Say goodbye to dark circles and puffy, tired eyes with this super simple DIY caffeine eye serum made with a simple coffee-infused oil. Just a few drops in the morning will leave you feeling bright and refreshed.
Features
- A super simple DIY caffine eye serum you can make at home
- Ingredient notes and step-by-step directions
- Helpful tips and tricks for how to use your serum
Why This Recipe Works
Dark circles... puffy eyes... when I don't get enough sleep, it's pretty easy to tell with a quick glance. My solution: a simple DIY caffeine eye serum! I created this recipe after enjoying the results of another coffee-infused product.
Apparently, dark under-eye circles are hereditary, and I'm sorry to say that I've passed the "gift" on to my children as well.
Dark circles are caused by oxygenated blood pooling beneath the eyes. Being horizontal as you sleep makes it worse - especially if you sleep on your tummy.
So why do some people have worse circles than others? Some people just have thinner skin underneath their eyes than others! Apparently, I'm one of them.
Caffeine applied topically improves circulation and plumps up the skin, diminishing the appearance of the circles.
It also works to bring puffiness down, so this DIY caffeine eye serum going to be your new early-morning best friend! (Besides actual coffee, maybe.)
Ingredient & Equiptment Notes
- Ground coffee - Any caffeinated coffee will do - organic is ideal. As a lovely commenter pointed out below, light roast coffee has more caffeine. Alternativley, you can use the option for using coffee essential oils as outlined below.
- Sweet almond oil - the perfect carrier oil for this serum, but any carrier oil will do.
- Avocado oil - for added moisture and topical benfits.
Here's why these ingredients work so well:
- Applied topically, caffeine improves circulation and reduces inflammation. This is what makes the serum so effective.
- Avocado oil is deeply nourishing an moisturizing - perfect for that delicate skin around the eyes.
- Sweet almond oil is a readily-absorbed carrier oil that helps the other ingredients reach the layers of your skin.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is a quick rundown of the steps you need to take to make this serum at home, but you can find more detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1 - This step is the longest: infuse some sweet almond oil with ground coffee. Add ½ cup ground coffee to a jar, then just enough sweet almond oil to cover the coffee grounds.
Step 2 - Close the jar tightly and let it sit in your cupboard for 4 or 5 days to infuse.
Step 3 - Using a cheesecloth, strain the infused oil into another jar or a clean bowl. Squeeze as much of the oil out as you can.
Step 4 - Add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and stir until combined.
Step 5 - Bottle it up, baby! I added a couple of coffee beans because it's cute and will continue to infuse my serum with caffeine.
Step 6 - You will have some leftover oil and coffee grounds that you can save to make an amazing DIY mocha sugar scrub. Use it on your hands and feet to exfoliate and improve circulation!
Updated Recipe Notes
This caffeine eye serum recipe has been shared and tested like crazy and it's been interesting to see the response. Some of you absolutely love it, while some of you have had disappointing results.
Here's what we've learned, dears!
- The way the serum turns out varies drastically depending on the type of coffee used.
- Ashlynn reminded us that "the difference between dark and light roast is caffeine content. Get a light roasted coffee for the most caffeine content!"
- If you don't strain it enough, you'll end up with coffee dust in your serum, which marks your skin and defeats the entire purpose of the serum.
- I'm leaving this recipe up, because it is working for so many people! But today I'm going to share an alternative option below. Bonus: It's actually a lot quicker and easier to make this version, anyway. 😉
Alternative Recipe Option
- ½ ounce avocado oil
- ½ ounce sweet almond oil
- 8 drops coffee essential oil
- 4 drops vanilla essential oil
You can substitute other carrier oils based on what you have around. Here's a guide to carrier oils that will help you choose.
To Make: All you need to do is combine the ingredients in a bottle. A glass bottle with a dropper is nice. A roll-tip bottle with a steel ball would help the serum work better, too.
How to Use Your Eye Serum
Use a drop or two under each eye on those early mornings.
I use the caffeine serum as needed. If I remember to, I'll put it on as I head to bed if it's super late. Otherwise, I just put it on in the morning. Within 10 minutes, I'm looking much more refreshed!
