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A pair of under-eye masks aren’t going to change your life or make you look 10 years younger. But anything that helps you take care of your skin and have fun in the process is a good thing. To our editors, the best under-eye patches are prized accessories in a well-rounded skin care routine — and self care routine, for that matter.
Compared to other areas of the complexion, the skin around our eyes is delicate and thin. This means that our eyes are often the first place to show signs of fatigue, dehydration, or a poor night sleep by way of swelling and dark circles. Under-eye patches are designed as deep treatments for a quicker improvement in your skin concerns than you’d see with a classic eye cream. But do under-eye patches work? That depends on your expectations, according to our experts. They won’t give you an instant eye lift nor will they cure dark circles for good, but they can provide a temporary improvement in the look of fine lines, puffiness, and sallowness.
WWD Shop editor Claire Sullivan tests top-rated under-eye patches near our New York City office.
WWD/ Claire Sullivan
“Under-eye patches are designed to best support active ingredients with optimal penetration and absorption for hydration, soothing and brightening,” explains Beverly Hills-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban. “To eliminate tired eyes or for a night out, one can use eye patches for a short-term pay off as there will be an improvement with intense hydration and firming or brightening,” she says.
Similar to sheet masks, the benefits you’ll reap from under-eye patches depends on the product’s formulation and ingredients. According to Dr. Shamban, popular under-eye patches include hyaluronic acid moisturizers to replenish dry skin, peptides for firming, and antioxidants for protecting the skin from free radicals that accelerate the aging process. Another great ingredient is retinol, which increases the production of collagen and gives the skin strength and elasticity.
Our editors have been testing under-eye masks for dark circles, puffiness, and wrinkles for well over seven months. After evaluating 31 pairs of under-eye patches, these picks earned five stars from our testers for their comfortable feel, value, and results.
Top Under-Eye Masks of 2024
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Best under-eye patches for wrinkles
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Best for: Firming and depuffing
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and colloidal gold
Number of patches: 30 pairs
Peter Thomas Roth has a whole suite of top-rated under-eye patches, but the 24K Gold iteration are bar none in our editor’s eyes. The gel patches are saturated with ingredients that help to depuff, brighten, and generally wake up tired eyes: Caffeine helps to reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness, while hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed collagen help to plump fine lines and crepey skin. With 30 pairs, this little tub of under-eye patches provides a month’s worth of masks for daily use.
Editor testing and review notes: “I always come back to Peter Thomas Roth’s gold under-eye patches. These masks are a relatively affordable luxury I like to add to my routine. They net out to $2.50 a pair, so I don’t have to feel too precious about using them or sharing them with my friends on a girls night in. They slid around a little bit when I applied them over eye cream, but on clean, dry skin, they stay put for a good 30 minutes.” — Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $63
Maskiss 24K Gold Under-Eye Patches
Best for: Calming and brightening
Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, sodium hyaluronate, and green tea leaf extract
Number of patches: 25 pairs
Amazon’s top-selling under-eye patches come courtesy of Maskiss, which have earned over 4,000 five-star reviews in recent months. Despite the ultra-affordable price point, these eye masks don’t short you on skin-reviving ingredients. Notably, these under-eye patches contain centella asiatica extract, a potent plant-based ingredient that calms irritation and reduces puffiness, as well as anti-inflammatory green tea leaf extract.
Editor testing and review notes: “For the price, I was super impressed by the results of these under-eye patches. I left them on for about 20 minutes while getting ready for a dinner date, and when I peeled them off I noticed a subtle improvement in crow’s feet. They also made my concealer go on like butter — and without creases.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $16.95
best under-eye patches for dark circles
Topicals Faded Brightening Under-Eye Masks
Best for: Brightening, depuffing, and hydrating
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, tranexamic acid, and kojic acid
Number of patches: 6 pairs
Topicals is a TikTok-famous beauty brand for its ingredient-driven skin care products that target common skin concerns like dark spots, acne, and acne scars. Its Faded Brightening Under-Eye Masks are no different, delivering a dose of brightening niacinamide and kojic acid, as well as caffeine to help flush away puffiness. The inclusion of tranexamic acid makes these some of the best under-eye patches for discoloration, as the ingredient works to inhibit melanin production responsible for dark spots before it surfaces on your skin.
