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Head to head

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA vs The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum

Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA.

The bottom line

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum land in much the same place on performance, so value decides it: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA does the same job for less.

Reviewed by Maya FaourLast reviewed September 2026
The OrdinaryAlpha Arbutin 2% + HASerum · ~€9See every ingredient in Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, decoded
The OrdinaryCaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye SerumSerum · ~€10See every ingredient in Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum, decoded

Which should you pick?

Pick Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA if

  • dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
  • you want the more affordable option
  • you prefer a simpler, more minimal formula

Pick Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if

  • your barrier feels stressed and needs the support
  • plump, lasting hydration is what you want
  • you want more actives working at once

What each delivers

HydrationBarrierBrighteningOil-controlAnti-aging
Alpha Arbutin 2% + HACaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
  • Hydration
    710
  • Barrier repair
    37
  • Brightening / tone
    94
  • Oil-control & blemishes
    33
  • Anti-aging
    55

Side by side

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HACaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
TypeSerumSerum
Key activesAlpha Arbutin 2%, Lactic acidGlycerin, Hyaluronic acid, Lactic acid
TextureA light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.
FragranceNone detectedNone detected
Fungal-acne safeLikelyLikely
PregnancyNo flagged activesNo flagged actives
Ingredients12 listed25 listed
Price~€9~€10

What's in one but not the other

The two labels share 6 of the 31 ingredients between them. The actives are where they part company.

What each one adds acts on The living epidermis for The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The stratum corneum, Not established for The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum. That is the layer each is understood to act on, not how deep it travels.

Only in Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

Both share

Only in Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum

The molecule doing the work

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HAAlpha Arbutin
Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye SerumGlycerin

Better for…

  • Dark spots & uneven toneAlpha Arbutin 2% + HA
  • Dryness & dehydrationCaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA is the cheaper of the two (~€9 vs ~€10).

Ready to pick one?

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA on amazon.comCaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum on amazon.com

Affiliate links, so a purchase sends us a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Glow Simplified earns from qualifying purchases. We make and sell nothing here, so the verdict above never bends toward a sale.

Common questions

Is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum better for dark spots & uneven tone?

For dark spots & uneven tone, The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum land in much the same place on performance, so value decides it: The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA does the same job for less.

Which is cheaper, The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum?

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA is the cheaper of the two (~€9 vs ~€10).

Can I use The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum together?

They are both serums, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.

What the scene shows

The cross-section at the top of this page is not decoration and not a diagram of the skin in general: it places the molecules these two are sold on at the layer each is understood to act on. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA is placed by Alpha Arbutin (the living epidermis), Lactic acid (the stratum corneum). The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is placed by Glycerin (the stratum corneum), Hyaluronic acid (the stratum corneum), Lactic acid (the stratum corneum). A layer is where an ingredient does its work, never how deep it travels, and never a claim about how well it works.

Back up to the scene

Compare it with…

VSCelimaxThe Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening BoosterA mid-range band formulaVSThe OrdinaryHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)Shares Pentylene Glycol and Hyaluronic acid
All 41 comparisons