The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

Who: Valerie Dayan
For how long? 6 years

I am much fond of the fact that this serum has the word “solution” as its name. Pretty sure double entendre wasn’t Deciem’s main objective or an objective at all, but it is what it is. This eye serum is very much a solution for my tired, puffy eyes. The 2 ingredients, caffeine and EGCG (catechin with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits) go hand in hand and deliver for me exactly what the brand promises, an undeniably rare and glorified skincare moment.

My problem usually isn’t dark circles but puffiness caused by lack of sleep and hours of staring at the screen. I apply a tiny drop of this to my eye contour and pat gently. I also remember my lids, which always inflate in their original way. When I have time, I massage the serum with one of my gua shas, anchoring a hand on one side of my nose, and lightly pulling the stone from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corners. I tend to find that this 30-second massage gives me more instant results.

When I say results, I mean under eyes that look more awake and less puffy. A product cannot replace sleep (yet), but this yellowish fluid does its best. In terms of frequency, I use it in the morning and my evening routine (as if to prepare my eyes for the morning), but I also like to use it when I’m on a long flight, or when I feel like I need it it it an extra boost. There’s hyaluronic acid in the ingredients, so I don’t have to worry about hydration when I’m in a rush or during warmer days. But when the texture’s light enough for layering with an eye cream, which I do in winter. The final bonus and one of the main reasons why I keep buying it are that it works as a great primer for any concealer, smoothing out the surface and preparing my eyes to face the day.