The 14 Best Caffeine Eye Creams for Brighter, Youthful-Looking Eyes

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It’s a tale as old as time—you show up to work without makeup on one morning, and a well-meaning soul comes up to you and asks: “Are you okay? You look tired.” Whether you’re actually exhausted or not, it’s the unfortunate truth that signs of fatigue and aging can be the most apparent around the eyes, and lack of sleep is often a shortcut to puffy eyes and under-eye wrinkles. While a great under-eye mask can help, there simply isn’t enough time for that when you’re in a rush. Luckily, there’s another beauty superhero out there with the power to rescue you: caffeine eye creams.

These are not your typical anti-aging eye creams; the best caffeine eye creams re-energize, de-puff, and brighten, just like your morning latte or cup of matcha. “Caffeine in eye creams works by decreasing puffiness and improving circulation. Under-eye puffiness is extremely common if you are low on sleep, dehydrated, or suffering from seasonal allergies, which makes caffeine a great addition to almost everyone’s skincare products,” says Dr. Nazanin Saedi, a Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist.

But that’s not all caffeine eye creams can do. When formulated with other nourishing and plumping ingredients, like vitamin E, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides, they also fight dryness and fine lines and wrinkles. What more can you ask for? We gathered expert advice and read through hundreds of customer reviews to spotlight the 14 best caffeine eye creams money can buy. Scroll down and make your pick!

Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

They say good things come in threes, and this serum features a trio of transformative ingredients that packs a serious punch. Along with caffeine, retinol, bakuchiol, and ferulic acid firm, smooth, and brighten the under-eye area to keep dryness and fine lines in the past.

Skin type: All skin types

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Dermstore rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Dermstore reviewer said: “I use a small amount of this eye serum at night. You only need one pump for both eyes. I apply under my eye and on my eyelids. I definitely see a difference. My skin looks firmer and tighter. Absorbs quickly into my skin.”

Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

This Amazon bestseller has over 4,000 ratings—and for good reason. Green tea, vitamin E, green coffee, and more work together to improve the appearance of wrinkles and encourage collagen production.

Skin type: Normal

Size: 0.3 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I kept reading about caffeine being effective for eye bags, so I tried this cream. Magical! I definitely noticed a marked difference—and I’ve tried countless products. So far, this is the best. Yay!”

Caffeine Eye Cream

Welcome to the world of Inkey List, where skin care is pared down to its simplest form to deliver effective results at an affordable price point. Naturally, the brand has its own caffeine eye cream that combines the star ingredient with peptides—to firm and plump—and plant extracts, gently exfoliating the area to reduce signs of aging.

Skin type: All skin types

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Sephora rating: 3.8/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “Very impressed with this for dark circles and puffiness. Using A.M. and P.M. Non-greasy, absorbs well, and pairs nicely with an under-eye roller.”

Caffeine Eye Cream

If you store this caffeine eye cream in the fridge and apply a few swipes in the morning, it’ll be like a refreshing, ice-cold glass of water for your eyes. As the puffiness subsides, the sodium hyaluronate and jojoba will also get to work moisturizing the area and keeping it hydrated all day.

Skin type: All skin types

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Mario Badescu rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Mario Badescu reviewer said: “My husband is thrilled with this eye cream. After only one week of use, it has significantly reduced his undereye puffiness and improved the color. Almost to the extent of eradicating all the puffiness.”

InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE

Crow’s feet are no match for this splurge-worthy eye cream. The hydrating formula soothes puffiness and reverses dryness, thanks to a blend of peptides, plum extract, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.

Skin type: Normal

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Laz Skincare rating: 5/5 stars

A Laz Skincare reviewer said: “Favorite eye cream I’ve ever used! This keeps my under-eyes looking so youthful and hydrated! It’s truly the best one on the market.”

A.G.E. Eye Complex

Droopy, dull skin around the eyes can make you look as if you haven’t slept for weeks. SkinCeuticals’ A.G.E. Eye Complex works to keep your skin looking young and fresh for as long as possible using fruit extracts, peptides, and Proxylane to hydrate the area and improve dullness.

Skin type: Dry, mature, normal

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Dermstore rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Dermstore reviewer said: “An aesthetician recommended this eye cream and I am glad she did. It has a creamy feel and immediately softens the skin under my eyes while providing hydration. It also helps reduce puffiness and keeps my eyes looking great! It is well worth the price.”

Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel

Think of this eye cream as an energy drink for your eyes. This cream is built around yerba mate, a South American herb that contains caffeine to energize your eye area. It also contains hyaluronic acid for added hydration, as well as peptides for nourishment.

Skin type: All skin types

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Ulta rating: 4.1/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer said: “I love this eye gel! It smooths the skin around my eyes.”

Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream

As the name suggests, this eye cream adds a touch of brightness to your morning eyes, so you kick off your day looking awake and full of life. It’s slightly tinted but dries down clear, and is designed with a cooling tip that helps glide the product under the eyes to keep the pressure controlled.

Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily

Size: 0.05 fl oz

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “Love this product! It’s so easy to use and I love the applicator tip. It makes it so much easier to apply. It helps hide my dark circles and it’s very light coverage.”

Autocorrect Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream

Leave all your troubles to this handy cream from Sunday Riley. Using caffeine and Brazilian ginseng root extract, this cream depuffs, plumps, and brightens dull, dark circles. After a few uses, eyes are reenergized and youthful.

Skin types: Normal

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer said: “I’ve been using this cream for awhile and it has lightened up the dark circles around my eyes.”

Hydro Boost + Eye Cream for Dark Circles & Puffiness

Improve your skin’s barrier with this fragrance-free eye cream from Neutrogena. Found in the aisles of your favorite drugstore, this multitasking cream depuffs, hydrates, and brightens the eyes, all while working to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin type: Dry

Size: 0.5 oz

Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I really think this has helped my dark circles a lot. It goes on easily and is refreshing.”

Eye Cream

Aging can cause us to lose the luminosity and smoothness of our youth. Luckily, Empelle’s Eye Cream restores all of that and more, courtesy of a blend of emollients to nourish the skin, caffeine, and peptides to address anti-aging, and the brand’s MEP Technology to firm.

Skin type: Mature

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Dermstore rating: 5/5 stars

“One of my recommendations for a great eye cream is Emepelle’s Eye Cream. It has caffeine, peptides, antioxidants and humectants, and it also has their non-hormonal MEP Technology that helps restore collagen loss. This combination along with caffeine not only helps improve puffiness, but it will also help with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it will brighten the skin around the eyes. I love that it has the immediate benefit of depuffing in combination with the lasting anti-aging benefits of helping to restore lost collagen.”—Dr. Nazanin Saedi, Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist

Skin Renewing Eye Cream

If rough, dry patches start to form around your eyes, reach for this moisturizing eye cream from CeraVe. This tube is chock-full of nourishing niacinamide, ceramides, and peptides to reverse crow’s feet and soften the skin.

Skin type: All skin types

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer said: “I use this eye cream daily and really like the moisturizing effects and the creaminess of the formula.”

Replenishing Eye Serum

This serum gives you the exfoliating benefits of retinol with the hydrating cushion of jojoba oil and hyaluronate to stimulate collagen and boost skin elasticity. The eyes appear brighter and softer, sans any irritation.

Skin type: All skin types

Size: 5 oz

Dr. Koo Skincare rating: 5/5 stars

A Dr. Koo Skincare reviewer said: “I’ve tried many eye serums and this is the best I’ve tried. Highly recommend.”

Super Nova 5% THD Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream

For a smoother and brighter under-eye before makeup application, Herbivore’s Super Nova combines potent vitamin C and caffeine to gently address dark circles and plump the area for softer, smoother eyes.

Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily

Size: 0.5 fl oz

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer said: “Wow! Okay Herbivore! You really have impressed me with this eye cream. I woke up looking rough and tired. I applied this eye cream for the first time and the results blew me away! Bright, hydrated, and awake-looking under-eyes! Thank you for this amazing product!”

Meet the Expert

Dr. Nazanin Saedi is a Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist.

What purpose does caffeine serve in skin care?

“Caffeine comes from coffee beans and has antioxidant properties, helping to decrease the damaging effects of free radicals from UV radiation and pollution,” Dr. Saedi explains. Commonly found in eye creams and, sometimes, body creams and lotions, caffeine also increases blood flow. “Like most things with skin care, you have to wait to see results. It typically takes about four to six weeks of consistent use to see results with these creams,” she adds.

Do caffeine eye creams really work?

Caffeine eye creams work well, but it’s wise to manage your expectations. “Don’t expect miracles. You must be realistic about what topical treatments are able to do. Caffeine can help depuff and brighten the under-eye area by helping with the congestion of the vessels under the eyes,” Dr. Saedi offers.

Is retinol or caffeine better for the under-eyes?

Both ingredients are powerful in skin care, but deliver different results. “Caffeine is good for de-puffing and for improving circulation. Retinols work by increasing cell turnover to improve the skin texture and improve the appearance of wrinkles. Oftentimes, I suggest patients use a caffeine-containing product in the A.M. and then the retinol at night. Then, you are addressing both the puffiness and some of the discoloration, as well as the skin texture,” Dr. Saedi says. Because retinol is powerful, you can build up your tolerance over time. “Just remember that the skin around the eyes is delicate and thin. Retinoids can be irritating, so if you incorporate this ingredient into your under-eye care, choose eye creams with lower levels of retinol or retinoid to avoid inflammation and irritation,” she adds.

Why trust ELLE Beauty?

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor Nerisha Penrose and associate beauty commerce writer Carol Lee spoke with a skin expert about the benefits of caffeine in skin care and scoured reviews for the top-rated eye creams on the market.

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