The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (2024)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (1)

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Dealing with tired, puffy, swollen eyes isn't fun, but it is common, whether it's from lack of sleep or due to the stress of staring at a screen all day. Sure, you can temporarily disguise darkness and redness with an effective under eye concealer and play the long game by regularly using a top-tested eye cream, but for the times when your eye area needs a little extra TLC, under eye masks are the ultimate form of repair.

"One of the areas often neglected is the under eyes," says David Shafer, M.D., FACS, owner of Shafer Clinic in New York. "We concentrate on the face and neck, but the sensitive skin under eyes definitely needs some pampering. Under eye patches are a great way to directly deliver effective products to the lower eyelid skin to keep it smooth and moist."

Unlike a sheet mask or a traditional skincare face mask, these patches are formulated specifically for your delicate under eyes to target eye-specific issues like puffiness, dark circles and crow's feet. Their unique shape hugs tight to the contours around the eye area, and they're designed to stay put as they work to quickly (and visibly!) depuff and brighten eyes.

At the , we test thousands of skincare products year-round to help our readers invest only in products that actually work. Most under eye patches claim to do anything from hydrating and firming the skin underneath the eyes to reducing fine lines, diminishing puffiness and dark circles or brightening the eye area — but only some actually do the trick.

Our top picks:

To find the winners, we parsed through 43 of the most popular under eye patches on the market and tested on 228 consumers. Our results found the best under eye patches you can buy, a combination of our top-tested products, editors' and expert picks and cult favorites that have stood the test of time.

1

BEST OVERALL UNDER EYE PATCHES

skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels (8 count)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (8)

Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (9)Visibly reduced fine lines
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (10)Made testers' under eyes feel hydrated
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (11)Pricey

These eye patches — designed to work in just 10 minutes — ranked easiest to use in our tests. Testers gave them perfect marks for having a pleasant fragrance and staying put without leaving any unpleasant residue behind. In the Lab, they received high marks for diminishing fine lines and wrinkles — by 23% in our tests.

Testers also gave this set one of the highest scores for hydration, with one saying, "loved the way my under eye skin felt after using this product," and that skin "looked noticeably different." The asymmetric shape and generous size tackle a myriad of issues and can extend to reach crow’s feet, too, but at over $4 per pair, they're pricey.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, elastin
Price per pair~$4.25

2

BEST VALUE UNDER EYE PATCHES

PATCHOLOGY FlashPatch Eye Gels (30 Pairs)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (12)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (13)

Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (14)Proven soothing and hydrating benefits
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (15)Quickly reduces the appearance of fine lines
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (16)Oversaturated

Clocking in at about $1.50 per use, these under eye gel masks are a budget-friendly choice that deliver serious results. The gels feel instantly soothing as the patches go on, and testers liked that they stayed put during application and left a serum-like residue behind that consumers felt hydrated skin, although some thought the patches were too saturated with serum.

Lab tests showed this mask improved the look of fine lines and wrinkles by 9% immediately after application and a quick five-minute usage time means you'll see results fast. They're not the cheapest price per pair on this list, but for the measurable results they offer, we think these offer the best value for the performance.

Key ingredientsCaffeine, hydrolyzed collagen, centella asiatica
Price per pair~$1.50

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Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (19)GH Beauty Award Winner
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (20)Visibly reduced the appearance of puffiness
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (21)Extracts may not be ideal for sensitive skin

If bags and puffiness are your main issues, reach for this GH Beauty Award winner. The effective patches had 80% of testers agreeing that eye area puffiness was reduced after just one use, plus 96% of testers said they felt instantly refreshing. They're infused with a range of botanical extracts like pear, blueberry, blackberry and glycerin, which help to soften and hydrate skin, although they may be a bit harsh on sensitive skin types.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, botanical extracts
Price per pair~$1.33

4

BEST UNDER EYE PATCHES FOR DRY SKIN

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches (30 Pairs)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (22)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (23)

Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (24)Great for dry, sensitive skin
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (25)Larger-than-average size
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (26)Must keep sealed to prevent drying out

When you want bright, hydrated under eyes, think of these as a drink of water and a cup of coffee for your face. Water Drench is packed with hyaluronic acid that works to bring hydration to skin all day long, while caffeine brightens eyes. These patches are larger than a standard under eye patch to cover more surface area and are formulated with skin-soothing ceramides and collagen to soften skin and smooth lines.

