Masks for the under-eye area aim to moisturize skin and reduce aging symptoms. Do they really function? Experts on skin care weigh in and suggest their favorites.
We solicited advice from popular doctors, estheticians, and celebrity makeup artists regarding the best under-eye patches. Shop their preferred eye masks for wrinkles, puffiness, and dark circles.
How Under-Eye Patches Affect Your Skin
The medical professionals we spoke with said that under-eye patches work by addressing dark circles, crow’s feet, wrinkles, and fine lines, as well as assisting in the reduction of puffiness. Under-eye masks brighten dark under-eye circles and make you appear more rested by hydrating and nourishing your skin with high-quality ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, retinol, and anti-aging compounds like caffeine. The eyes are the first part of the face where we detect aging, and fine lines and wrinkles can start to show around the middle of our twenties.
Do Eye Masks Really Work?
Do under-eye patches work? Engelman acknowledged Hyaluronic acid and ceramide eye masks can help the skin look more full. The capacity of under-eye masks to quickly infuse chemicals into your skin led Engelman to label them “wonderful.”
The concentration of the active components is higher because they should typically only be worn for 20 minutes and provide an immediate pick-me-up, she continued. A board-certified dermatologist in New York named Dr. Hadley King stated that the patch itself is occlusive, which means it can stop water loss.
Your skin may readily absorb the eye mask materials when combined with the moisturizing active substances included in the eye masks. King said that there is no requirement to apply eye cream after wearing eye patches unless you feel prompted to do so. “I think the main benefit is that the skin under the patch will feel highly moisturized,” King stated.
7 Best Under-Eye Patches and Masks of 2022
We consulted skin care and beauty specialists to get their advice on the under-eye spots listed below. Here are a few products designed to nourish the under-eye area that are suggested by experts.
Best High-End Eye Patches: Chanel
Chanel LE LIFT Anti-Wrinkle Flash Eye Revitalizer
Dermatologist Dr. Rachel Maiman of Marmur Medical in New York suggested that you think about purchasing these pricey eye patches. You apply the roll-on serum on top of the hydrogel patches and place them on your under-eye area. You then leave them on for 10 minutes.
The rollerball aids in removing fluid from the area around the eyes where it tends to gather. The hydrogel patches’ main function is to produce a barrier that prevents evaporation. This guarantees that the serum’s contents are fully absorbed by the skin, she continued.
Best Overnight Eye Patches: Sio Beauty
Sio Beauty Super EyeLift
There are several reasons why Engelman “loves” these eye patches from Sio. First, the silicone used in its construction is of a medical quality and “gently compresses your skin, keeping it smooth.” Additionally, “they help your skin’s natural capacity to retain moisture and amplify hydration, decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” Additionally, as Sio manufactures masks for your face, neck, and decollete, you can obtain these skin advantages on various parts of your body.
These patches can be worn up to 10 times each as you curl up with your weighted blanket.
Best Recent Release: Loops Beauty
Loops Beauty Eye Mask
King suggested Loops, a March 2020-launched face care line that specializes in masks. They “are made to fit into moments of your daily life,” she stated of these hydrogel eye masks. She mentioned that it contains retinol, a moisturizing pearl extract, and a nourishing floral complex in addition to being high in niacinamide, which is “excellent” for tone and texture.
Additionally, King mentioned that these eye masks hydrate, moisturize, brighten, smooth, depuff, and guard against free radicals. The fact that Loops masks are compostable, cruelty-free, and devoid of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic perfumes is another noteworthy Loops benefit for King.
Best Reusable Eye Patches: Wrinkles Schminkles
Wrinkles Schminkles Silicone Eye Pads
According to King, Wrinkles Schminkles eye pads have been proven to aid in reducing lines and wrinkles around and around the eyes. She said that while retaining moisture, “these medical-grade silicone cushions maintain the skin firm so it can’t crease or wrinkle.”
