer on top

For an eye serum, it’s not too bad. I didn’t expect it to help with dark circles, but I was positively surprised it does something for puffiness. And, it’s a serum, so you expect to have to use it with a moisturizer (i just use my face cream).

I’m more impressed by its antioxidant content. Antioxidants are preventative, so it takes a LOT longer than a month to see some noticeable improvement. But, the science here is solid. If you want to up your anti-aging eye game and kick puffiness away, I think you will like it. Unless you have sensitive skin. This may  be caffeine overdose for you.

What I Like About The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

• Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that won’t cause milia
• Fragrance-free, making it suitable for the delicate eye area
• Reduces puffiness
• Fairly hydrating
• Strong antioxidant content with solid science behind it
• Affordable

What I DON’T Like About The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

• Does nothing for dark circles
• Not hydrating enough for dry eye areas on its own, needs a moisturiser on top
• May be too much caffeine for sensitive skin

Who Should Use This?

Let’s put it this way: if you have puffy eyes, this is worth a go. You’ll also get some anti-aging and hydrating boost on top. If you’re looking for something to make your dark circles look less obvious, keep looking. This ain’t it.

Does The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

£5.80 at Asos, Sephora, and Ulta

Do You Need It?

Not really. It helps with puffiness, but it doesn’t live up to the hype.