We haven't Lab-tested these, but one of our beauty editors swears by them to quickly hydrate and brighten even dry, sensitive skin. Like all jars, be sure to tightly close this one after use or your masks will dry out!

Key ingredientsCeramide NP, hylauronic acid, collagen, marshmallow root extract
Price per pair~$1.83

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5

BEST UNDER EYE PATCHES FOR WRINKLES

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask (12 Pairs)

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Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (28)Great for mature skin
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (29)Claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (30)Retinol may be irritating on sensitive skin

If you have crow's feet and visible signs of aging around your eyes that you want to nix, these retinol-infused patches are for you. Though we haven't Lab tested these patches, we stand by the fact that retinol is a the gold star of anti-aging skincare ingredients: It's proven to speed up cellular turnover to boost skin’s collagen production to both minimize and prevent fine lines, meaning it works on existing lines and stops new ones from popping up. Reviewers swear they immediately improve the look of wrinkles and puffiness, but retinol has a tendency to be irritating on skin at first, so expect some mild discomfort at the beginning.

Key ingredientsRetinol, hyaluronic acid
Price per pair~$6

6

BEST MULTI-USE UNDER EYE PATCHES

Talika Eye Therapy Patch (6 Pairs) & Case

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Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (32)Reusable
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (33)Comes with a metal case for storage
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (34)Some reviewers say it's not ideal for dark circles

A celeb favorite, these eye patches are actually reusable for up to three wears, which means less waste and more bang for your buck. If you follow the instructions, each use comes out to around $3.89 (though some reviewers say, "I use them more than three times each and still totally works"). They're made with wheat germ oil, ceramides and avocado oil, and reviewers "love the way it hydrates and reduces puffiness." After wearing the patches for 30 minutes, simply place them in the included chic metal case until you're ready for your next round.

Key ingredientsCeramides, shea butter, plant oils
Price per pair~$3.89

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7

BEST UNDER EYE PATCHES FOR TRAVEL

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks (6 Pairs)

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Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (36)Stay-put adhesion
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (37)Made with hydrating and soothing ingredients
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (38)May not be as saturated with serum as other masks

We haven't tested these Instagram-famous patches, but we do know you'll feel like a star using these glitzy masks while traveling. They are formulated with elastic for a snug, custom fit and the hyaluronic acid helps hydrate and fill the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while aloe and calendula soothe skin. Since these patches are made of cellulose fiber and gold foil, not slippery gel, they'll stay put even if you're running to catch a flight (hence the name), though some reviewers found they don't feel as saturated as other eye masks on the market.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, calendula
Price per pair~$4.33

8

MOST POPULAR UNDER EYE PATCHES ON AMAZON

DERMORA 24K Gold Eye Mask (20 Pairs)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (39)

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (40)

Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (41)Made with skin-plumping ingredients
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (42)Individual packets great for travel
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (43)Not as hydrating

Though we haven't tested these in the Lab, Amazon reviewers cannot get enough of these luxe-looking eye patches. With well over 22,000 five-star ratings, these gold patches are the top-seller in eye masks. Reviewers swear that when applied twice weekly, "it keeps eyes looking young firm and healthy." One even says the formula is "better than Botox."

The brand says the patches are formulated with hyaluronic acid and collagen and that you'll see results in 30 minutes flat, though some reviewers say that while they seem to help with soothing puffiness, they don't do much in the way of hydration of discoloration.

Key ingredientsHyaluronic acid, collagen
Price per pair~$0.50

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9

BEST UNDER EYE PATCHES FOR DARK CIRCLES

Good Molecules Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (44)

Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (45)Uses niacinamide to brighten dark circles
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (46)Feels cooling on skin
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (47)Can sometimes slip

These caffeinated hydrogel patches have a gel-like texture that feels soothing on skin, while its 1% caffeine claims to wake up sleepy eyes. For those looking to target dark circles, its brightening niacinamide is a great dark spot-fighting addition to your skincare routine. While we haven't Lab tested these, one GH editor loves how cooling these feel to prep for her makeup routine, but notes that the gel texture is prone to slipping, so you'll have to readjust them to stay in place.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, niacinamide, caffeine
Price per pair~$0.60

10

BEST REUSABLE UNDER EYE PATCHES

Dieux Forever Eye Mask

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (48)

Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (49)More sustainable than other eye masks
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (50)Silicone patches stay put
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (51)Requires cleaning after each use

Tired of tossing out single-use patches? Try these reusable Dieux eye masks, designed to increase the efficacy of your favorite eye cream or serum. According to the brand's testing, the Forever Eye Mask lasted one year before the logo started to fade with daily use, making it one of the most affordable and sustainable options, though you'll have to take care in cleaning them after each use.