Remember to use your ring finger to apply any and all eye products! It's the weakest finger, so it's the most gentle on the delicate skin around your eyes.
Additional ideas:
- You don't have to keep this serum in the fridge for preservation, but it's not a bad idea: cold is great for puffy eyes, so it'll enhance the effects.
- If you get your hands on a roller-ball applicator with a steel tip, that would be great for storing your serum. The cool steel would enhance the effects, too.
- You can add a drop of vanilla essential oil your eye serum, if desired. It smells heavenly and adds in anti-aging effects.
DIY Caffeine Eye Serum
Equipment
- Serum bottle
- Cheesecloth
Ingredients
- ½ cup ground coffee
- ½ cup sweet almond oil
- avocado oil
Instructions
- The first step is the longest, to infuse sweet almond oil with coffee. To do this, add ½ cup ground coffee to a mason jar and then add just enough sweet almond oil to cover the coffee grounds.
- Close the jar tightly and let it sit in your cupboard for 4 or 5 days to infuse.
- Using a cheesecloth, strain the infused oil into another jar or a clean bowl. Squeeeeeeze as much of the oil out as you can.
- Add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and stir until combined.
- Bottle it up, baby! I added a couple of coffee beans because it's cute and will continue to infuse my serum with caffeine.
Notes
- ½ ounce avocado oil
- ½ ounce sweet almond oil
- 8 drops coffee essential oil
- 4 drops vanilla essential oil
heather
I need to make like a gallon of this stuff!! No matter how much sleep I get, I still always look like I've not slept in months!
Kylie
Give it a try!
If it's a chronic issue, though, there might be something else you need to address. Brittany just told me that dark circles can be a sign of food allergies, too.
Kim
I made a similar concoction using coconut oil and grape seed oil but instead of cheesecloth, I put the coffee in a sachet bag and put in a jar with the oil to infuse it.
Kylie Worthington
Wonderful idea.
Niharika
I need this right now for my big dark circles. This sounds promising 🙂 Thank you.
LINDA.G
That is too smart. Thank you for the tip!
Bella
Omg I know this is an old post but I can’t believe I didn’t think about using a sachet....I tried this recipe as written and I couldn’t get any of the oil out. The coffee grounds had become completely saturated and squeezing of the cheesecloth just left me with coffee stained hands and no serum. Thank you so much for this idea!!
Eriana
This is so cool - I have to try it - I have always made my own remedies because i have so many allergies; and i don't like the crap and chemicals put in even what is supposed to be the safest products - plus there is the ridiculous cost. My doctor finally told me about the 'hereditary' thing - I got so tired of people always suggesting i wear makeup - which makes it worse! I've just invested in some glycerine, castile, vitamin E and aloe and have made my own soap and body lotion - but still have a mystery for my face and eyes! Thank you for this! I wonder if it would work with Virgin Olive oil?
Kylie Worthington
Yes!
Mary
Hi 😄 I made this serum...minus the avocado oil...only because I forgot. For that matter it infused for 10 days lol because I would remember then forget immediately...this brew has been LIFE CHANGING!!!! I apply a few drops after taking my make up off...let my skin rest...then a few drops before bed...then a few drops before makeup in the morning...a perfect primer...I end up with a dewey look all day. Make up is less and smooths beautifully.I was told today from a friend I have known for years that I am looking soooo young...and I recently turned 44!! My face had turned very old due to excessive smoking and drinking...never thought I could regain my youth...but this serum literally has taken at least 5 years off my appearance. I know a lot of ladies in my community that could benefit from this...so I'm making up small batches for these ladies so they can learn the art of learning to love their skin again.THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH...It's an amazing feeling to be able to get up in the morning and leave the house feeling beautiful 🌺🌺🌺
Amy @Home & Farm Sense
This looks like a really cool idea - never heard of caffeine helping with dark circles but will need to try this...
Samantha
A lot of the over the counter stuff for eye bags and darkness has caffeine as their active ingredient, however, they also include quite a bit of chemicals I wouldn't want to put on my face let alone that close to my eyes.
Shiva
What would be the shelf life of this dark circles serum?
