In my on-going quest for eternal youth I just had to some up with something to combat puffy eyes! When my third child was a newborn, I woke up after a sleepless night and looked in the mirror. I looked old! Very puffy and old. No sleep was not doing me any good. So I dug in my makeup bag and finally decided to try that free sample of caffeine eye cream that I had been holding onto for months. It worked! I watched the years melt away as my face began to normalize again. I began using it every morning….until the small sample tube ran out.
Being the DIY crazy Mom that I am, I decided to find a way to make my own DIY caffeine eye serum. I mean it can’t be all that hard, right? Nope, it’s most definitely not! I had read that almond oil is great for reducing dark circles, so I decided to make some coffee infused almond oil! I had also already been putting castor oil under my eyes every night before bed to keep the skin around my eyes youthful looking (and as an added benefit, I noticed it made my eyelashes longer too!), so I added some of that to the mix too.
A little bit about why caffeine works to reduce puffiness:
- Caffeine applied topically improves circulation and plumps up the skin, diminishing the appearance of the circles. It also helps constrict blood vessels to reduce swelling
- Caffeine has potent antioxidant properties
- Caffeine helps protect cells against the UV radiation and slows down the process of photoaging of the skin
DIY Caffeine Eye Serum
What you need:
- 1/4 cup ground organic coffee
- 1/3 cup sweet almond oil — where to find
- 2 Tbsp castor oil — where to find
- dropper bottle — I get them here
- cheesecloth or nut milk bag
- Note: I have had some readers wonder if the coffee might stain the skin under their eyes. While I have not personally noticed any staining, you could certainly make the serum using a green coffee — like this one
Directions:
- Combine the sweet almond oil and the coffee in a glass jar
- Cover with a lid and let sit on the counter for a week to infuse
- Using your cheesecloth or nut milk bag (that’s what I used), strain the infused oil into a bowl, you might have some small coffee residue that gets through and that’s just fine
- Add the castor oil to the bowl and stir to combine
- Using a small funnel, pour the oil into your dropper bottle
Use:
- Apply caffeine eye serum under eyes in the morning or at night, whenever you prefer. I personally include it in my bedtime routine
- A really fun way to use this oil is in a small roller bottle with a metal roller ball. Store it in the fridge so the roller ball gets cold and then use it as needed for puffiness — the cold ball will increase effects! You can find a roller bottle with a metal ball HERE
Want to know more about my skincare routine? Here are my other recipes: WASH, TONE, MOISTURIZE
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80 Replies to “DIY Caffeine Eye Serum (for puffy eyes)”
I need this so bad! Best part- I have all the ingredients! Can’t wait to try it out.
Love this!!
I wanted to love this and took the time to purchase all the ingredients, organic as well. However, this is too oily and does not absorb and feels just awful under the eye, bummer.
I will have to try this. Did you use this when pregnant? I can’t imagine this small amount of castor oil would induce labor but just wondered. 🙂
How much did your recipe make and what size dropper bottle did you use? I can’t wait to try this!
You mention placing the glass roll on bottle in the fridge- do you store the dropper bottle in the fridge too?
In the summer I do. I keep my face care stuff in the fridge when its hot outside because its refreshing to put on then 🙂
Hi Kate! I am excited to try this but was also wondering how much this makes. The links you show for the dropper bottle and roll on bottle both have varied sizes. Could you help with this question. Thanks so very much!
Oh, sorry about that Joy, I use the 2oz bottle. 🙂 But, the recipe makes more than that. I like the 2oz size because it fits in my medicine cabinet. You can use the 4oz to be safe 🙂
Since coffee stains, I wondered if there will be dark areas where the serum is applied. Thanks
I have not noticed any staining. I suppose you could use a green coffee to make the serum. Like this one: https://amzn.to/1P2KD0g
Hey wonderful recipe, but can i subtitute sweet almond oil other oil like olive oil or fractioned coconut oil?
Sure, you can really sub any oil. The caffeine is the main ingredient that you cannot sub out.
Can you use any other oils to diffuse the coffee? Like Grape seed oil or avocado oil? Just curious, I want to use oils I already have. 😉
Certainly! You can use any oil you want. Castor oil and almond oil are just great for under the eyes!
why couldn’t you just use a coffee filter to filter it, then you would have no grounds
You could certainly run it through a coffee filter, but it would probably take a looooong time to get throught it
Wondering if you are using spent coffee grinds or fresh?
