For as long as I can remember I’ve suffered from puffy under-eyes — no matter how much sleep I get or how much water I drink. As I’ve gotten older, dark circles have entered the mix, too. And while incorporating depuffing eye creams (and the occasional espresso shot) into my routine has helped, sometimes I need an immediate fix — and that’s where under-eye masks come in.

Under-eye masks are a smaller version of your normal sheet mask, except they’re geared to specifically treat the delicate eye area. They’re a great intro into the world of skincare, but because of that there are countless options available. That’s why I scoured the internet and tried out dozens of under-eye patches to see which ones can really make a difference. No matter your eye concern, keep reading to find the best under-eye masks.

Best Overall

Wander Beauty Rose Gold Eye Masks

Sure, cute under-eye masks are fun to throw on for a quick hydration boost, but the best ones also go above and beyond to banish dark circles, brighten, and firm the delicate eye area. Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Masks manage to do all that and more, and it’s thanks, in part, to the impressive three layer design.

While many under-eye masks are made of one serum-infused layer, these feature three: First, the soft inner layer delivers a potent serum to the skin, the middle elastic layer ensures the masks stay securely in place (no slipping or sliding here), and the outer foil keeps everything locked into the skin to ensure the serum and all its benefits are adequately absorbed for the best results possible.

Though I didn’t initially see results after trying these masks, I did feel the cooling effects from the aloe, calendula, and lavender extract-infused serum. I experienced visible results hours later: Despite getting minimal sleep after testing the patches, not only were my dark circles barely visible come morning, but the area under my eyes also looked significantly brighter and felt much more firm. These have since become a staple in my routine.

As an added bonus, the masks are great for travel — slap these on before you take off you’ll be bright-eyed by the time you land.

Key Ingredients: Aloe leaf juice, Calendula extract, and Camu camu extract | Benefits: Firms and brightens | Count: 6 pairs

Best for Puffy Eyes

Peace Out Puffy Under-Eye Patches

What We Love: The size of these covers the entire under eye area. 

What We Don’t Love: Some users had a hard time getting them to stay in place.

If your primary concern is puffiness, these patches are your best bet. Puffy eyes can be the result of dehydration so the hyaluronic acid (along with drinking enough water!) add back in the necessary hydration. Caffeine also limits to limit blood flow to the area, temporarily, which can deflate the eye bags. Put these in your skin care fridge for an extra cooling effect and help reduce the baggage. 

We love how juicy these patches are, with lots of jelly serum on the cellulose mask, however some user found that it caused the masks to slide. These may be best for some sedentary self-care time to keep them in place. 

Key Ingredients: Caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Hydration, brings down puffiness | Count: 6 pairs

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  InStyle / Alexander Huang

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  InStyle / Alexander Huang

Best Brightening

Topicals Faded Under Eye Brightening & Clearing Eye Masks

What We Love: The hydrogel patch feels cooling on the skin. 

What We Don’t Love: These might stick a little too well. 

This brand entered the skin care scene with a bang, thanks to their bestselling Faded Serum for dark spots and discoloration. If the darkness you’re trying to target is concentrated in the undereye area, then their eye masks are the product for you. Packed with caffeine, kojic acid, and arbutin—a plant-based extract that helps to address excess pigmentation—these patches do it. They hydrate, reduce puffiness, as well as brighten hyperpigmentation to give you a well-rested appearance (even if your sleep tally says otherwise). 

The patches are a great option if you’re a multi-tasker to the max—making coffee, packing lunches, and getting ready while you let your skincare marinate—these will stay in place. In saying that, these may stay in place a little too well. We noticed you need to (gently) peel them off and it’s a little stickier than we’d prefer. 

Key Ingredients: Caffeine, kojic acid, arbutin | Benefits: Brightening, address dark circles and dullness, depuffs | Count: 6 pairs

Best Budget

Burt's Bees Hydrogel Eye Mask

Affordable yet powerful, these nourishing eye patches soothe in depuff in just 10 minutes (yep, you read that right). Made with vitamin E and algae extract, the essence in these masks quickly sinks into the delicate eye area to instantaneously reduce swelling, hydrate, and soften skin. The hydrogel texture also amplifies the soothing effect, so you start to feel refreshed from the moment you put these on.