Do we need a preservative to keep it for long?
Theresa
Could I use pure vanilla extract??
Kylie Wiser
Unfortunately not. The vanilla extract wouldn't mix with the oils in this recipe.
Ella
Is there anything that can be substituted for the avocado oil? My local health store doesn't have any in at the moment
Kylie
Hey Ella! Pretty much any carrier oil would work. I chose avocado for its anti-aging properties, but you could easily just use more sweet almond oil.
Valerie
I found Avocado Oil at Walmart with the cooking oil. I can't wait to try this. Thanks!!
Donna
Can I substitute grape seed oil for the sweet almond oil? I have a tree nut allergy. I’ve wanted to try this!
Kylie Wiser
Certainly!
sister_bliss
What if I mix the coffee with coconut or castor oil or petroleum, because those are the stuff I always have in hand?
sister_bliss
petrolatum* lol 😀
Kylie
A warm infusion with coconut oil would work. Use a double boiler to warm the coffee grounds and coconut oil on the LOWEST heat possible. About 5 minutes would be fine, then just let it sit right on the stove until it's cool enough to strain.
Jan
Coconut oil is not a good idea to use under the eyes as it causes milias to form, which are those little white heads, and the skin around the eyes is prone to developing them.
Carol
If you are going to use coconut oil on your face it should be “Fractionated”, also known as “100% MCT OIL” otherwise it clogs the pores.
Jill
Would this work as a balm? Could I maybe make the serum, then add coconut oil and/or some shea butter and refrigerate to keep it solid?
Kylie
Sounds like a great idea! I wouldn't add a butter to this finished product, since it might become too diluted to be effective. Just replace some of the avocado oil with shea butter or coconut oil. Let me know how it goes!
Karen
This is great! I made coffee ground scrub for my kids Eczema when it gets hot and inflamed. This idea is similar to that theory - to reduce inflammation! Thx for the recipe! And yes, using it COLD would definitely be great! And I always use the ring finger for around the eyes too!
Kylie
Great idea!
Gargi
what preservative can I add to make it last longer without the refrigerator??
Kylie Wiser
A preservative isn't needed, especially if you keep it in a cool, dark, dry place and make sure that water isn't ever accidentally introduced.
Kylie
Hi Marcie - You can leave the aloe out but I'm not sure what would make a good replacement. The aloe is a pretty important ingredient, so let me know how it works if you try it without!
skeeter
i didnt see in the recipe any were that it called for a;oe oil?
Laurie
Your ingredients above did not include any aloe. Did you mean to say avocado, or did you forget to include aloe in your list of ingredients? I'm confused.
Kylie
Update: Marcie, try castor oil - a friend suggested it as an aloe substitute. Best of luck!
marcie
I'll have to try castor. Thanks =)
Shauna
Love this! I have the WORST under-eye bags! Do you know of any products I can buy that will work just as well?
Kylie
I offer this serum in my shop! 🙂
http://everblossom.net/product/caffeine-eye-serum-perk
If you prefer a cream, 100% Pure's Coffee Bean Eye Cream is the bee's knees. 🙂
http://everblossom.net/CoffeeBeanEyeCream
Erin
Wow! Great post! Extremely interesting and informative! Keep up the good work!
Xo- Erin
Amy
Omg this is amazing! I am so trying this, thank you!
shreya kalra
What should we use as a substitute of avocado oil ?
Kylie Worthington
Any carrier oil would really work. Some people have used castor oil for this recipe with great results. 🙂
shreya kalra
Ohhkk!
I will try it fr sure..
Thank uh!
Kelly
My coffee and oil mixture sat for 4 days and I went to strain it and nothing came out.. Did I not add enough oil? Do you mix the oil in with the coffee or just enogh to have a small later on top? Thanks!
Kylie Worthington
That is so interesting! Was it in an airtight container? I wonder if some coffees are more "absorbent" too! LOL. If I were you, I would try again with a different coffee or add more oil.
Annie
Any specific coffee? And what does it mean by chess cloth ?
KjSk
I had the same problem! It is still sitting on my counter. I Don't want to give up on it yet. Any secret strategies for the squeeze??
