Garnier Nutritionist Caffeine Eye Roll-on

It's fitting to begin with the advert that eventually tipped me over the edge, forcing me to confront my mild technophobia. It's the latest from Garnier, a roll-on product for eyes containing caffeine to reduce dark circles.

There are many versions of the advert but here's the one from the Garnier website:




And here's a close-up of the product packaging explaining how the product works:





The premise is that caffeine combined with a "massaging action" will "encourage drainage around the eye contour area" and "smooth the skin and reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles". This is backed up by a sciencey-looking diagram that includes a coffee bean (source of caffeine no doubt), a stylised representation of Pro-vitamin B5 and a leaf (to make that all-important link to nature?). The packaging also hints at results from "tests conducted under dermatological control".


Here comes the science bit...


First, I have to point out that although Pro-vitamin B5 is routinely used in hair and skin products as a moisturiser, it is not a pretty-looking honeycomb structure. It's chemical name is panthenol and it looks a little something like this.


A good way, possibly the best way, to figure out if a product will solve a problem is to look at what causes the problem in the first place. In the case of dark circles under eyes, possible causes include eye rubbing, allergies, lack of sleep, dehydration and eczema. Because there are so many possible causes it would be surprising if caffeine could always reduce dark circles. At most, we could say that caffeine could help some people in some cases.


What about the tests carried out under dermatological control? Back to the Garnier website, which states that "4/5 of Boots customers say 'It's THE anti-dark circles MUST HAVE' (108 women tested)". I assume this isn't the result of the tests because that ain't a scientific conclusion from a proper scientific test, it's the result of a consumer survey. I have searched in vain for the original study on the internet and may request it from Garnier if the adverts on the tube continue to irk me.


In the meantime I think it's safe to say, using a bit of common sense and internet browsing, that if this product works for you, you would probably benefit equally from a bit of eye cream, a gentle massage (use your fingers, they're free) and maybe the old trick of teabags on the eyes. It would cost a heck of a lot less than £10 for a 15ml roll-on.


I'm a beginner at this so let me know your thoughts!