Review: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

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The Ordinary is one of those brands I turn to when I want to experiment with new ingredients. In my experience thus far, their products have affordable and good quality. Naturally, I looked to them first to try something to help nourish my tired under eyes...

THE ORDINARY
Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Review

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Review with Before & After photo!

INFO SHEET

Brand: The Ordinary
Product: Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
PH: 4.5 - 5.0
Scent: None
Price: $6.70
Availability: Amazon, Jolse, The Ordinary, Ulta

I started to wonder if maybe I should add additional nutrients to my aging undereye area. As I get older, I noticed that they start to feel a little dry as the day goes on. When I want to try a new product, I usually turn to The Ordinary first because 1) It is affordable and 2) Their products have a fairly short ingredients list so there is less potential to break me out. This is what turned me on to The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG.

The Ordinary claims that their Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG helps "reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eye contour." Let's see what the ingredients tell us.

INGREDIENTS

Aqua (Water), Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Propanediol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Oxidized Glutathione, Melanin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Urea, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Propyl Gallate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Benzyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.
Ingredients are subject to change at the manufacturer's discretion.

Notable Ingredients:

Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside - AKA ECGC. Studies show that this micronutrient abundantly found in Green Tea is proven to increase moisture to the epidermis, as well reduce cellular damage under UV radiation.
Gallyl Glucoside - Antioxidant and skin conditioning agent.
Hyaluronic Acid - AKA Sodium Hyaluronate. A very effective humectant that boosts the skin's moisture content, prevents dehydration, and preserves skin moisture.
Oxidized Glutathione- An antioxidant and skin lightening agent which is said to help increase the skin's moisture content as well as help prevent the formation of wrinkles.
Melanin - Skin conditioner, protector, and anti-aging agent.
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract - A powerful antioxidant that helps soothe and heal the skin.
Lactic Acid - An AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) extracted from milk. Exfoliates by gently breaking down the material that holds dead skin cells together allowing them to shed naturally.

I was surprised to see Melanin listed as a skin care ingredient since we all know that it is the pigment responsible for our hair, skin, and eye color. Apparently, when Melanin is added as a skin care ingredient it helps protect the skin from UV radiation - kind of like how people with darker skin tones don't sun burn as quickly as those with fair skin. The Melanin ingredient doesn't actually make your skin darker; which is very interesting!

For some reason Caffeine has been touted as an ingredient that helps reduce wrinkles. It does not (and notice that The Ordinary doesn't claim that it does either). What it can do is help address undereye puffiness. However, this highly depends on the cause of undereye puffiness in the first place. For example, if the cause is genetic then Caffeine will most likely not help.

COSDNA ALERTS

Out of the ingredients listed above, none of them were flagged as a potential trigger for Acne or Irritation according to COSDNA. That's a first! I've said this before and I'll say it again though: Always patch test first!

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG serum is viscous like honey

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is a pretty thick serum. It doesn't run down the back of my hand and is much thicker than Sulwhasoo Essential Balancing Water. This is most likely because Hyaluronic Acid is high up on the ingredients list - which is great for delicate skin that is starved for moisture.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Lower lid eye bag is reduced.

It took several months to achieve the results above. To be honest I wasn't even sure if anything was happening because the progression was so slow. As expected, The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG didn't do much with regards fine lines, but it did take care of some puffiness. Plus I think the additional hydration helped with the overall texture of my under eye (notice the small bumps in the first photo?).

What I really like about this serum is how it makes my undereye feel; especially in cold weather. The hyaluronic acid does a great job making my undereye hydrated. It's like.. my undereye feels humid when the rest of my skin is dry. In cold weather (or even when you have dry skin); this can be very soothing.

I do want to note that I mostly use The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG at night due to it's viscosity. However, if I do wear it during the day it is when I am not wearing makeup at all. It would take a little extra work to get it to play nice with concealer, but it is possible. For one, it will need to be applied on damp skin to help it absorb better.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While results for The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG depends on a lot of factors (genetics, diet, etc.); I think it worked quite well for my uses and I actually did repurchase it. I like how it makes my undereye feel happy and I'll continue to use it until I find something to help address wrinkle prevention.

STORE	PRICE	OFFERS
Amazon	$6.70	Free Shipping
Jolse	$11.90	10% Off First Purchase; Free Shipping and Free Samples
The Ordinary	$6.70	Free Shipping Orders $25+
ULTA	$6.70	Free Shipping Orders $35+

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is incredibly affordable though; so I think it's worth giving it a try.

Rating

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None of these reviews are sponsored, nor were any of the products provided for free (or even at a discount) by any affiliate.
Read full disclosure here.

About the Author

Misakino

This blog was started to help other fellow NC37s on their quest to finding the perfect BB cushion. Being a big fan of K-Beauty, it is very difficult to find cushions darker than shade 23. It can be quite the gamble ordering makeup from overseas without an inkling of what that may look like, or even if it is beneficial for certain skin types. I am willing to buy these products, swatch, and test them in order to help others make an informed decision.