13 Best Caffeine Eye Creams, Reviewed by Dermatologists

“Containing peptides in addition to caffeine, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, this drugstore eye cream is a multitasker,” says Dr. Garshick. For a budget-friendly product, it has a stacked ingredients list: Ceramides help strengthen delicate undereye skin, hyaluronic acid draws in moisture, niacinamide calms irritation (and helps with moisture retention), peptides help stimulate collagen production to target signs of aging, and caffeine depuffs. It’s also notably gentle. “CeraVe is my go-to brand during rosacea flare-ups,” says Glamour contributor Macaela MacKenzie. “This eye cream is a staple for me since it never causes irritation and always feels so soothing. I’m a fan of using this one in the evenings before slathering on a layer of CeraVe’s thickest moisturizing cream in the winter.” It’s lightweight, absorbs easily, and is gentle enough to be used twice daily, adds Dr. Garshick.

Pros: Gentle; budget-friendly
Cons: The tube is prone to falling over in your medicine cabinet.

Key ingredients: Caffeine, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides

Also targets: Dryness; irritation; signs of aging

If you want to add a little luxury to your morning skin care routine, Dr. Garshick likes Charlotte Tilbury’s Cryo Recovery Eye Serum (another personal favorite of hers). “It uses a metal applicator to provide an instant cooling effect to immediately depuff,” she says. In addition to caffeine, this undereye cream contains peptides “leaving the undereye area looking smoother, brighter, and refreshed.” Apply in the a.m. for the most impactful results.

Pros: Creates a blurring effect that helps reduce the appearance of dark circles instantly
Cons: Pricey; contains alcohol, which can be irritating for sensitive skin

Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, glycerin

Also targets: Dark circles

“Since my son was born last year, I’ve been dealing with persistent dark circles and undereye bags,” says MacKenzie. “I started using this a few months ago and noticed an immediate difference in undereye puffiness. I use it in the mornings to get the most benefit—it doesn’t pill under makeup, which is a must—but it’s also so gentle that I often use it at night as well.” Dr. Garshick calls out the addition of Brazilian ginseng root extract, which works with the formula's caffeine to reduce puffiness “and instantly give a more rested and brighter appearance while also boosting hydration,” she says.

Pros: Immediately depuffs
Cons: Pricey

Key ingredients: Caffeine, Brazilian ginseng root, cocoa and shea butters

Also targets: Signs of aging; dryness

Like many of the best caffeine eye creams, Dermatologica’s Awaken Peptide Depuffing Eye Gel contains peptides to increase firmness in the delicate skin around the eyes, thereby reducing puffiness. It’s the addition of rosemary leaf extract that makes it one of Dr. Ahram’s favorites thanks to the ingredients’ known calming effects that make it ultra soothing. This helps balance out the formula’s lactic acid, an exfoliator that can help reduce the appearance of pores and fine lines.

Pros: Provides gentle exfoliation suitable for sensitive skin
Cons: Expensive; rolls around in your medicine cabinet

Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, rosemary leaf extract, lactic acid, glycerin

Also targets: Dryness; sensitivity

Dr. Arora is a fan of this brightening eye cream from Origins. Coffee bean extract and ginseng both help to address puffiness while vitamin C and niacinamide work at the cellular level to brighten undereye skin and fight free radicals. “I find myself gravitating toward this eye cream and Origins’ matching GinZing moisturizer in the summer,” says MacKenzie. “Something about the smell—floral and fruity—makes me feel like I’m on vacation. More important, it glides on really smoothly, doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, and has a pearly-pink tint that works a little bit like a concealer and helps camouflage dark undereye circles.”

Pros: Smells nice
Cons: Contains pigment, so you may not want to use it at night

Key ingredients: Caffeine, panax ginseng, vitamin C, niacinamide

Also targets: Dark circles; dryness

If you’re sensitive to retinol, Dr. Garshick recommends TruSkin’s Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream. It contains bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative that tends to be better tolerated, especially when it comes to the sensitive skin around the eyes. The caffeine in this formula comes from coffeeberry extract; lingonberry stem cells “help reduce puffiness and brighten the skin,” says Dr. Garshick. “I also love that the lingonberry stem cells protect against blue light damage and oxidative stress.”