Note that these masks are very slippery, so I recommend wearing them while laying down to ensure they stay in place (and to reap the most benefits). Because there’s only one set per package, these are especially great for travel, but I do wish there were multi-pack options available.

Key Ingredients: Algae extract and Vitamin E | Benefits: Hydrates and depuffs | Count: 1 pair

Best Splurge

Kat Burki Eye Recovery Masks

To rejuvenate your under-eyes after a big event, the Kat Burki KB5 Eye Recovery Masks are a splurge-worthy option that come to the rescue time and time again. "These are the first things I grab after a long night out,” says InStyle’s Commerce Editor, Mary Honkus. “In 15 minutes flat the soothing patches make tired, dark circles disappear like magic.” 

The secret lies in the unique combination of plant stem cells and cold-pressed avocado oil: The former works to minimize signs of aging and improve overall skin tone, while the latter intensifies the results because it increases collagen production, which in turn makes skin appear more plump.

“Most eye patches I've tried have a gel consistency, but I like that these are like fabric because they stay in place and don't slide down my face at all,” Honkus adds. 

After massaging the remaining serum into skin, you might experience a tight feeling — fret not as it’s the ingredients working their magic, and the sensation will fade within a few minutes.

 Key Ingredients: Botanical Hyaluronic Acid and Cold-pressed avocado oil | Benefits: Soothes and depuffs | Count: 8 pairs

Best for Dark Circles

Pixi Brightening Eye Patches

If you’re like me and suffer from dark circles no matter how much sleep you seem to get, then these patches will be the solution to your tired-eyed woes. Together, vitamin C and licorice work as a dynamic duo to instantly brighten and energize the under-eye area while also evening out skin tone for a fresh-faced, revitalized look.

The patches should last you through countless long nights, too, because each container comes with 30 pairs. We appreciate that each tub comes with an included spatula — an underappreciated feature that allows you to carefully pull out each mask and reduce the risk of tearing. 

While these are suitable for all skin types — including sensitive skin — it’s worth mentioning that these have a strong licorice scent. So, if you’re more sensitive to fragrance you may want to choose something else. 

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C and Licorice | Benefits: Brightens | Count: 30 pairs

Best for Nighttime

Patchology Restoring Night Eye Gels

Normally under-eye patches can be worn at any time, but these were specifically made to be worn at night due to the star ingredient: Retinol. The powerful active, which speeds up cellular turnover, works its magic to reduce fine lines on more mature skin while also minimizing the appearance of dark circles. Along with retinol, these impressive masks are also infused with peptides and arnica extract to reduce crow’s feet and inflammation, as well as de-puff. 

These patches only require about five minutes of wear to begin to see results. And though they have a gel texture, they stay in place (read: you won’t have to worry about them sliding down your face). If I had to pick one thing I didn’t like about this product, it’s the slightly sticky feeling it leaves. To remedy this, be sure to tap in the excess and follow up with an eye cream made to combat puffiness.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, Peptides, and Arnica extract | Benefits: Reduces fine lines and dark circles | Count: 5 pairs

Best for Morning

Milk Makeup Cooling Water Eye Patches

Caffeine doesn’t just wake you up when it’s ingested, it’s also proven to energize skin when used topically as well – and it happens to be the main ingredient in the Milk Makeup Cooling Water Eye Patches. When applied, the caffeine in these eye masks increases circulation to under-eyes, which in turn soothes and hydrates the area.

Other ingredients, such as natural seawater, aloe, and lavender, are used to add a boost of hydration, while also working to soothe and de-puff — which is super important when puffiness is more common in the mornings after waking up. These masks will ultimately make your eyes look and feel more refreshed. But that’s not all: The best part about Milk Makeup products is that they are completely vegan and cruelty-free, so you can feel good about your purchase, too.. 