Claire
Same thing happeened to me. I used plastic wrap. I guess it needs to be air tight. Disappointed. I also may have had it sit 6days. I was looking for he avocado oil 🙂 Might just use as a body scrub instead. I hate to waste...
Bella
This was a complete waste of coffee grounds, really expensive organic oil (I used argan oil), and time. The oil absorbed all the coffee and no matter how much I squeezed, all I got was coffee stained cheesecloth and some oil residue on my hands. Can someone please tell me why this didn’t work as written?
Kylie Wiser
What a bummer! Argan oil is a light, thin oil that would be more easily absorbed by the coffee grounds. If you try again, it would be good to infuse a thick oil like avocado or jojoba with coffee, then add the argan oil after straining the coffee grounds out. I am sure that will work better for you! Best wishes.
Ashlynn
This looks so awesome! Just remember that coffee comes in different roasts and the difference between dark and light roast is caffeine content. Get a light roasted coffee for the most caffeine content! =) Happy DIY's!
Kylie Worthington
Great tip, Ashlynn ~ thanks!
Patty
I wish I had seen Ashlynn's post about using a light roast. I just made mine with dark roast. The serum is dark. Can I add more avacado oil to lighten it or will that weaken the caffiene too much. When I rubbed a small amount on the back of my hand it left my skin a little darker so that will defeat the purpose of the eye serum. It smells wonderful! The scent alone will wake me up in the mornings. Lol Thank you for your time.
Kylie Worthington
It should still work! I am surprised it darkened your skin, you must have a very potent infusion! You could add more carrier oil OR use the serum right away when you wake up, then wipe away any residue 15 minutes later. The oils (+ caffeine!) should sink in by then.
Patty
Thank you for the great idea. After sitting a couple of days it kinda separated so I have been using what was on top. I'll mix it and then wipe off the extra after a few minutes.
Laura R
I made mine with a medium-dark organic roast and after straining mine in 4 layers of cheese cloth it was still dark but testing it out I didn't notice it leave a dark coating at all. I figured if it does, I'll just wait like Kylie said then ripe any residuals off. 🙂 Super excited to see how this works - been battling bags under my eyes, one more than the other since allergies have been so bad this season & a tad bit of sleep loss maybe as well as not drinking enough water (all three are top causes for those pesky bags).
Kylie Worthington
Can't wait to hear how it works for you, Laura!
Lorie
I also made mine today...not sure if I got it all squeezed out, but I definitely have serum that "looks" like coffee...i.e., very dark. I would guess adding more carrier oil would lighten, but wonder if it would "weaken" the caffeine effect.
Kylie Worthington
Try it both ways, maybe? Would love to hear how it goes for you!
Christine
I made a mixture of infused oil, sea buckthorn oil (i think it's the fruit oil), aloe vera gel and 2 drops of callendula and rozemary essentil oils. You can try it too if you want. The sea buckthorn oil is full of vitamin E, A and C, along with beta carotene and fatty acids. find more here http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/sea-buckthorn-oil.aspx.
I'm super excited. I will come back with th results in 2 weeks
Kenny Long
Dear Kylie,
Its sound good!!! I like coffee too ;-)))
By the way, I want you advice that can i replay coffee ground by coffee Essential oil?? I will blend 24 drop of coffee EO with 1 oz Carrier oil ( Avocado & Sweet Almond )??
Appreciate your comment,
Best regards,
Kenny Nguyen
Kylie Worthington
Yes, Kenny! That would work great. In fact, that's what I used in my "new & improved recipe" here. 🙂 http://everblossom.net/2015/05/caffeine-eye-serum-recipe.html
Summer
would I be able to use coconut oil or olive oil in place of avocado oil? Or does that ruin the effects?
Kylie Worthington
Extra virgin olive oil would be a wonderful replacement carrier oil, Summer. 🙂
Chloe
How long will this serum last for
Kylie Worthington
Months. 🙂 It will do best if you store it somewhere dark, cool, and dry.
Mariya
My serum came out really dark. Is that ok? I infused the coffee for a week.