Editor testing and review notes: “I could run a mile in these eye patches — they don’t budge. One of my biggest qualms with most under-eye patches is that they slide around, but these ones adhere like a pimple patch to the skin, so you can go about your day while you wear them. I love that they treat my eyes to ingredients commonly found in top-notch eye creams; my dark circles always look a hair brighter after I use them.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $22
Best under-eye patches for puffiness
111Skin Cryo De-Puffing 8-Piece Eye Mask Box
Best for: Depuffing
Key ingredients: Seaweed, vitamin E, and peptides
Number of patches: 8 pairs
If you’re reaching for under-eye patches as a cure after a big night out, 111Skin’s are your best bet. This cooling beauty product feels icy when they make contact with the skin for temporary relief, while ingredients like seaweed extracts help to soothe inflammation in the long run. These eye patches are a splurge purchase, but we consider them absolutely worth it for special occasions when you want results quickly.
Editor testing and review notes: “I love 111Skin’s entire Cryo collection — I regularly use the sheet mask and moisturizer when my skin is feeling puffy and dull. The eye patches are a great entry into the line (I recommend them to all of my friends), as they’re less expensive than other 111Skin Cryo products but give you a taste of the brand’s magic. I store mine in the refrigerator so that they feel extra frosty and refreshing.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $110
Skinmedica Instant Bright Eye Masks
Best for: Brightening
Key ingredients: Golden root extract, Baker’s Yeast extract, and golden herb extract
Number of patches: 6 pairs
Treat dark circles and puffiness in 15 minutes flat with Skinmedica’s Instant Bright Eye Masks. These hydrogel masks steep the skin with plant-based ingredients that aim to brighten and hydrate skin in short order. Many dermatologists carry Skinmedica in their practices, so you can trust that these under-eye patches are a quality purchase rather than flimsy pieces of plastic.
Editor testing and review notes: “Team these under-eye patches with the brand’s Instant Bright eye cream, and you’ll look like you just returned from a week-long wellness retreat. Out of all of the under-eye masks that I tested, none held a candle to Skinmedica Instant Bright eye masks’ ability to make me eyes look wide-awake. In my book, these are the best under-eye patches for dark circles that money can buy.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $50
Grace & Stella Energizing Eye Masks
Best for: Hydration
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Number of patches: 24 pairs
These Jessica Alba-approved under-eye patches are another popular choice on Amazon with a whopping 16,000 five-star reviews from happy shoppers. They’re an affordable choice for teens, gifting, or occasions when you want to slap on a pair of eye masks without worrying about your bank account. Grace & Stella’s Energizing Eye Masks biggest benefit is hydration, making them a great choice to wear on a long flight or before applying makeup for a smoother, more radiant result.
Editor testing and review notes: “I always order up a box of these under-eye patches to slip into stockings around the holiday season. They’re a lovely little self care gift for men and women: While they aren’t going to fade discoloration or dark circles, they do feeling cooling on contact and make a small improvement in fine lines.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.99
Best reusable under-eye patches
Dieux Forever Eye Masks
Best for: Turning any eye cream into a deep treatment
Key ingredients: Medical grade silicone
Number of patches: 1 pair
Dieux burst onto the scene in 2020 with a tight edit of skin care products, but it was the Forever Eye Masks that solidified the brand as a viral hit, appearing on the eyes of nearly every influencer throughout the pandemic. These eye patches are entirely unlike other options on our list because they’re endlessly reusable. Rather than being soaked in a skin care solution, they’re made entirely of medical grade silicone. To use them, tap on your favorite eye serum or lightweight eye cream, adhere the patches for 20 minutes, then remove. The masks create an occlusive barrier over the eye serum you apply underneath for increased absorption, and you can quickly wash them with mild soap and water to keep them fresh between uses.