The $1 price per usage is reasonable because they can be used up to 30 times apiece. The hypoallergenic and cruelty-free eye masks, according to the manufacturer, can also be used to reduce stretch marks and scarring.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Eye Patches: Peter Thomas Roth
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
These eye patches from Peter Thomas Roth are one of celebrity makeup artist Tai Young’s “absolute favorites,” she said. Hyaluronic acid is included, caffeine reduces puffiness, and marshmallow extract softens the skin. They are loved by all of my actors on “Grey’s Anatomy,” even the boys, she added. I keep them in a mini-fridge at my makeup station.
The chilly temperature can improve your user experience because it leaves behind a nice, chilling sensation and can help further decrease puffiness, even though it is not necessary to store your eye patches in a refrigerator.
Best Brightening Eye Patches: Patchology
Patchology Restoring Night Gels
According to Celeste Rodrigues, an esthetician and the proprietor of Celeste Rodrigues Skincare in Beverly Hills, California, “These gel patches are relaxing to the under-eye area and contain retinol and peptides, so they will assist target fine lines and wrinkles and help to stimulate collagen.” A protein called collagen keeps your skin appearing supple and young.
Squalane is another ingredient that protects your skin from free radicals, which are particles that harm healthy skin cells, while also softening and hydrating it. Extracts of cucumber and cedrus atlantica bark reduce inflammation and puffiness, respectively. These “wonderful” eye patches, according to Rodrigues, also have a cooling effect and “bring down puffiness, especially before makeup application.”
Best Travel-Friendly Eye Patches: Tatcha
Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask
111Skin, Estée Lauder, and Wander Beauty are among the eye masks that celebrity makeup artist Meredith Baraf said she often uses. She added that they all “effectively hydrate, depuff, and brighten the under-eye area with skin-loving, nourishing ingredients.” This convenient choice from the Japanese skin care firm Tatcha is another of her favorites.
Each order comes with 10 individually packaged sheets that are small enough to fit in your jacket pocket, handbag, or carry-on bag. You could even utilize your (socially isolated and otherwise safe) layover to put this eye mask on and relax on your subsequent trip.
How Do Under Eye Patches Tackle Dark Circles, Puffiness and Fine Lines?
The substances that are injected into the patches are entirely responsible for the well-known advantages you get from wearing an under-eye mask.
Under-Eye Masks For Dark Circles
While you might spend a lot of money on pricier under-eye creams and patches, King and Engelman observed that your face’s structure and some genetic factors have a role in the appearance of your under-eye circles. Dark circles are frequently the result of shadowing brought on by our bone and fat structure; your facial shapes will decide where shadows fall, according to King.
“The perceived blackness is frequently the product of the underlying vasculature that is resting immediately underneath thin, translucent skin,” continued Engelman. Engelman clarified that the skin on your inside wrist, beneath the palm, is not blue. The Tyndall Effect is when veins may be seen through thin skin. According to her, characteristics that result in thin, pale skin or more pigment, which slow down blood flow, will accentuate the appearance of black circles.
Under-Eye Masks to Treat Puffiness
Puffiness might result from a fat pad or from fluid. “Your puffiness is probably from fluid,” stated King. “If you find that the puffiness is worse in the morning and better by evening, and worse some days than others.” Her treatment involves drinking more water, eating less salt, and sleeping with her head propped up on a few pillows to prevent the fluid from collecting entirely beneath her eyes. If fluid retention is a persistent problem for you, King advised using an oral contraceptive with a diuretic effect. Hormonal status will also influence fluid retention.
In cases when allergies are a factor in puffiness, “an oral antihistamine may be useful.” According to King, if your eye bags are persistent, they are more likely the product of anatomy, namely a fat pad that has fallen in height over time. “A lower lid blepharoplasty is the only effective surgical solution for this kind of issue. The Venus Freeze, a radio frequency device, might provide a momentary improvement in look, she continued.
Under-Eye Masks For Fine Lines and Wrinkles
In order to moisturize your skin and make it appear plumper, King advised keeping an eye out for humectants like hyaluronic acid, which can momentarily lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. In order to decrease fine lines over time, anti-aging peptides, growth factors, and retinol can help stimulate the creation of collagen and elastin. King suggested using the products consistently for optimal results.