Kylie Worthington
It should be very potent and effective, Mariya! You can dilute it with sweet almond oil if that makes you more comfortable. 🙂
Amy
Hi, i infused coffee grounds in jojoba oil. I ended up with a good 2 ounces of nice oil from it. Should i mix and make up all the bottles i can with it now or just make up a small bottle for now and save the rest? How much would I add and what would I add to make a ! ounce bottle? Thank you
Kylie Worthington
Either way is fine! You can use it just how it is or dilute it with more carrier oil. I just use the infused oil, personally.
Ana
I'm severely allergic to tree nuts. Can I substitute the almond oil with anything else?
Wanda
Hi there! Is this serum good for sunken eyes? Or do you have a remedy for this? ?Thanks!
Kylie Worthington
I'm not certain what you mean. This serum does "plump up" the skin a bit, so it could help. Let us know how it helps you if you do try it!
Catherine
Wow! So great! I've heard already-used tea bags and cucumbers can support our eyes, but 've not known about coffee beans. Thank you very much for sharing this awesome idea! I'd like to ask if you have any idea about treating dry eyes. Please share with me if you have. Thank you so much!
Kylie Worthington
There are herbal eye washes you can do, but it's really important to find out what the cause is to find the best treatment.
Emily R. Smith
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. 🙂
Shannon
I tried this the other day with grapeseed oil and it worked really well. Thanks for the great tip!
Kylie Worthington
Glad you enjoy it, Shannon!
Angela
I have about half the sweet almond oil after the infusion than i started with. How much sweet almond and Avocado oil should i combine?
Kylie Worthington
Equal parts!
Tanu Sarathe
Could i make a mixture of Ground coffee almond oil and aloevera gel? Instead of using avacado oil?
Kylie Worthington
Yes, you can use just use sweet almond oil instead of both carrier oils!
Debra
If sensitive to caffeine, I'd avoid using this before bed. I made a very similar version, and since I can't bear wasting a bit of my lovely concoctions, the evening I strained (I used a coffee filter that I'd dampened slightly) and bottled mine, I swabbed all the drops left in the pan over my face, hands...wherever it would reach. I guess that might have been a tad bit of overdoing it. I was quite "perky" when I went to bed a little later! Lol. Great for the A.M., not so much at bedtime!
I do love the roller ball idea; soothing and better portion control, tho a dropper bottle would be the most sanitary. And I am definitely going to drop a few coffee beans into mine. I LOVE that! Thanks so much!!
Kylie Worthington
Great point! Thank you for sharing, Debra.
Kathy
Hello, is there a special type of cheesecloth I should buy? Or a preferred brand that works best for straining?
Einat
Looks great.
Is it suitable for use before wearing makeup?
Kylie Worthington
Yes!
Priya
Can I replace almond oil and avocado oil with argan oil and Olive oil?
Barbara
Put completed formula in roller ball bottle. Anxious to see it help
my old age puffy eyes.
Mama E
Hi there! Great tutorial, TY!
Another thing that can cause dark circles under the eyes is an illeocecal valve that is stuck open. I'm not sure if a closed valve can cause them, but I KNOW an open valve does for sure.
An open ICV also USUALLY causes diarrhea, however, for some (like me & a some of my kiddos) it causes constipation. For my other kiddos, an open valve does cause the dark circles & diarrhea... so everybody does react differently to an open ICV. Just thought I would share that with you.
We close our valves by massaging the pressure points for them. We know when we have an open valve by pressing down in the location of the valves & there is a tenderness, if we aren't noticing other symptoms as constipation can be easy to forget about... diarrhea always ends right away or after one more bout after rubbing the pressure points. It's AMAZING!
Kylie Worthington
Thank you so much for sharing!
Kylie Worthington
Caffeine is water, solvent, and lipid soluble - not sure why you think otherwise.
nandini saini
what do to if i don't have avocado oil..is there any substitute for this..
Deborah
I made this!! And it's lovely. I have a little bottle of vanilla in jojoba oil that I added and wow... the fragrance is beautiful! Smells like a dessert or a specialty coffee. Just started using the serum tonight... can't wait to see if it helps with puffy eyes and dark circles. Thank you for sharing this recipe - so much fun.
