Caffeine
Caffeine constricts blood vessels and has some antioxidant activity, which gives it a modest, temporary effect on oiliness and puffiness — real, but smaller than the marketing around eye creams and depuffing serums usually suggests.
How it works
A methylxanthine with vasoconstrictive and antioxidant properties; topical evidence for reducing localized sebum and puffiness exists but is more modest than marketing claims often suggest.
In practice, it's worth having reasonable expectations for — a mattifying assist alongside a real oil-control active like niacinamide or zinc PCA, not a replacement for one.
How to introduce it
Wait about 5 minutes before the next step. Judging Caffeine before week 6 means judging it before it's had time to actually work — most of what reads as "this isn't doing anything" in the first couple of weeks is just too early to tell.
- Kaolin clay formats are rinse-off — not left on overnight.
Who should be careful
Caffeine's safety rating is the lowest tier tracked here — well tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive skin, without a slow introduction.
Common in these product forms
Among the products Skinzy tracks in India that contain Caffeine, it most often shows up as a serum.
Questions people ask
A mild, temporary oil-control and depuffing ingredient — real effect, but more modest than most marketing claims.
Most people see a fair result around 6 weeks of consistent use — judging earlier usually means judging too soon.
In the morning. Caffeine is intended for AM use.