Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG versus KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum .
Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on May 24, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free serums. They have a total of 10 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and hyaluronic acid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, common allergens and fragrances
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 26 ingredients
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum 33 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 26 ingredients
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum 33 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 5 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 26 ingredients
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum 33 ingredients
Water • Caffeine • Maltodextrin • Glycerin • Propanediol • Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside • Gallyl Glucoside • Hyaluronic Acid • Oxidized Glutathione • Melanin • Glycine Soja Seed Extract • Urea • Pentylene Glycol • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Xanthan Gum • Lactic Acid • Dehydroacetic Acid • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Propyl Gallate • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Benzyl Alcohol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Ethylhexylglycerin • Phenoxyethanol • Caprylyl Glycol
Water • Alcohol Denat. • Pentylene Glycol • Glycerin • Polyglyceryl-5 Laurate • Propanediol • Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone • Avena Sativa Kernel Extract • Benzyl Alcohol • Benzyl Salicylate • Caprylyl Glycol • Titanium Dioxide • Citral • Copper Lysinate/Prolinate • Crocus Sativus Stigma Extract • Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer • Hexapeptide-11 • Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate • Lactic Acid • Limonene • Linalool • Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract • Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract • Methylglucoside Phosphate • Mica • Parfum • Phenoxyethanol • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Carboxymethyl Beta-Glucan • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum • Xanthan Gum
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 1.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
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 GlycerinThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 4.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.
Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.
It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.
Learn more about PropanediolThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 5.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.
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 help thicken or emulsify a product. Emulsifiers help stabilize a product. It does this by preventing certain ingredients from separating.
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 GlycolThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 13.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a texture enhancer and pH adjuster.
It is be used to thicken water-based products and create a gel-texture with a velvet feel.
One manufacturer claims this ingredient to have a pH range of 2-8 and to be biodegradable.
Learn more about Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 15.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 28.
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 GumThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 16.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 33.
Lactic Acid is an AHA that is derived from fermenting lactose, a carbohydrate from milk. It removes the top layer of old and dead skin cells and helps increase cell turnover.
Benefits of Lactic Acid are that it can help to reduce large pores and reduce the effects of aging. Some potential downsides are that it can be bad for dry skin, cause irritation, worsen eczema, and worsen rosacea.
Not only does it help exfoliate the skin, it helps strengthen the skin's barrier. When applied, lactic acid helps the skin create ceramides.
Lactic acid is an over-the-counter chemical exfoliant that comes from the fermentation of lactose — a carbohydrate found in milk.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 17.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 19.
Benzyl Alcohol is most commonly used as a preservative. It also has a subtle, sweet smell. Small amounts of Benzyl Alcohol is not irritating and safe to use in skincare products. Most Benzyl Alcohol is derived from fruits such as apricots.
Benzyl Alcohol has both antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These properties help lengthen the shelf life of products. Benzyl Alcohol is a solvent and helps dissolve other ingredients. It can also improve the texture and spreadability.
Alcohol comes in many different forms. Different types of alcohol will have different effects on skin. This ingredient is an astringent alcohol.
Using high concentrations of these alcohols are drying on the skin. They may strip away your skin's natural oils and even damage your skin barrier. Astringent alcohols may also irritate skin.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
According to the National Rosacea Society based in the US, you should be mindful of products with these alcohols in the top half of ingredients.
Any type of sanitizing product will have high amounts of alcohol to help kill bacteria and viruses.
Learn more about Benzyl AlcoholThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 22.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 9.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 25.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
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 GlycolThe Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG contains this as ingredient number 26.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 26 ingredients
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum 33 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 26 ingredients
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum 33 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG 26 ingredients
Didn't notice any difference
My bottle lasted for probably 3~4 months I think? And I really didn't notice any difference... It's not hydrating enough and it didn't help with puffiness at all.
Didn't notice any difference
My bottle lasted for probably 3~4 months I think? And I really didn't notice any difference... It's not hydrating enough and it didn't help with puffiness at all.
Burned my eye area and was very irritating
I’ve tried lots of products for my eyes some with luck in improvement and some not. So I’m always trying something new. I’ve never had sensitivity or issues with any eye cream or treatment...
Burned my eye area and was very irritating
I’ve tried lots of products for my eyes some with luck in improvement and some not. So I’m always trying something new. I’ve never had sensitivity or issues with any eye cream or treatment before. This one though burned so bad. It burned the skin so much so sometimes my eyes watered from the irritation, and it never got in my eyes. It made my eyes look worse actually because it irritated the eye area so much. I’d read such good reviews and thought it would make a huge difference but wasn’t prepared for the irritation. I’m not sure if the caffeine does it or what because it’s the only product with caffeine I’ve ever used. And I tried it for a couple weeks thinking maybe it’s normal or will get better. At first I didn’t know what was causing it just thought maybe my eyes were irritated but realized when I stopped using this I never had any issues with my eye area burning. Sadly disappointed
Unfortunately it didn't work for me.
I was very happy with the glow that this product gives the eye area, however, after a few weeks of use it dried out my skin a lot.
Unfortunately it didn't work for me.
I was very happy with the glow that this product gives the eye area, however, after a few weeks of use it dried out my skin a lot.
KORRES Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum 33 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 31 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG.
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