Though this isn’t inherently a bad thing, It’s worth noting that these eye masks aren’t as serum-saturated as other options on this list, so they dry out more quickly when wearing. 

Key Ingredients: Caffeine | Benefits: Soothes, depuffs, and hydrates | Count: 6 pairs

Best Reusable

Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask

If I could only wear one pair of under-eye patches for the rest of my life, this would be it — seriously! Dieux Skin Forever Eye Masks are reusable silicone eye patches that can be worn over and over again (over 1000 times to be exact). After going through your regular skin routine, apply your favorite eye cream or serum to your skin, then place the masks over top — they will ensure your skin products stay in place, and actually increase absorption so you can get the most out of your skincare. After about 20 minutes, you can remove them, rinse, and then place them back in their case.

To ensure they stay sanitary and in pristine condition, you’ll want to clean them after each use. The cleaning process is pretty simple (with just a rinse), but make sure they’re completely dry before storing.

Key Ingredients: Silicone | Benefits: Reusable, helps products sink into skin | Count: 1 pair

Best Hydrating

Peter Thomas Roth Hydra-Gel Eye Patches

The skin under your eyes is the most delicate area on your face — meaning it’s more susceptible to drying out. When I’m feeling extra parched, I always look to these masks to quench my under-eyes thirst. They’re full of hydrating ingredients including glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which both draw moisture into the area to help under-eyes look and feel more hydrated. Additionally, these masks also contain caffeine to soothe and de-puff, and marshmallow root extract to soften skin.

Since these eye masks are larger than others and have a gel texture, they’re not the best at staying in place. Also, the size makes them difficult to place, especially if you have more of a petite facial structure. I recommend cutting them to better fit your face (plus, you’ll be left with more patches in the end). 

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Marshmallow root extract, and Caffeine | Benefits: Hydrates | Count: 30 pairs

Best for Eye Bags

Winky Lux Hydrogel Eye Patches

Woke up with serious eye bags? These will make them disappear in minutes. The immediate cooling sensation of these under-eye masks is what initially sold me, but the lasting results is what keeps me reaching for them again and again. Together, caffeine, Vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid work to depuff, brighten, and awaken tired under-eyes. 

Though they can be used at any time of day, I enjoy using these masks right when I wake up because they act as my eyes’ morning coffee. Plus, the cute star design is an instant mood booster, too. Pro tip: Store them in the fridge to enhance the soothing feeling.

While the instructions say to wear these for 10 minutes, I noticed that the serum completely soaked into my skin after about five minutes of wear. This could just be because my under-eyes are extremely dry, but it’s still something to consider before purchasing.

Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid | Benefits: Cools and depuffs | Count: 30 pairs

Best Gold

Skin Gym Gold Foil Eye Mask

Believe it or not, the use of foil does more than add a style factor to eye masks. In fact, foil is often used to help lock in the serum and retain moisture to keep the delicate eye area hydrated. And while we love the gold foil aspect of these patches, it’s just the cherry on top to an effective formula.

Featuring bakuchiol (a natural retinol alternative found in nature) and CoQ10 (a powerful skin compound loaded with antioxidants), these two ingredients brighten, tighten, reduce fine lines, and completely re-energize skin. And if you struggle with dryness, these masks are also infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the delicate area. 

While I found these masks to be pretty saturated upon opening, I did notice that there was a significant amount of serum left inside each packet — don’t let this go to waste! Even after removing the masks, tap the excess into your eyes. I always do this and find I get better results by using the extra serum. 

Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, CoQ10, and Hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Brightens and hydrates | Count: 5 pairs

Best with Retinol

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Eye Mask

What We Love: The ingredients not only reduce under eye bags, but target fine lines too. 

What We Don’t Love: It may take several weeks to see the results.

The fine lines around our eyes are somewhat inevitable. Sometimes loving called smile or laugh lines since they are caused by the crinkling that occurs from our facial expressions, they’re lines that we have earned with age. However, understanding, and maybe even appreciating, why we have them is not the same as wanting to see them. 