Pros: Gentle retinol alternative suitable for all skin types
Cons: You may not notice instant results.

Key ingredients: Coffeeberry extract, lingonberry stem cells, bakuchiol

Also targets: Signs of aging; cellular damage

While not technically an eye cream, Dr. Garshick loves Drmtlgy’s iconic Brightening Eye Masks for delivering the benefits of caffeine in a more intensive way. Caffeine depuffs, hyaluronic acid moisturizes, and niacinamide has a brightening effect. “I love using these eye masks before an event,” says MacKenzie. “They did wonders for helping my tired eyes and diminishing undereye bags when I was newly postpartum and had to appear on camera for work. If you really want to soothe, store them in the fridge. In addition to a pre-event ritual, I’ll use these when I want that cucumber-on-the-eyes spa feeling at the end of a long day.”

Pros: Soothing; instant reduction in puffiness
Cons: Not for daily use

Key ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide

Also targets: Signs of aging; dryness

Another favorite of Dr. Garshick’s, Colorescience Total Eye Firm and Repair Concentrate is particularly good for those with dry skin, she says. It contains the humectants glycerin and sea buckthorn fruit oil to draw moisture into the skin, and two emollients, meadowfoam seed oil and squalane, to seal it in. That support for the skin barrier can have a tangible impact on undereye bags as it helps to “improve the overall texture of the undereye skin,” she says. Red microalgae works to boost collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines while peptides and caffeine depuff and help improve dark circles. “It’s safe for those with sensitive skin as it is free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance,” Dr. Garshick adds.

Pros: Ultra-hydrating; gentle enough for sensitive skin
Cons: Expensive

Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, glycerin, sea buckthorn fruit oil, meadowfoam seed oil, squalane, red microalgae

Also targets: Signs of aging; skin texture

This fragrance-free formula is first and foremost a dynamite moisturizer thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid and glycerin. But dermatologists also love the actives. A blend of caffeine and peptides helps to depuff while also addressing dark circles overtime. “This eye cream is notably no-frills, which isn’t a bad thing,” says MacKenzie. “While it may not tackle additional skin issues, it does do a solid job of moisturizing and depuffing without causing irritation or breaking the budget.” Plus, it’s fragrance-free. “Especially for sensitive skin, it’s important to find formulas that are gentle and free from irritants like fragrance and alcohol,” says Dr. Arora.

Pros: Hydrating
Cons: You may not see dramatic results.

Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides, hyaluronic acid

Also targets: Dark circles

“This brightening eye cream combines glycyrrhetinic acid to help lighten the undereyes and sodium hyaluronate to help hydrate the skin,” says Dr. Garshick. Caffeine reduces undereye puffiness, and vitamin C has a brightening effect. What really makes this eye cream stand out, however, is the addition of growth factors—proteins found in the skin that are thought to have antiaging benefits owing to their ability to encourage the natural production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Notably, “it is gentle enough to be used twice per day and won’t clog the pores,” adds Dr. Garshick.

Pros: Contains growth factors to boost collagen production
Cons: Expensive

Key ingredients: Caffeine, growth factors, glycyrrhetinic acid, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine, vitamin C

Also targets: Antiaging

“My grandmother is the person who first introduced me to Clinique as a young teen, and it’s remained a part of my beauty routine ever since,” says MacKenzie. “Pep-Start is a favorite for many reasons: It absorbs quickly, making it a good choice for morning application; it contains peptides to address the fine lines I’m starting to get; and the fun applicator tip makes every application into a mini massage.”

Pros: Portable; super easy to throw into a travel bag
Cons: Can be hard to control how much you apply

Key ingredients: Caffeine, peptides

Also targets: Fine lines