We independently select and review the products we recommend. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through our affiliate links below. Learn more about how we review products and our sources of information.
Under-eye patches offer the fastest makeover for the under-eye area. If you’ve never used one before, let me elaborate. You don’t always have 45 minutes to spare for waking up tired-looking eyes. Sometimes, you need something that acts fast when you don’t have the energy or the time. That’s where under-eye patches come in. An under-eye patch or under-eye mask is usually made of hydrogel soaked in serum. It’s designed to hydrate the eye area, minimize lines and wrinkles, and reduce under-eye discolorations too. Keep reading to find out how they actually work and the best under-eye patches to try.
In a hurry?
Patchology FlashPatch Restoring Night Eye Gels is my top recommendation. The patches target wrinkles, dryness, and dark circles. They’re suitable for all skin types and give instant results.
How Do Under-Eye Patches Work?
Under-eye patches work by infusing the eye area with hydrating ingredients as well as certain active ingredients. The reason why they work fast is twofold.
First, the ingredients absorb into the skin and penetrate better. Because there are no creamy, emollient ingredients that might prevent absorption.
And second, because patches adhere to the skin, they create an occlusion in that area, which has a plumping effect on the skin.
In sum, eye patches plump up the skin with hydration and reduce the appearance of signs of aging for long-term benefits. But of course, plumpness is the most noticeable and measurable effect.
How To Choose an Under-Eye Patch
Look For Hydrating Ingredients
Look for hydrating ingredients to hydrate and plump up the skin around the eyes instantly. All eye patches contain humectants like hyaluronic acid.
Because of that, even the simplest of them can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines simply by plumping up the skin. But the more the merrier. So look for aloe, glycerin, and cucumber for more hydration.
Look For Active Ingredients
Look for active ingredients in your under-eye patches depending on your concerns. For example, fine lines and wrinkles are usually the ones that require hardcore anti-agers.
So if you’re dealing with crow’s feet, wrinkles, and fine lines under the eyes, look for anti-aging eye patches that contain retinol, antioxidants, and/or peptides.
If you’re dealing with dark circles, look for vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), and caffeine too. If you have under-eye bags and puffiness, caffeine, as well as green tea, will help with that too. And most under-eye patches are cooling for the skin, which happens to help with puffiness as well.
Pay Attention to the Material
Under-eye patches come in different materials. Most commonly, you’ll see gel masks in various thicknesses. They look and feel like jelly, and are innately hydrating. Their downside is that they move around.
The slippery material can slide down to your cheeks. If you have sensitive, redness-prone skin, the occlusion from the patches may cause redness on your cheeks. So make sure the formula of the mask is gentle.
There are also silicone under-eye patches. They don’t contain any ingredients. The silicone material itself is the mask. They usually don’t slide or move around. Also, they’re reusable, therefore, more sustainable.
Completely sheet under-eye masks are not that common anymore because of their wasteful nature. Instead, we have fiber masks. It’s not fair to say that one type is superior to the other. It’s a matter of preference.
But no worries, I’ll make this very easy for you. I listed below the best under-eye patches considering all of the criteria I mentioned above. And I also rated them based on how well they cover all the aspects I’ve talked about and the overall experience. Dig in!
The Best Under-Eye Patches
1. Patchology FlashPatch Restoring Night Eye Gels
Pros
Smoothes wrinkles
Works instantly
Cons
Slips a bit
Contains fragrance
These gel patches are the perfect addition to any evening skincare routine. First of all, the patches are super hydrating with squalane and hydrolyzed collagen. Secondly, they contain retinol to boost skin turnover and collagen production. And lastly, the patches contain peptides, specifically a neuropeptide called Argireline. Otherwise known as neurotransmitter inhibiting peptides, these babies relax the overly-active muscles and as a result, smooth out wrinkles around the eyes.
The 3in1 formula hydrates, firms, and tones the skin around the eyes for a more youthful appearance in 5 minutes. Plus, they come in different packs; single-use, 5 pairs, and 30 pairs. That way, you can test out the single-use one before you commit. Among this round-up, these patches are the ones I always come back to. And I also tested them on my 60+-year-old mom and it worked very well for her too!
Key Ingredients: Retinol, Argireline, squalane, green tea
Good For: Wrinkles, firmness, dryness
Size: 30 pairs
Quick Tip: You’re supposed to leave these on for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, try placing them on your smile lines. I absolutely love how it plumps my smile lines. Also, the hydrogel patches shrivel after about half an hour. Toss them away but keep the remaining serum for later. I massage it into my frown lines to smooth them out.
2. Derma E Vitamin C Bright Eyes Hydro Gel Patches
Pros
Super hydrating
Brightening
More bang for your buck
These ones are as potent as vitamin C eye creams. And vitamin C has excellent antioxidant and anti-pigmentation benefits. UV exposure is one of the most common causes of skin aging around the eyes. And it comes in the form of hyperpigmentation, dehydration, and of course, fine lines.
As the ultimate antioxidant, vitamin C helps repair the damage and brighten the undereye area. For an additional treat to get rid of raccoon eyes, the patches also contain niacinamide as well as caffeine to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark circles. Hyaluronic acid, aloe, and cucumber drench the skin in water any time you need to freshen up.