While your typical skin care routine can at times be used around the eyes, the skin around your eyes is thin and delicate. A dedicated product designed for that area is key. The Shiseido eye masks use a potent formula of pure retinol to address the texture and tone of aging skin in a formula designed for the eyes. The price is higher than many options on our list, but the results make it worth the cost. 

Because this contains actives, which don’t have an immediate impact, you may need to use these for several weeks in a row to start to notice the effect. 

Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid| Benefits: Smoothing fine Lines and wrinkles, dryness, and dullness | Count: 12 packettes

What to Keep in Mind

Skin Concern

Regardless of any skin concerns, using eye masks is a great way to refresh the delicate eye area, and they’re ideal for all skin types. But if you do have specific concerns, you’ll want to keep an eye out for certain ingredients to get the results you want. “Hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamin C, and caffeine are some of my top essentials when it comes to eye masks,” says Taylor Worden, celebrity esthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin.

If your under-eye area tends to dry out, Worden recommends looking for eye masks infused with hyaluronic acid, like Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches. This water-binding ingredient attracts moisture into the skin to hydrate and plump the area. While hyaluronic acid also helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, opt for eye masks with retinol for longer-lasting results (we like Patchology FlashPatch Restoring Night Eye Gels).

On the other hand, to combat dark circles look for patches that contain vitamin C, like Pixi BeautifEYE Brightening Eye Patches. The brightening agent minimizes the appearance of tired eyes to make it look like you got a full night sleep. And if you struggle with puffy eyes, caffeine works to instantly de-puff. Try using Milk Makeup Cooling Water Eye Patches for near instantaneous results.

Material 

While gel eye patches are the most common, there are also patches made with fabric and foil, too. Gel eye patches are great because the serum sits on top, which allows it to seamlessly sink into skin rather than staying stuck on the eye patch material. However, gel textures have a tendency to slide down your face, so you may want to lay down while wearing them to ensure they stay in place.

If you hate when eye patches slip and slide around your face, opt for fabric masks, like Kat Burki KB5 Eye Recovery Masks. This material has a good grip and will stay in place while wearing. Foil, on the other hand, doesn't really affect the staying power of the mask itself, but it locks in heat and moisture, so masks with foil finishes are ideal if you really want to see near immediate results because the serum underneath is less likely to evaporate.

Your Questions, Answered

How do you apply under eye patches? 

The most important part of the application process is preparing the eye area — you want to ensure that your face is totally clean before placing an under-eye mask on your face. “After removing all makeup and dirt, gently apply the under-eye patches,” says Jeannette Graf, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. If makeup isn’t removed, then the product on the patches won’t be able to soak into the skin. 

If your masks are housed in a jar, it’s important to use the spatula provided when taking them out of a container — this will prevent them from tearing and ensure that the serum stays soaked into the patch. If they’re in a packet, carefully slide them out and grab the thickest part of the patch, then apply to your face.

How do under eye patches work?

“All patches work by adding a layer of hydration to the skin and then covering it with an occlusive material,” said Nicole Hayre, M.D., a Virginia-based board-certified dermatologist. The main purpose of eye masks is to lock in moisture, and what it’s made out of plays an important role in its effectiveness. Gel, fabric, and foil all work well to hold serums or other skin products in place so that you can get the best results out of the treatment.

While it does depend on the packaging instructions, eye masks are typically worn for about 10 to 15 minutes. I noticed that after testing each product on this list, it took no longer than 10 minutes for the active ingredients to sink into the skin. When the patches are worn longer for 15 minutes, they start to dry out. 

Why Shop With Us

Taylor Bushey has been an avid writer across a range of publications since 2015. She is also a makeup enthusiast and is always trying out the latest products and discovering new trends. On top of conducting market research and testing every product on this list, she reached out to experts including Taylor Worden, celebrity esthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin; Jeannette Graf, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine; and Nicole Hayre, M.D., a Virginia-based board-certified dermatologist to learn more about how under-eye masks works and their benefits for the skin. 

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