Versus

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Versus Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum

Serum
Eye Moisturizer
Canadian Brand Canada
American Brand United States

Updated on August 23, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum

Water

Skin Conditioning

Octyldodecanol

Emollient

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Boron Nitride

Absorbent

Caffeine

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce irritation Icon

Coconut Alkanes

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 2 Fatty Alcohol Icon

Cetearyl Olivate

Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sorbitan Olivate

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Mangifera Indica Seed Butter

Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Bis(Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate

Skin Conditioning
Peptide Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Humectant
Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Dipeptide-2

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Copper Lysinate/Prolinate

Skin Conditioning

Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconSilicon Icon

Glycine Soja Oil

Emollient
3 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Dark Spots IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Hydroxyethylcellulose

Emulsion Stabilising

Glucose

Humectant
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Biotin

Antiseborrhoeic

Methylglucoside Phosphate

Skin Conditioning

Retinol

Skin Conditioning
Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Trideceth-6 Phosphate

Emulsifying

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Lecithin

Emollient
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Cetyl Palmitate

Emollient
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture

Skin Conditioning

N-Hydroxysuccinimide

Skin Conditioning

Ubiquinone

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots Icon

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Chondrus Crispus Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Steareth-20

Cleansing
2 / 1

Thioctic Acid

Antioxidant
Antioxidant IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Chrysin

Skin Conditioning

Sclerotium Gum

Emulsion Stabilising

Sodium Citrate

Buffering

Polysorbate 20

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Laureth-23

Cleansing
3 / 0

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Sodium Carbonate

Buffering

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Sodium Chloride

Masking
Can worsen Dry Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Skin Conditioning

Caffeine is most associated with coffee, tea, and cacao. In skincare, it helps with calming inflammation and is rich in antioxidants.

While caffeine is used to treat cellulite and and dark circles, further studies are needed to prove this. It has been believed to help with these skin conditions due to its ability to dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow.

Some studies are looking into caffeine's ability to protect against UV rays.

Learn more about Caffeine
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Pentylene glycol is typically used within a product to thicken it. It also adds a smooth, soft, and moisturizing feel to the product. It is naturally found in plants such as sugar beets.

The hydrophilic trait of Pentylene Glycol makes it a humectant. As a humectant, Pentylene Glycol helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This can help keep your skin hydrated.

This property also makes Pentylene Glycol a great texture enhancer. It can also help thicken or stabilize a product.

Pentylene Glycol also acts as a mild preservative and helps to keep a product microbe-free.

Some people may experience mild eye and skin irritation from Pentylene Glycol. We always recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient in your routine.

Pentylene Glycol has a low molecular weight and is part of the 1,2-glycol family.

Learn more about Pentylene Glycol
Emulsion Stabilising, Stabilising

Hydroxyethylcellulose is used to improve the texture of products. It is created from a chemical reaction involving ethylene oxide and alkali-cellulose. Cellulose is a sugar found in plant cell walls and help give plants structure.

This ingredient helps stabilize products by preventing ingredients from separating. It can also help thicken the texture of a product.

This ingredient can also be found in pill medicines to help our bodies digest other ingredients.

Learn more about Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

When to use

1,063 Routines
56% use in am
44% use in pm
95% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
37 Routines
35% use in am
65% use in pm
92% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 25 ingredients

2.3 /5
from 15 ratings
Doesn't Work (7) Absorbs Well (4) Irritating (4)
fawns's avatar

🐾

11 months ago
Review

β™‘οΈŽ
- π—π—ˆπ—‡'𝗍 π—‹π–Ύπ—‰π—Žπ—‹π–Όπ—π–Ίπ—Œπ–Ύ, π—€π—ˆπ— π—π—π—ˆ 𝗂𝗇 𝖺 𝗉𝖺𝖼𝗄 π—Œπ—ˆ π—ƒπ—Žπ—Œπ— π–Ώπ—‚π—‡π—‚π—Œπ—π—‚π—‡π—€ 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆 π—Žπ—‰
- π—π—π—‚π—Œ π–½π—ˆπ–Ύπ—Œ π—‡π—ˆπ— π—π—ˆπ—‹π—„ 𝖺𝗍 𝖺𝗅𝗅 π–»π—Žπ— 𝗂'𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝗅𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 π—π—ˆ π—†π—’π—Œπ–Ύπ—…π–Ώ 𝖺𝗇𝖽 π—Œπ–Ίπ—’π—‚π—‡π—€ 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗂𝗍 π–½π—ˆπ–Ύπ—Œ
- 𝗂 π–½π—ˆ 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗅𝗒 𝗂𝗍 π—ˆπ–Ώπ—π–Ύπ—‡ π—ƒπ—Žπ—Œπ— π—Œπ—ˆ 𝗂 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝖿𝖺𝗇𝖼𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝖺𝗇 π–Ώπ—‚π—‡π—‚π—Œπ— π—ˆπ—Žπ— 𝗆𝗒 π–»π—ˆπ—π—π—…π–Ύπ—Œ
- π—π—ˆπ—Žπ—…π–½π—‡'𝗍 π—‹π–Ύπ–Όπ—ˆπ—†π—†π–Ύπ—‡π–½

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent
ThomasvV's avatar

Thomas VV

1 month ago
Review

A mistake a lot of people make is that they think this eye serum is made for the long term. It's not, it's a great depuff serum in the morning. So if you're prone to puffiness, then this is a great first step in your routine to depuff your eyebags before applying a more rich eye cream.

I hate the fact that the bottle gets a bit dirty because of the crystalization of the caffeine, but that's Show more

#great value
#absorbs well
#no scent
#works well

Drunk Elephant A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum 59 ingredients

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