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Of all the eye-minded formulas on the shelf, the best caffeine eye creams have begun taking up more and more real estate. These eye creams use the active ingredient—which you might know best from your morning cup of coffee—since it also works to tighten and brighten the eye area in one fell swoop. “If your issue is dark circles due to blood vessels or mild puffiness in the undereye area, then topical caffeine may be helpful to temporarily constrict the blood vessels and decrease any excess fluid,” says Gloria Lin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York who notes that that makes it a good option for those looking for quick (albeit temporary) reduction in under-eye puffiness.
Vogue’s Favorite Caffeine Eye Creams
Think of it this way: “Caffeine is like slipping on chic, oversized sunglasses first thing in the morning—instantly disguising fatigue and giving your undereyes a more polished, pulled-together look,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Haven, CT. With that in mind, scroll ahead for the caffeine eye creams worth adding to your skin-care routine; plus, everything you need to know about choosing the one for you.
In This Story
- Does eye cream with caffeine really work?
- What to look for in a caffeine eye cream
- Is caffeine or retinol better for eye bags?
- Meet the experts
Best Overall: Skinceuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eye
- Why We Love It: This eye cream is a perennial favorite, and for good reason: It’s versatile and effective, and uses unique technology to brighten, smooth, and firm the eye area. “It supports elasticity, softens the look of lines, and brightens—the caffeine here gives an instant refresh while the rest of the formula works on deeper texture,” says Dr. Gohara, who notes that it’s especially helpful if you’re seeing early creasing or the effects of fatigue around the eyes. The secret to its success is its mechanism. “It is designed to combat advanced glycation end products—AGE—that are responsible for signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles with ingredients like peptides and blueberry extract,” says Dr. Lin. Together, the actives make for a potent (and multitasking) formula.
- Editor’s Experience: “This is one of the first eye creams I fell in love with because it toys the line of efficacy and sensoriality well. The texture is plush without weighing the under-eyes down while depuffing and brightening over time.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Ingredients: Glycyrrhetinic acid, Matrixyl, caffeine, optical brighteners
- Best For: Fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness, skin laxity
- Size: 0.5 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Velvety texture sinks in quickly | May be too rich for daytime use |
| Has luminizing pigments that brighten on the spot | Jar format isn’t as hygienic as a tube |
Best for Dark Circles: La Roche-Posay Pigmentclar Anti-Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Dr. Lin likes La Roche-Posay’s drugstore option, as it “contains niacinamide, caffeine, and thermal spring water to help with dark circles, puffiness, and promote moisturization,” she says. The brand’s signature spring water is rich in antioxidants that help nourish and soothe skin, keeping it gentle enough for even sensitive skin types. It also contains reflective (but not shimmery) pigments that offset the effect of brown and blue tones beneath the eyes therefore giving dark circles the boot.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, glycerin, niacinamide, silica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, La Roche-Posay thermal spring water
- Best For: Dark circles, puffiness, dryness
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Designed with sensitive skin in mind | Won’t address fine lines |
| Has a visible tint for instant brightening |
Best for Puffiness: Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Caffeine Eye Gel Cream
- Why We Love It: Like a cold brew for your face, this cushiony eye cream is “lightweight, cooling, and instantly hydrating,” says Dr. Gohara, who recommends storing it in the fridge to amplify the chilly effect. “The caffeine helps with puffiness, and the gel-cream texture is perfect for anyone who wants a clean, non-greasy finish.” It also contains hyaluronic acid and peptides to plump skin quickly and help soften fine lines over time, respectively.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid, peptides
- Best For: Dark circles, puffiness
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Has an innately cooling feel | Jar format isn’t as hygienic as a tube |
| Layers well under makeup without pilling |
Best for Daytime: Tata Harper Brightening Eye Gel
- Why We Love It: Ideal for daytime use, this featherlight gel pairs caffeine with vitamin C and avocado polyphenols—plant compounds that have antioxidant benefits—to make quick work of dark circles. The combination allows it to get to the source of dark circles, be it a late night or hyperpigmentation stemming from sun damage or irritation. It’s also versatile: You can wear it over, under, or blended into your concealer.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, kakadu plum extract, avocado extract
- Best For: Dark circles, puffiness
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Layers nicely beneath makeup | Has a slight herbal scent, which may irritate some |
| Has a slight sheen for immediate luminosity |
Best for Dryness: Sisley Paris Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid
- Why We Love It: Sisley’s lightweight lotion is all about the details: It has a ceramic applicator that firmly (yet gently) massages the eye area as you apply it, as well as a radiant, pink-toned finish that has an instant brightening effect. It’s a luxurious way to tackle early signs of aging, with a blend of caffeine, chlorella extract, shea oil, and black rose extract. That’s made it a favorite among Vogue editors and celebrities alike, including Emmy Rossum.
