The best caffeine eye creams all have the same goal to quickly make tired eyes look more awake. They won’t get rid of dark circles or bags under your eyes for good, but they can make them look better for a short time. Cheryl Karcher, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, says, “Caffeine mainly acts as a vasoconstrictor, which means it temporarily tightens blood vessels under the eyes.” That can make swelling from fluid look less noticeable and dark blue-toned circles look smaller.
Caffeine isn’t a cure-all, but the good news is that most of the formulas below don’t depend on caffeine alone. Some people mix it with niacinamide and vitamin C, which brighten the skin, retinoids and peptides that support collagen, and hydrating agents that make thin skin look fuller. Caffeine wakes you up right away, while the other ingredients deal with problems that last longer, like discolouration fine lines, and mild hollowness.
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The Best Eye Creams with Caffeine
- Then I Met You Snail Mucin Eye Cream, $46, is the best overall.
- RoC Derm Correxion Eye Repair Dark Circle Cream, $30, is the best drugstore cream.
- SkinCeuticals A G E Advanced Eye is the best for crow’s feet. It costs $125.
- La Roche Posay Redermic Retinol Eye Cream is the best with retinol. It costs $50.
Questions that are often asked
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- Do caffeine eye creams really work?
- Do caffeine eye creams help with dark circles?
Why it’s worth it: If you can get your hands on Then I Met You’s Snail Mucin Eye Cream which has sold out many times since it came out your delicate eye area will be well taken care of. The formula has 30% snail mucin complex, which is full of peptides and hyaluronic acid, and 5% volufiline, which comes from plants and is known for making skin look smoother and fuller, which helps with fine lines and hollowness under the eyes. “This is a formulation that really pushes the boundaries of science,” says Claire Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. She also says that niacinamide was added to brighten and protect the skin barrier, caffeine was added to reduce puffiness, and azulene was added to calm sensitivity. The gel-cream texture is light but soft, so it won’t clog pores or cause milia. It’s great for all skin types to use every day.
Why it’s worth it: If an eye cream comes with a metal-tip applicator, we’re already halfway sold. RoC’s Derm Correxion Eye Repair Dark Circle Cream gives you that cooling depuffing moment right away, but it’s not just the chill. Most of us think that dark circles under the eyes are only blue or purple, but they are usually more than one colour. This formula is based on laser technology and works on four colours: retinol helps smooth out grey tones, niacinamide helps with brown discolouration, resveratrol helps with redness, and the brand’s own proxygen complex focuses on blue and purple hues. Caffeine, on the other hand, helps narrow blood vessels, which makes the puffiness and shadowiness even less noticeable. Squalane, glycerin, and ceramides keep the delicate skin around your eyes soft and comfortable, so you can get the correction you need without the dryness.
Before putting on the RoC Derm Correxion Eye Repair Dark Circle Cream, Felbin
Sarah Felbin before putting on the RoC Derm Correxion Eye Repair Dark Circle Cream
Felbin after putting on the RoC Derm Correxion Eye Repair Dark Circle Cream
Sarah Felbin after using the RoC Derm Correxion Eye Repair Dark Circle Cream
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Questions that people ask a lot
Do caffeine creams for the eyes work?
Yes, but there are some important things to keep in mind. Dr. Karcher says that “caffeine mainly acts as a vasoconstrictor,” which means that it temporarily shrinks blood vessels that are close to the surface of the skin under the eyes. That can help with dark circles especially the bluish ones that are caused by visible blood vessels or fluid retention. Dr. Karcher says that if it’s going to work, you’ll usually see results in 15 to 60 minutes. However, the effects are only temporary and may only last a few hours.
Do caffeine eye creams work for dark circles?
It depends on what is making it dark. Dr. Karcher says, “If the dark circles are caused by bluish superficial blood vessels, caffeine can make them look less dark for a short time.” But if the discolouration is due to pigment or hemosiderin staining an iron deposit left behind when red blood cells break down and leak from fragile capillaries which can leave a brownish tint under the eyes it won’t help. Dr. Karcher says that caffeine doesn’t change the pigment and it won’t help with shadowing from volume loss either. In short, caffeine can make vascular dark circles look better, but not all types of dark circles under the eyes.
Meet the pros
- Dr. Claire Chang is a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City.
- Whitney Hovenic, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Spooge, which is based in Reno, Nevada.
- Dr. Cheryl Karcher is a board-certified dermatologist at Center Aesthetic & Dermatology in New York City.
- Debra Luftman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Schweiger Dermatology based in Calabasas, California
- Lauren Penzi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Pooja Rambhia, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm based in New York City
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For our list of the best caffeine eye creams, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors along with special consideration from makeup artists, dermatologists, and cosmetic chemists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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