Editor testing and review notes: “Let’s face it: Any single-use beauty product isn’t great for the environment. If you, like me, are conscious of this, I recommend buying a pair of Dieux’s eye patches that you can re-wear for years. I’ve had my pair for about 10 months and they still have the impressive staying power that I noticed on the first use. I love that I can use them for a customized treatment, opting for a vitamin C-based eye cream to brighten my eyes or a caffeine-rich eye serum to depuff.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches
Best for: Hydrating, brightening, and firming
Key ingredients: TFC8, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, polysaccharides, and green tea extract
Number of patches: 6 pairs
If you’re a fan of Augustinus Bader’s anti-aging serums, dry skin moisturizers, and more, you’ll want to add the brand’s eye patches to your makeup bag, stat. These under-eye patches feature the same key proprietary complex — TFC8 — that powers up the brand’s cult favorites like The Rich Cream. That complex helps skin look brighter and feel bouncier; use them consistently for two weeks to see a difference.
Editor testing and review notes: “These eye patches are exactly what you’d expect from Augustinus Bader: They’re carefully packaged in individual saucers with plenty of serum, they feel lightweight and cooling on the skin, and you’ll actually notice a difference when you use them regularly. To get the most bang for my buck, I usually leave them on for a full hour. When I peel them off, my eyes look brighter and way more hydrated.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $130
Révive Instant De-Puffing Gel Eye Mask
Best for: Calming and depuffing
Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, and seaweed
Number of patches: 6 pairs
Most eye masks solely target the under-eye area. Rèvive’s Instant De-Puffing Gel Eye Masks, on the other hand, address the entire eye area with their unique figure-8 shape. For that reason, these are some of the best under-eye patches for mature skin, delivering firming ingredients like peptides to the entire orbital area. Seaweed and niacinamide work together to target dullness and puffiness, too.
Editor testing and review notes: “This eye mask covers some serious territory — it covers the entire under-eye area, the crow’s feet, 11 lines, and just above the eyebrows. I love that it address all of these areas rather than just the under eye area; this 360-degree approach gives the full upper half of my face a boost when I’m exhausted or recovering from a night out.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $80
Patchology Travel Size FlashPatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels
Best for: Hydration
Key ingredients: Centella asiatica, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine
Number of patches: 15
Just as the name implies, these are some of the best under-eye patches for puffiness that work in a flash. Patchology‘s eye gels use a highly-advanced proprietary HydraSurge5 Moisture System to accelerate the delivery of caffeine and collagen, which plumps and hydrates. Press these under-eye gel patches on for five quick minutes, whether you’re just getting home or running out the door.
Editor testing and review notes: “Compared to similarly-priced under-eye patches I’ve tested, these ones have way more serum per pair. They’re on the thin side, but because they have so much formula, you can tap in excess as a primer for eye cream after you use them. The biggest benefit I’ve noticed is in immediate hydration; they leave my skin feeling nice and quenched.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $26.25
How We Tested and Selected the Best Under-Eye Patches
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.
To select the best under-eye patches, a panel of four male and female testers tried 31 pairs of eye masks over the course of seven months. Our testers evaluated each pair based off of a set list of criteria relating to materials, packaging, key ingredients, as well as results. During testing, we paid close attention to how well the under-eye patches stick on the skin, how long they feel comfortable, and how frequently we needed to use them to see results. Our list includes under-eye patches to target key skin concerns like puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles for all demographics. On top of firsthand research and testing, we also relied on expert input from a board-certified dermatologist to help us debunk what eye patches can and cannot do. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Ava Shamban is a board-certified dermatologist who believes that appearance and self-esteem are one in the same. She dedicates herself to helping patients worldwide heal their skin to live happier lives. A California native, Dr. Ava graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She is currently a member of the ASDS, the AAD and serves on the editorial board for The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.
Meet the Author
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She keeps her finger on the pulse of all things related to beauty and wellness, as well as the latest shopping trends and clothing brands. Sullivan personally tested each of the under-eye patches on this list, as well as many more for consideration in the expert-approved guide.
