The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Evidence-led ingredient analysis, a transparent clean score out of 100 and cleaner, effective alternatives at three price levels.
Best for
Dark Circles & Puffiness
Why Selenssa recommends it
A concentrated water-based serum that effectively stimulates micro-circulation to drain excess fluid and visibly diminish vascular dark shadows under the eyes.
Key actives
Caffeine (5%), EGCG (Green Tea Extract), Hyaluronic Acid
Clean highlights
Fragrance-free · Alcohol-free · Oil-free · Vegan
Selenssa Score 94/100 · £8.90
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The Ordinary
Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Eye Serum · Budget: £8.90
4.4 (12,500 reviews)· across Boots, LookFantastic, Cult Beauty, Space NK, The Ordinary
Ingredients: AI-inferred — not yet verified
An excellent, highly transparent eye formulation focused on reducing puffiness and dark circles with minimal safety concerns.
Hazard categories
Estimated score out of 100
Formulation score is fixed across Selenssa · Community effectiveness awaiting more reports
Based on publicly available ingredients, following our methodology. Not medical advice — always check the physical label, especially for allergies. How we score →
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A highly effective, low-risk serum suitable for daily targeting of under-eye puffiness.
Be cautious if
Highly sensitive users prone to contact allergies from preservatives like benzyl alcohol.
Against your clean standard
Yes, meets general clean beauty criteria with transparent labeling and safe ingredient choices.
Where this score comes from
- Source
- No source record on file yet
- Source page
- —
- Retrieved
- —
- Evidence snapshot
- Not captured
Score history
No score changes have been recorded for this product yet.
Think something here is wrong? Report a correction · How we score
Does The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contain parabens, sulfates or fragrance?
A straight yes or no for the ingredient groups people most often want to avoid, checked against this product's published formulation.
Free from parabens
Preservatives; the longer-chain ones (propyl, butyl) carry the endocrine questions.
Free from sulfates (sls / sles)
Strong cleansing agents that can strip a compromised barrier.
Free from silicones
Slip and occlusion; cyclic silicones (D4/D5/D6) are the environmentally restricted ones.
Free from fragrance / parfum
Undisclosed fragrance blends are the most common trigger for sensitised skin.
Free from essential oils
Naturally derived, but among the most frequently reported contact allergens.
Contains drying alcohol
Found: phenoxyethanol. Fine in small amounts for texture; high up the list it can dehydrate.
Free from formaldehyde releasers
Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde.
Free from chemical uv filters of concern
Restricted or debated filters with endocrine or reef-persistence questions.
Is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG non-comedogenic?
No ingredients in this formulation appear on Selenssa's common pore-clogger list, so it is unlikely to be the cause of congestion for most people. Comedogenicity is still individual — texture, occlusion and how much you use all play a part.
Is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG safe for sensitive skin?
Generally a reasonable choice for sensitive skin.
- No fragrance or parfum in the list
- Contains a drying alcohol
Ingredients worth knowing about: BENZYL ALCOHOL.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG full ingredients list
18 ingredients analysed, in the order Selenssa assessed them. Concentration generally falls as you move down the list.
AQUA (WATER), CAFFEINE, MALTODEXTRIN, GLYCERIN, PROPANEDIOL, EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATYL GLUCOSIDE, GALLYL GLUCOSIDE, HYALURONIC ACID, OXIDIZED GLUTATHIONE, MELANIN, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) SEED EXTRACT, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, LACTIC ACID, BENZYL ALCOHOL, PROPYL GALLATE, PHENOXYETHANOL.
The actives doing the work: Caffeine (Constricts micro-vessels to visibly reduce under-eye puffiness.); Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside (Delivers potent green-tea antioxidant protection to combat dark circles.); Hyaluronic Acid (Attracts surface hydration to temporarily smooth fine dehydrated lines.).
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