Lady N
Does the ground coffee have to be strained from the oil to be used or can it be kept in the almond and avocado oil.
Kylie Worthington
It's really good to strain it, otherwise you'll have coffee grounds on your skin! Cheesecloth or a fine woven cloth works well. If having coffee dust on your skin doesn't bother you, you can leave it, and in fact you would probably find that you end up with an even stronger serum over time. 🙂
ella higgins
when you say coffee ground do you mean brewed coffee grounds or unbrewed, right from the can.
Kylie Worthington
Unbrewed, right from the can!
Darlene Young
Desperate! Serum sounds great and I am going to make some later today. How wet should coffee be after adding oil. Seems like a lot because the only serum squeezed out is the amount of (oil) liquid put in. Seems like there would be little serum squeezed out.
shruti
hey ! what do you mean by ground coffee ? cant we use instant coffee powder that we buy ?
and can we use almond hair oil ?
Jaimie
Love this post - will definitely be trying this one out 🙂
Maritsa
I'm going to try this serum. Although I have a couple of questions.
Does the coffee bean need to be whole? Would the resulting serum not be more concentrated if coarsely chopped, or even ground, coffee beans were used?
Also, other than the natural phytochemicals in coffee, is there any other advantage to using coffee beans? Or, could caffeine tablets be used?
Thanks for your input.
Carmen Michelle
How long does this last before it expires? Like what can be done to preserve it?
Gerard
Hello. Is there alternative for almond oil. Can I use jojoba oil. To infuse the coffee beans?
Audrey
I read that it will last for months in a cool, dry, dark place. Could you add a couple drops of Vitamin e oil or squeeze out a vitamin e capsule into it to help preserve it?
Kylie Worthington
Certainly!
M
can i use expired coffee ground? and must it be used coffee ground?
Paula
Loving this recipe! Swapped out the rose-hip oil for the avocado seed oil (I’m 53) and very pleased with the results. Better than anything I’ve ever bought!!
Paula
I meant to say I swapped the avocado seed oil for rose-hip oil.
Kiran Dodeja Smith
Love this!! I need to try this. I don't have dark circles, but definitely get tired eyes. I'm a sucker for coffee anyhow, so this is right up my alley:).
Kylie Worthington
It smells sooooooooo good!
Raia Todd
I had no idea you could use coffee on your face! Definitely giving this a try! Thanks!
Mary
cant wait to try this recipe. thank you for sharing!! how long would it take to see results? and would my eye circles come back if i stop using this serum? also, i dont have a cheese cloth. is there anything i can use instead to strain it?
Sherry
Since caffeine is soluble in water, how can steeping coffee grounds in oil extract caffeine?
Kylie Worthington
Great question, Sherry. Caffeine is both lipid and water soluble.
Rhonda
How much sweet almond oil?
Amber
how much does this make?
Katie
In regard to the people asking why it didn’t work your coffee may have been ground too fine. Also, while lighter roasts do have more caffeine, the actual difference is minute and you honestly aren’t going to see too much of a difference unless you’re using a very dark roasted (and I mean dark, charred more like) or a decaf bean. Alternatively you could use a green coffee bean extract, the fruit before roasted (probably more caffeine). Also, having worked at a coffee roaster the whole organic coffee thing is mostly a marketing scheme. But honestly, don’t buy fancy coffee for this. Get in to the habit of supporting a local coffee roaster that does business ethically and then use your beans that are stale (literally you don’t need fresh, you’re essentially making cold brew for your face and literally you can use old old old coffee for cold brew and taste no difference, it’s why it’s sustainable and awesome so do the same with your skin care pls). You drink good coffee, your skin gets good products it’s a win win.
Noelia
Can I add some vitamin E oil to it??
Ally Stockton
I have an anaphylactic allergy to all nuts including almonds. Is there another oil I could use to infuse with the coffee?
Kylie Wiser
Really any carrier oil that you do well with should be fine!
Candi
Could you use tea instead of coffee?
Kylie Wiser
Certainly. The caffeine content will be a bit lower, though.
Kylie Wiser
As long as no water is introduced and it is stored in a cool, dark, dry location, it should last for 3 months or more.