Sleepy eyes can bypass coffee and cola and get their dose of caffeine on the spot, now that cosmetic companies are using a powdered form of the stimulant in beauty products.

        “Our aim is to put ingredients in products that people understand, things from our everyday lives,” says Tara Cohen, director of product development for MAC cosmetics. MAC is putting caffeine into several of its skin and eye creams.

        “It's like ingesting caffeine into the body. It gives you a boost of energy and it speeds the metabolism,” Ms. Cohen says.

        The results, she says, are a reduction in puffiness around the eyes and firmer, toned skin.

        Caffeine in MAC products is in a powder form that is combined with emollient humectants and well-known skin nutrients such as vitamins A and E and lavender oil.

        Another everyday ingredient waking up tired eyes is menthol.

        Shiseido Eye Soother uses a delivery system for its moisturizers that also holds a mild form of menthol. The menthol is released slowly for a prolonged cooling sensation.

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