Here's Why You Should Add a Caffeine Eye Cream To Your Routine

If you’re prone to puffy eyes even after a solid eight hours of sleep, you may want to consider adding a caffeine eye cream to your morning skincare routine. Much in the way that a cup of coffee or tea can help perk you up on sleepy, sluggish mornings, products with caffeine can help “wake up” tired-looking skin. Many can also help address other eye-area concerns, such as dark circles, fine lines, and dryness (to name a few). 

If you’re not sold yet, keep reading: Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the benefits of topical caffeine and why adding a caffeine serum or cream to your eye care routine can be a total game-changer on sleepy mornings. 

What Is Caffeine Eye Cream?

Caffeine eye creams are eye care products formulated with (you guessed it) caffeine. They’re often designed to help hydrate the under-eye area and address specific skin concerns, such as dark circles, under-eye bags, or puffiness. Many caffeine eye creams also contain additional beneficial ingredients, such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, or niacinamide.

What Are the Benefits of Caffeine For Skin?

 Topical caffeine boasts several skin benefits that you may not be aware of. Products with caffeine in their formulas can help reduce puffiness, minimize the appearance of dark circles, and make the skin appear smoother and firmer. Caffeine is also an antioxidant and, when used topically as part of a consistent skincare routine, may help protect the skin against damage caused by external stressors like air pollution and UV exposure. 

With all of the above being said, it’s important to choose products designed for use on your skin—dunking your face in a vat of iced coffee likely won’t provide any noticeable benefits (other than making you smell delicious). Some believe that placing cooled (caffeinated) tea bags over the eyes can help reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, but there’s no solid evidence to back that up. It’s more likely that any benefits you notice from putting cold tea bags on your lids are from the cold itself, not the tea. 

How To Choose the Right Caffeine Eye Cream

There are some factors to consider when selecting an eye cream with caffeine. First, consider how (and when) you plan to use it. Richer, oil-based formulas can sometimes interfere with your makeup application, making it patchy or uneven. If you’re looking for something that layers well under makeup, we recommend opting for the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Eye Treatment. In addition to caffeine, the powerful formula contains vitamin C, pro-retinol, and hyaluronic acid. The anti-aging eye cream layers well under makeup and helps visibly reduce wrinkles, brighten the under-eye area, and de-puff the eyes in as little as one week. 

Alternatively, you could try a caffeine serum, like L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum, instead. The caffeine and hyaluronic acid-infused formula helps reduce the appearance of dark circles, visibly replumps the skin, and instantly leaves the skin feeling more moisturized. With continued use, it also helps brighten and firm the under-eye area to promote a more youthful appearance.

It’s also a good idea to consider whether you have any other eye-area concerns—like wrinkles or crepiness—you’d like to address. If so, we suggest opting for an anti-aging caffeine eye cream, such as the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Anti-Aging Eye Cream Treatment. This twice-daily anti-aging eye cream is designed to target five signs of visible skin aging: dark circles, crow’s feet, puffiness, bags, and crepey lids. It also helps protect the delicate eye area against damaging external stressors. And while it is a cream, it doesn’t have a thick or greasy feel like heavier formulas can.

How To Use Caffeine Eye Cream in Your Routine

 Luckily, caffeine eye cream is one of those skincare products that isn’t complicated to use, nor does it take a lot of time out of your day. Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying caffeine eye cream for brighter, more alert-looking eyes.

Step 1: Cleanse your face

Before applying any skincare products, it’s important to cleanse your skin to remove dirt, excess oil, and other debris. You can use any facial cleanser you’d like—just take care when using it around your eye area to avoid getting any suds in your eyes. If you’re applying your eye cream at night, you’ll also want to remove any makeup you may have been wearing during the day.

Step 2: Apply your caffeine eye cream or serum

Next, gently pat your face dry with a clean, soft towel (don’t rub your face, as doing so can irritate your skin). You’ll want to apply your eye cream or serum while your skin is still slightly damp, though the application method will vary depending on which formula you use. 

If you’re using an eye cream: Apply a pea-sized amount of eye cream to your ring finger and gently pat it around the perimeter of your eye, from the inner corner to the outer corner and along your orbital bone. Repeat the same process for the other eye.

If you’re using an eye serum: Our caffeine eye serum boasts a cooling stainless steel applicator that helps massage the under-eye area as it dispenses the product. To use it, simply dip the applicator into the bottle then lightly rub it along your lids and under-eye area in small, circular motions for a gentle eye contour massage. 

Step 3: Pat the product into your skin

Next, use your ring finger to lightly tap any excess product into your skin, working from your inner corner to the outer corner and along your orbital bone. If you have any product remaining on your skin, gently pat it onto your lids. 

To layer caffeine eye cream with other skincare products, after cleansing, you can apply any toner and treatment serums, and then after that, you’ll apply your caffeine eye cream. Next, apply your moisturizer, and allow each product to absorb before moving onto the next one.

Step 4: Layer on a moisturizer (and SPF)

Once your eye cream is fully absorbed, go ahead and apply your moisturizer (and SPF, for daytime) as usual, avoiding the immediate eye area unless otherwise instructed on the packaging. 

Step 5 (optional): Finish with concealer

Even though caffeine eye creams can help brighten and de-puff the under-eye area, you may find yourself wanting to use a little concealer during the daytime for added brightness. If so, we suggest using the L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, which contains caffeine and hyaluronic acid in its formula. The skincare-makeup hybrid helps visibly depuff under-eye bags and neutralizes the appearance of dark circles with a radiant, medium-coverage finish. It also provides up to 24 hours of hydration and won’t settle into fine lines or creases. To find your perfect shade, check out our virtual foundation shade finder—the True Match concealer shades correspond with all of our True Match foundation shades for an easy, precise makeup match.

Next Up: 10 Tips for Your Anti-Aging Skincare Routine