Head to head
Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster 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 Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster.
The bottom lineCelimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster if you want the actives; The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum keeps clear of pregnancy-flagged actives, while Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.
Which should you pick?
Pick The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster if
- dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
Pick Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if
- you want the more affordable option
- you are prone to fungal acne (malassezia)
- you are pregnant or breastfeeding
What each delivers
Side by side
| The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster | Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Serum | Serum |
| Key actives | Glycerin, Niacinamide, Retinal | Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid, Lactic acid |
| Texture | A 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. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Fungal-acne safe | Not likely | Likely |
| Pregnancy | One caution | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 32 listed | 25 listed |
| Price | ~$22 | ~€10 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
Both share
Only in Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Dark spots & uneven toneThe Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Fine lines & firmnessThe Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Breakouts & congestionThe Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Dryness & dehydrationEither works
- Sensitive, reactive skinCaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the cheaper of the two (~€10 vs ~$22).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum better for dark spots & uneven tone?
For dark spots & uneven tone, Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster if you want the actives; The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum keeps clear of pregnancy-flagged actives, while Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.
Which is cheaper, Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum?
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the cheaper of the two (~€10 vs ~$22).
Can I use Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster 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.
Compare it with…
All 28 comparisons
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10