Hi Kathi, I am using fresh ground coffee
Thank you so very much…i decided to use my bullletproof coffee fresh! Looking forward to using the grinds as a scrub afterwards.
Hi Kathy, I love your recipe. Just wanted to know if sweet almond oil can be replaced with olive oil and castor oil can be replaced with sunflower oil. Does it have the same effect? My dark circles have 2 deep lines below each eye, and they are literally black, not just shadows.
Hi Angie, the oils that I used in this recipe are what really make it effective so I would not sub them out.
Hi Kate,
Read your article and was wondering if this helps with rosacea? It mentioned redness. I have it on my nose and a little on my cheeks. Hoping the coffee helps with constricting the vessels and taking down the redness. Thank you!
I actually love using Emu oil on any inflamed skin. You should try this serum that I make: https://realfoodrn.com/beautifying-hydrating-face-serum/
Hi, I just stumbled on this through Pinterest 🙂 I already make a lot of my face product and can’t wait to try this one. I just had one question. How long does it last before it goes bad? Just curious. Thanks
It lasts a very long time, I have never had it go bad yet!
WHAT KIND OF COFFEE DO YOU USE? DARK, LIGHT, ETC?
I link to the coffee I use in the recipe. I have actually used both. My most recent batch was made with the green coffee that I also linked to above 🙂
Hi Kate, can’t wait to try this. I was wondering about the castor oil. I have some that says on the bottle used for a laxative. Is this the same as the one that goes to your link but labeled for skin?
Yep, same one
I’m no coffee expert…..so the ground coffee you use I assume is roasted? Or raw/dried?
It is roasted, but you can use green coffee too.
I have got some caffeine powder. Could I use that instead if strain real coffee?
I think that would work! I did not even know there was such a thing as caffeine powder!
I have the caffeine powder (caffeine anhydrous) and can’t find any recipes…..would love to know how to use this!
Neither did I until very recently! I shall try it and let you know my results ?
Just made my first batch of this. The recipe filled 2 15ml roller bottles and 2 1 oz dropper bottles. Mine was so dark it didn’t look like your picture after straining grounds.
Maybe you had a darker coffee? I am not sure. You can always use the green coffee that I link to above if you want a lighter color. Should still work just fine
Would this work for saggy, puffy eyelids?
It won’t reduce sagging, but it will help with puffiness
How long have noticed the change in your eyes area ?
Once I had kids my eyes were puffier from lack of sleep. So, in my late 20’s
Does this also help with dark circles? Please say yes! 😉
It does! Often times those circles can be related to food intolerances. I find that when I eat too much conventional dairy I get dark circles under my eyes.
Love this! How long would this be good for?
It lasts a long time, many months!
Hi, tried this recipe but felt a little irritation is it normal?
I have not had any sensitivity from it. Perhaps your skin is sensitive to one of the ingredients
Great diy! Thank you 🙂 🙂
Can’t wait to try this! Any recommendations as to how to store the extra? Room temp or refrigerator?
Room temp is fine, I keep mine on the shelf in my bathroom
I’m allergic to almonds. What other oils do you recommend? Have you tried Squalane oil?
Castor oil would work
caffeine anhydrous????????????
caffeine anhydrous???? how to use
I was wondering if I can use coffee essential oil instead of the infusing method? I have that on hand!
I did not know there was a coffee essential oil! It would need to contain caffeine
I would love to know too did you try it with the essential oil? I have that Also!
Would you use other essential oils added to the mix, like lavender or something else that helps with crows feet?
I love using Frankincense for everything skin related!
can i just use a really strong brewed coffee instead of grounds? or would that be too diluted once added to the oil?
The caffeine is the trick, so a really strong brew might work
Oil and water from the brew will separate so you’ll have to shake it all the time or use a solubilizer like glycerin and make a gel or lotion.
Can i use instant coffee powder?
Sure!
How much instant coffee powder?
I would use the same amount as the grounds
Can you use powdered caffeine pills?
I’m not familiar with those, but I think it should work
I’m wondering if I can sub ground tea for ground coffee. Caffeine to caffeine? Just wondering since the end result has such strong coffee smell. Tried this for a week so far and can really see the difference. Thanks for sharing.
I have not tried tea but I am sure it would work great, you just need caffeine