The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG for skin with dark spots
Caffeine
Egcg Epigallocatechin Gallate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Oxidized Glutathione
GlycerinAverage
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other eye cares fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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
- Offers moderate suitability for your normal skin, as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide humectant action to hydrate, while caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside offer antioxidant effects to address pigmentation concerns.
- The formula provides moderate reduction of puffiness and dark circles, though it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal nourishment.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 6.3k+ reviewsBased 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
How well does The Ordinary Caffeine Solution work for skin with dark spots?
This eye care works moderately well for skin with dark spots, helping to hydrate and address pigmentation with caffeine and antioxidants, though other products fit it better. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients, nourishing oils, and brightening agents to properly care for this skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Drug Delivery, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Caffeine and Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside help address dark spots and puffiness with antioxidant effects, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate keep skin hydrated. For this skin, a product of this type needs rich nourishing oils and brighteners to deliver optimal results without any risks of unsuitability.
What does Caffeine do for skin with dark spots?
Caffeine helps protect skin cells against UV radiation with antioxidant properties and improves microcirculation, which may reduce the appearance of dark spots over time. It is generally well tolerated by healthy skin and is often added to daytime routines to boost sun protection.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013
What does Egcg do for skin with dark spots?
EGCG helps fade dark spots and uneven tone by slowing down the enzymes that produce extra pigment, while also protecting against sun-induced damage. It is unlikely to irritate your skin when used regularly as part of your routine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2017
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, as treatments with actives are placed then for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. A product of this type needs rich, softening ingredients and skin-brightening agents to properly care for dark spots.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in the evening as part of your routine, and some people may also use it in the morning or twice a day. It is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though skin with dark spots needs extra nourishing ingredients to keep it soft and smooth.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or cause purging, as it features a safe formula with a very low risk of irritation. To properly care for skin with dark spots, this type of product needs extra softening ingredients to deeply nourish while brightening the skin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
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, 2017Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Topical caffeine acts as an active cosmetic compound by preventing excessive fat accumulation through phosphodiesterase inhibition, protecting cells against UV radiation with antioxidant properties, increasing skin microcirculation, and stimulating hair growth via 5-alpha-reductase inhibition.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013Topical 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, 2014A 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, 2011Topical 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, 2019Caffeine 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, 2021Topical 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, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An 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, 2019Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019Glutathione 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, 2024Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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