- Editor Experience: “An eye cream in a makeup bag–friendly pen (which in itself is genius, because how often have you dipped your finger into an eye-cream pot only to take out too much product for the soft and delicate eye area), the ceramic tip applicator is the first element to get excited about: cooling, soothing, depuffing, it could be a brilliant beauty tool on its own. But then there is the cream, which takes it to the next level: a lightweight fluid that contains Sisley’s cult Black Rose technology concentrated into a formula tailored to work around the eyes. I dispense a small amount onto the applicator and massage the eye area until the cream is fully absorbed. It’s a nice little me-time massage that I probably wouldn’t do otherwise. Like I said, genius.” —Jessica Diner, British Vogue contributing editor
- Key Ingredients: Black rose extract, caffeine, seaweed extracts
- Best For: Dark circles, mature skin, fine lines, crow’s feet, puffiness
- Size: 0.47 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Yields near-immediate depuffing results | May flake or pill beneath makeup |
| Pink hue neutralizes dark circles |
Best Tinted: Origins Ginzing Brightening Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: Some eye creams set out to address a host of eye concerns. The Origins Ginzing, however, zeroes in on dark circles and puffiness, as well as shadowing caused by bags. Here, caffeine teams up with two powerful brighteners—vitamin C and niacinamide—to lend skin a more radiant appearance and dial down swelling. Moreover, it’s one of the few that offer a tint, too: Shade Warm is ideal for deeper skin tones and warm undertones, while Cool suits fair to medium skin and cooler undertones.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, ginseng root extract, St. Paul’s Wort, jojoba seed oil, niacinamide
- Best For: Dark circles, dryness
- Size: 0.5 fl. oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Tinted formula offers immediate (though subtle) coverage | Jar format isn’t as hygienic as a tube |
| Has a nourishing feel |
Best for Mature Skin: RéVive Skincare Brightening Eye Cream Under Eye Illuminator
- Why We Love It: All of ReVive’s products boast the brand’s signature biomimetic peptide, which effectively instructs skin cells to function more efficiently, but in this formula, you’ll find it alongside caffeine, niacinamide, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a form of vitamin C that’s far more stable and better absorbed (and therefore more effective) than its other counterparts. The combination is incredibly effective for brightening and smoothing, but is still mild enough to use morning and night.
- Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, caffeine, niacinamide, peptides, ceramides
- Best For: Dark circles, dryness, fine lines
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Has an iridescent finish for a brightening effect | Pump applicator can be finicky |
Best for Sensitive Eyes: Clinique All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage
- Why We Love It: For those with easily irritated eyes, skin or both, roll on this cooling formula, which is ophthalmologist-tested and fragrance-free. The lack of fragrance isn’t simply a matter of preference: These ingredients can sometimes be irritating, which only exacerbates puffiness. The metal rollerball cools skin in order to reduce puffiness, while caffeine, grape seed extract, and panthenol brighten, soften, and smooth the eye area.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, panthenol, grape-seed extract
- Best For: Puffiness, undereye bags
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Cooling rollerball applicator | Not nourishing enough for very dry skin |
| Fragrance-free formula |
Best Budget: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: For those exploring their options for tackling puffiness, dark circles, and crow’s feet, this eye serum is a worthy starting point. It pairs caffeine with a peptide and niacinamide to brighten and firm the entire eye area, making for a more refreshed appearance the more you use it. And at this price point, that won’t be a concern.
- Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, niacinamide, peptides, caffeine
- Best For: Dryness, dark circles
- Size: 15 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Affordable price tag | Dropper applicator may be unwieldy |
| Good entrypoint into aging-focused eye treatments |
Best Rollerball: Innisfree Green Tea Caffeine Bright-Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: The ingredient list for this eye serum reads like a greatest-hits list of actives, with antioxidant-rich green tea extract, five forms of hyaluronic acid, 3% niacinamide to brighten, and 2% caffeine to reduce puffiness along the delicate skin around the eyes. The rollerball applicator both smooths on the product, kneading away excess fluid, while also encouraging absorption—and as a result, there’s little to no residue. That makes it ideal under makeup or if you struggle with milia.
- Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic
- Best For: Dark circles
- Size: 10 ml
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Rollerball applicator feels refreshing | Nothing to note |
| Very hydrating for a serum formula |
Best Applicator: Chanel N°1 de Chanel Eye Serum
- Why We Love It: Caffeine alone is good, but it’s even better alongside other ingredients—as this luxurious serum proves. “Caffeine and escin help reduce puffiness by improving microcirculation and calming inflammation,” board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Afrooz previously shared in our review. “Peptides support collagen production to smooth fine lines. Hyaluronic acid delivers hydration to plump and restore elasticity.” In other words, it can address multiple signs of aging in a single lightweight application.
- Editor’s Experience: “[This intelligent blend] is mixed into a mid-weight gel-like serum that delivers ample hydration without weighing skin down—perfect for applying under makeup, on warmer days, or when your regimen doesn’t need a rich eye cream. This texture was one of the factors that initially drew me to the formula, second only to the rotating and cooling metal applicator that is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The metal delivers an instant chill—boosting my circulation to bring life to tired skin. The effect is reduced puffiness and an improvement in my discoloration.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping
- Key Ingredients: Red camellia extract, camellia yeast extract, azalea yeast extract, squalane, peptides, hyaluronic acid
- Best For: Dark circles, puffiness, dryness
- Size: 0.53 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Includes other targeted active ingredients | Not as nourishing as a traditional cream |
| Comes with a cooling applicator |
Best for Crow’s Feet: SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream
- Why We Love It: More of a lotion than a cream, this brightening formula sets out to target dark circles with a blend of caffeine, phenylethyl resorcinol (which targets excess pigment), and tone-evening marine extracts. It sinks in quickly without any film or residue, and works over time to address fine lines and sagging too—which is why it’s among our go-to eye-tightening creams as well.
- Key Ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid, Persian silk tree extract, phenylethyl resorcinol
- Best For: Dark circles, crow’s feet
- Size: 0.5 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Has a satisfyingly creamy feel, but sinks in quickly | Takes weeks to see results |
| Targets signs of aging in addition to dark circles |
Everything You Need to Know
Does eye cream with caffeine really work?
Eye creams with caffeine really can make a difference, though it tends to be short-term. “It temporarily tightens and de-puffs by shrinking swollen blood vessels, which makes tired eyes look more awake,” says Dr. Gohara, who notes that it can also minimize the look of dark circles and give skin a smoother appearance.
However, its long-term perks may ultimately depend on the underlying cause of your eye concerns. For some, getting more or better sleep, hydrating well, and having a healthy diet may be more impactful, according to Dr. Lin. Moreover, “the eye creams may not lead to instant results, so consistent use may be required to see these more long-term benefits,” she says.
What to Look for in a Caffeine Eye Cream
Caffeine is important, but when it comes to eye creams, hydration is similarly important, according to Dr. Lin. “Hyaluronic acid and ceramides can be helpful, as the under-eye skin tends to be thinner, delicate, and potentially more dry than the rest of the face,” she says. Moreover, these hydrators temporarily plump the skin for a faster smoothing effect. Both she and Dr. Gohara also recommend peptides and antioxidants, since they boost collagen production (thereby firming skin) and defend against UV damage, respectively.
Next, consider the texture. “Lighter gels or gel-creams tend to absorb quickly and give that instant cooling boost without feeling heavy,” says Dr. Gohara. (For that reason, you’ll find quite a few eye serums among these.) She also looks for formulations that layer well under makeup, since most people apply caffeine eye creams in the morning.
Finally, make sure it’s specifically formulated for the eye area, “since the skin here tends to be more sensitive than the rest of the face,” says Dr. Lin. “I always recommend doing a test spot with the product first, as the skin here is more prone to irritation.”
Is caffeine or retinol better for eye bags?
If you’re choosing between caffeine or retinol, it ultimately depends on what you’re targeting. “If your concern is puffiness or fluid retention—the classic ‘I didn’t sleep’ look—caffeine is your best friend because it works quickly,” says Dr. Gohara. Meanwhile, if you have fine lines, crepiness, or deeper structural bags (which remain no matter how much sleep you’ve gotten), then retinol eye creams may be your better bet.
Got both? If so, then you can use both. Try “caffeine in the morning for the immediate de-puff, retinol at night for gradual smoothing and firming,” says Dr. Gohara. If you choose to go this route—or know your skin tends to be sensitive—Dr. Lin recommends incorporating one ingredient into your routine first before adding the second, just to make sure there aren’t any issues or sensitivities.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to caffeine eye creams, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, applicator, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Gloria Lin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Haven, CT
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