"These are a godsend for those who struggle to keep over-soaked eye patches in place and have no time to wait for the excess product to absorb," Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann says. "The non-porous silicone patches are slender yet durable and quickly adhered to the skin, preventing evaporation and extending the product beyond the surface." Its elegant aluminum case allows for easy breezy storage, with cleaning taking next to no time.

Key ingredientsVaries
Price per pairVaries

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11

BEST SOOTHING UNDER EYE PATCHES

SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Eye Mask (1 pair)

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Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (53)Designed to stay in place
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (54)Single-use pair

Sephora reviewers love the soothing and depuffing feeling of this cucumber set. Instead of being made of a gel-like material, our pros love that these are made of a natural fiber so they feel more reminiscent of sheet masks made specially for your eyes, which may help them better stay in place.

Sephora has many different iterations of eye masks, but cucumber is the reviewer favorite to reduce puffiness. It's just as relaxing as placing fresh-sliced cucumbers on your eyes — but a lot more functional. Keep in mind that there's only one set included in this pack, so the cost-per-pair is high, but it's very travel-friendly.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, fruit extracts
Price per pair~$4

12

BEST PLUMPING UNDER EYE MASKS

Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Firming Mask (5 Pack)

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Pros
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (56)Made with hydrating hyaluronic acid
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (57)Esthetician-backed brand
Cons
  • The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (58)Pricey

Celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas is known for her facials that leave skin looking instantly refreshed and glowing. When you can't head in for a salon service, these eye masks are the next best thing. We haven't tested these, but love that they're made with silk protein, hyaluronic acid and algae extract to hydrate and plump eye skin for immediate smooth-looking results.

The downside is the extremely lofty sticker price, but reviewers unanimously agree that they really work: In just five days, "the fine lines under my eyes disappeared," said one. " I genuinely didn't want to take them off, but when I did the skin around my eyes felt fresh and hydrated," said another.

Key ingredientsHydrolyzed silk, panthenol, glycerin
Price per pair~$12

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How we test the best under eye patches

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Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab chemists send products (with labels obscured) to testers with under eye concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and lack of firmness. After using the masks at least three times, testers answer a detailed survey on performance, ease of use and efficacy.

We also take in-Lab measurements before and after use with the Visia Complexion Analyzer, which can measure wrinkles, spots, UV spots, pore size and skin texture. The top performers in our last study scored points for not leaving an unpleasant residue and not interfering with any makeup application following use, making them ideal for applying first thing in the morning, before a night out or on the go.

Do under eye patches actually work?

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (60)

Yes — the most common benefit seen with these products in the Lab was softening and smoothing of fine lines and wrinkles immediately following application. About 90% of the panelists agreed that the patches hydrated their skin, and 79% of testers reported softening, cooling and relaxing benefits.

"Eye patches are great for patients with crepey skin, puffiness, rough skin and light discolorations," says Dr. Shafer. As far as eliminating dark circles and under eye bags, our findings only saw occasional tightening benefits, low reduction of under eye bags and little (if any) improvement of dark circles. That means that under eye patches really are best for acute issues like puffiness and tired eyes, and you'll probably see the most results immediately after application.

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Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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The Good Housekeeping Institute features a team of product experts and scientists who frequently collaborate in making the best recommendations out there. Former Executive Director of the Health, Beauty & Sustainability Lab Birnur Aral and Deputy Editor Jessica Teich teamed up in naming the best under eye patches listed above: Aral ran the Lab and consumer tests, analyzed the data and compiled them in a technical report, while Teich distilled the findings, gathered additional recommendations from double board certified plastic surgeon David Shafer, M.D., FACS and wrote this roundup. Beauty Analyst Chiara Butler reviewed this article for accuracy.

Butler has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Columbia University and years of experience as a cosmetic chemist formulating skincare products for a variety of beauty brands. Teich has over 10 years of experience researching, testing and writing about skincare products, including skincare ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and ceramides), moisturizers and more.

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Jessica Teich

Director, Editorial Commerce & Product Reviews

Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today's Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.

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Tested byChiara Butler

Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst

Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.

The Best Undereye Patches to Make You Look Instantly Awake (2024)

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