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Whether for parties, planning, or gift wrapping, we all tend to stay up way past our bedtime this time of year. And we’re not mad about it, making memories with friends and loved ones is what the holidays are all about—we just might need an extra shot of espresso the morning after. While we love a cup of coffee to put a little pep in our step (provided it’s not the very first thing you drink in the morning), in reality, it’s the topical forms of caffeine that’ll help give sleepy eyes a refreshed, well-rested look—which is why we’re all about caffeine-infused eye creams and concealers after a long night. Scroll on for some of our absolute favorites that’ll help make dark circles and puffiness a thing of the past.
Benefits of caffeine in under-eye products
“Caffeine can be an effective ingredient in skin care, particularly for eye products and products targeting redness,” Dermatologist and founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, Dennis Gross, MD previously told Well + Good. “It does an excellent job reducing puffiness, redness, and inflammation.”
And how does it do that? “Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which means it reduces blood flow, making it a popular addition to eye products to reduce the appearance of puffy eyes and improve overall brightness,” explains Jolie De Feis, a licensed esthetician based in New York. It’s also a powerful source of antioxidants, and helps “slow oxidative stress that can break down collagen and elastin,” she adds. While the collagen-protecting results won’t be as immediate as the ingredient’s de-puffing benefit, De Feis says the antioxidants offer long-term benefits you’ll likely see after a few weeks—which is all the more reason to seek out caffeinated beauty products where you can.
Caffeine infused eye creams
Farmacy, Wake Up Honey Eye Cream with Brightening Vitamin C — $45.00
The perfect base for your undereye concealer, Farmacy’s new honey-infused eye cream is formulated with encapsulated caffeine and an upcycled cranberry-derived peptides to target dark circles and reduce the appearance of puffiness. Plus, it’s got 3 percent vitamin C for even more brightening benefits. The result is a brighter, smoother, and more radiant, under-eye area that’ll easily trick people into thinking you got all 8 hours of sleep.
The Ordinary, Caffeine 5% + ECGC Depuffing Eye Serum — $8.00
This lightweight, water-based eye serum lists caffeine as its main ingredient along with Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside—or EGCG—a potent antioxidant found in green tea. Together, the two help combat the look of puffiness and dark circles to wake up tired eyes and give them a brighter, smoother look. And at an under-$10 price point, what’s not to love?
Neutrogena, Hydro Boost + Caffeine Fragrance Free Eye Gel Cream — $22.00
Dermatologists love Neutrogena’s original Hydro Boost Moisturizer, so the brand’s new Hydro Boost eye cream is bound to be a hit too. The caffeine-powered gel contains peptides and hyaluronic acid to diminish the look of puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles, all while delivering a shot of hydration to dry under-eye skin. All you need is a dab in the mornings before going in with concealer.
Caffeine infused concealers
Milk Makeup, Sunshine Under Eye Brightening Light Coverage Concealer — $28.00
Despite touting light coverage, this Milk Makeup concealer totally hides the look of dark circles without bogging down the delicate skin around your eyes. The caffeine-boosted formula also contains skin-brightening vitamin C and light-reflecting powders to make eyes look instantly more radiant and refreshed. And the glass rollerball is the cherry on top, providing an instant cooling sensation and soothing massage with every application.
Kosas, Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream — $28.00
TikTok users far and wide have professed their love for this best-selling concealer and eye cream hybrid, and it’s for good reason. The concealer is packed with skin-loving ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid, plumping peptides—and the star of the show, de-puffing caffeine—to banish the look of under-eye circles and deliver a fresh-faced look. The creamy, radiant formula lasts all day without creasing, and can be used anywhere on the face for instant brightness and medium coverage. The matching foundation is just as good, too!
The Lip Bar, Quick Conceal Caffeine Concealer — $17.00
Target shoppers love the brightening effect of this caffeinated concealer by The Lip Bar, saying it’s perfect for illuminating the under-eye area and can even be built up to full coverage for spot concealing. Nourishing ingredients like coconut, avocado, and argan oils moisturize skin and keep it from clinging to dry areas too. “It’s lightweight, hydrating, doesn’t crease and it’s self-setting so no need for powder,” wrote one customer in a 5-star review. Another shopper says she even uses hers as a highlighter for a more sculpted look.
Lawless, Conseal The Deal Lightweight Full Coverage Concealer with Caffeine — $26.00
“Conseal the Deal’s” caffeine-infused formula has a creamy, blendable texture that brightens skin all over. In addition to masking cark circles, it can be used to contour and spot conceal for a blurred, flawless look. Sephora reviewers love its smoothing, hydrating effect that doesn’t settle in fine lines or stick to dry patches, and the natural semi-matte finish. “It’s lightweight, creamy, buildable, and easy to blend,” says one shopper in a 5-star review. “It does such a good job of covering any discoloration…And the best part is it looks just like my skin!”
Revlon, ColorStay Skin Awaken Concealer — $13.00
This budget-friendly concealer effortlessly refreshes the look of tired eyes thanks to brightening caffeine and vitamin C. The lightweight formula offers buildable, natural coverage that helps hide the look of puffiness and dark circles for as long as 24 hours (!!) without transferring—which is a pretty big deal. Plus, the squishy, sponge-tip applicator makes it a breeze to apply: Just squeeze out the product and dab it where you need it for that wide-awake look.
Dior, Backstage Concealer — $29.00
Dior’s Backstage Concealer brightens dark circles and gives skin a refreshed, energized look. Touting a full coverage, radiant finish that’s both water- and crease-proof, this heavy-duty concealer somehow feels featherlight on the skin. It even contains micro-pigments that blur the look of pores and blemishes. So it’s really no wonder that over 800 Sephora shoppers are in love with it too. “This is honestly the best concealer I have ever used,” gushes one Sephora shopper. “It’s so easy to blend and gives me a flawless finish every time.” Plus, the unique brush applicator allows for a super precise application.
BareMinerals, Complexion Rescue Brightening Under Eye Concealer SPF 25 — $27.00
Sister to BareMinerals’ best-selling foundation and sunscreen hybrid, the Complexion Rescue Brightening Under Eye Concealer touts buildable, medium coverage that effortlessly brighten and conceal the look of tired eyes, while protecting the delicate skin around the eyes from sun damage. In addition to caffeine, the gel-mousse concealer uses hyaluronic acid to boost moisture around the eyes, and cacao extract to help protect skin from the effects of blue light.
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