🇦🇺Australia

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG for acne-prone skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

One of the best eye cares for acne-prone skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Excellent for your combination skin, the caffeine and epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside target puffiness and dark circles with their vasoconstrictive and antioxidant properties.
  • While beneficial for your combination skin, the epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside offers moderate support for acne and blemishes due to its anti-inflammatory effects, though it lacks more potent acne-fighting ingredients.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.

People Say

★4.1Overall rating based on 6.3k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly regarded for its affordability and effectiveness in reducing morning puffiness and making eyes appear more awake. While it offers some brightening for tired eyes and has a pleasant lightweight texture, its impact on dark circles is inconsistent, with many users finding it ineffective for pigmentation or hollows. Additionally, a moderate number of users report a drying effect, particularly those with dry skin, who may need to layer with a moisturizer.

Highlights

  • Reduces puffiness Mostly Mentioned
    • “deflates morning bags”
    • “helps swollen eyes”
    • “noticeable depuffing”
    • “great for fluid retention”
  • Unbeatable value Mostly Mentioned
    • “extremely affordable”
    • “bottle lasts forever”
    • “great price point”
    • “cheap but effective”
  • Ineffective dark circles Often Mentioned
    • “no change in pigment”
    • “didn't fix genetic circles”
    • “useless for hollows”
    • “darkness remained”
  • Brightens tired eyes Sometimes Noted
    • “looks more awake”
    • “helps tired look”
    • “subtle brightening”
    • “refreshed appearance”
  • Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “cooling sensation”
    • “nice gel consistency”
    • “not greasy”
  • Drying effect Sometimes Noted
    • “dried out skin”
    • “emphasized fine lines”
    • “made wrinkles worse”
    • “crusty residue”
  • Texture issues Sometimes Noted
    • “sticky finish”
    • “pills under makeup”
    • “tacky residue”
    • “concealer separates on top”
  • Irritation Rarely Noted
    • “caused burning”
    • “redness and stinging”
    • “rash around eyes”
    • “sensitive skin reaction”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.nz, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Caffeine Solution a great fit for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it is safe and free of harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. The formula uses caffeine and epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside to target puffiness and dark circles while offering moderate anti-inflammatory support for blemishes.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside makes this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin because it offers moderate support for blemishes due to its soothing effects. The formula is safe for your skin, as it is unlikely to cause irritation from harsh ingredients.

What does Caffeine do for acne-prone skin?

Caffeine helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and swelling while protecting against daily damage with antioxidants. It is generally well tolerated and may help keep your skin feeling smooth and balanced.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024

What does Egcg do for acne-prone skin?

EGCG helps improve acne by reducing inflammation and balancing oil production in the skin. Studies show that using it topically may significantly decrease both red, angry bumps and clogged pores.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013Phytotherapy Research, 2021

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This eye serum goes in the evening routine as a treatment step, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening provides extra safety around sun exposure and keeps your daily routine simple.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and letting it absorb before putting on your retinol. This product is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it targets puffiness and dark circles while offering gentle support for blemishes without causing irritation.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this eye serum daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is gentle on your skin and unlikely to cause irritation.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as its formula is safe with no harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. It features caffeine and green tea extract to help calm the skin, though it does not contain strong acne-fighting ingredients.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).

What the research says

  • A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011
  • Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.

    Frontiers in Physiology, 2019
  • Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.

    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021
  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
  • Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
  • Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

Ingredients

Water, Caffeine, Maltodextrin, Glycerin, Propanediol, Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oxidized Glutathione, Melanin, Glycine Soja Seed Extract 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

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

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