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, niacinamide, caffeine, hyaluronic acid, aloe
Good For: Dark circles, puffiness
Size: 30 pairs
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
3. Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
Pros
Instantly cooling
Brightening
Doesn’t slip
This one utilizes antioxidants and peptides to come at crow’s feet. The patches contain coenzyme Q10, an incredibly skin-friendly antioxidant, for its free radical scavenger benefits. And neuropeptides target hyperactive muscles and reduce wrinkle depth and size.
Plus, the patches are super moisturizing with their olive oil base and they’re brilliant for reducing dryness and flakiness around the eyes. The cooling effect also helps with puffiness. But for added benefits, remember to keep the patches in the fridge.
Key Ingredients: Argireline, coenzymeQ10, glycerin
Good For: Wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, puffiness
Size: 8 pairs
4. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask
Pros
Potent anti-aging formula
Large patches
Can be used around the mouth
Cons
Expensive
These gel eye masks are incredibly hydrating around the eye. And they’re great for both instant and long-term results. The retinol eye masks stimulate the eye area for skin renewal and healthy collagen synthesis.
The hydrating base formulated with squalane, hyaluronic acid, and a blend of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts improves the appearance of fine lines and signs of aging around the eyes. Slap on a pair for an instant glow-up! They’re pricey, but boy do they deliver!
Key Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin C, vitamin E, squalane, hyaluronic acid
Good For: Fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles
Size: 12 pairs
5. HydroPeptide PolyPeptide Collagel+ Eye Masks
Pros
Works fast
Plumps fine lines
Tightens
Can be used around the mouth
Cons
Expensive
These under-eye patches are as good as an anti-aging eye serum. They’re soaked in vitamin E, as well as vitamin B3 for their antioxidant and brightening benefits. Plus, a blend of growth factors stimulates collagen production and skin renewal around the eye area for a more lifted appearance.
Hydrating hyaluronic acid plumps up fine lines while aloe and allantoin calm the skin and reduce irritation. The patches are a targeted bunch to address all signs of aging around the eyes.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, aloe, collagen
Good For: Firmness, wrinkles, dark circles
Size: 8 pairs
6. Earth Therapeutics Hydrogel Under-Eye Recovery Patch
Pros
Hydrates and depuffs
Affordable
Doesn’t slip
Cons
Results aren’t dramatic
These eye patches contain one of the most potent antioxidants; green tea. Thanks to polyphenolic compounds, green tea extract protects the eye area from sun damage while repairing the existing one. Not to mention, green tea is super helpful in reducing dark circles as well.
The additional vitamins A, C, and E address fine lines and wrinkles for enhanced benefits. And the soothing combination of aloe and cucumber depuff the eyes, making these the best affordable anti-aging under-eye patches to reduce wrinkles.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, aloe, cucumber
Good For: Dark circles, puffiness
Size: 5 pairs
7. SiO Eye & Smile Lift
Pros
Reusable up to 10x
Can be used overnight
No slip
Silicone wrinkle patches, unlike regular hydrogel patches, don’t infuse the skin with anything. They sit on wrinkles and slowly plump up the skin from the inside. With their physical occlusion, they trap moisture in there.
And they work amazingly well for all kinds of wrinkles on the skin just like they do under the eyes. And in case you haven’t heard, SiO makes the best silicone patches for under-eye circles and crow’s feet. These are reusable up to 10 times.
Key Ingredients: N/A
Good For: Wrinkles
Size: 1 pair
Quick Tip: Silicone patches give better results when used overnight. Put these on clean, dry skin before bed if you have a special day coming up. You’ll love how smooth your eye area looks the next morning.
8. Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask
Pros
Reusable for 1 year
More bang for your buck
Can be used alone or with eye serums/creams
You’ve probably seen these eye patches on Instagram. These are also silicone under-eye patches. What’s impressive is that the brand claims that the patches lasted for a whole year before the logo on the patches started to fade. Talk about sustainability! Just like any other silicone patch, there’s no ingredient in the product.
You place the patches on and that’s it. It plumps the skin around the eyes and minimizes wrinkles. However, you can use your own under-eye care products with these patches. Apply your eye cream or eye serum, then place the silicone patches on top. That way, you increase absorption and get better results from your products. It’s like when you saran wrap cream to make it work harder.
Key Ingredients: N/A
Good For: Wrinkles
Size: 1 pair
9. Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Firming Mask
Pros
Smoothes fine lines
Brightens dark circles
Contains tranexamic acid
Cons
Expensive
These are gel masks that hydrate, soothe, and smooth the skin around the eyes. They’re formulated with a hydration-boosting blend of hyaluronic acid, silk proteins, algae extract, and vitamin B5.
These potent humectants fill in wrinkles instantly. The patches also have tranexamic acid, an amino acid that works to reduce hyperpigmentation. And last but not least, you also get a dose of neuropeptides to smooth out crow’s feet and lift the eyes by reducing muscle contraction.
Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, Argireline, vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid
Good For: Dark circles, wrinkles, dryness
Size: 5 pairs
10. Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Eye Masks
Pros
Madly hydrating and depuffing
No slip
You come for the cute foil but stay for the replenishing formula. This unique mask has a hydrating sheet mask facing the under-eye area and gold foil on the surface to create an occlusion. That way, the serum-soaked mask works better.
It’s made with hyaluronic acid and several amino acids. And amino acids are incredibly hydrating and soothing for the skin. Plus, it has Argireline to minimize lines, and antioxidant-rich botanicals to nourish the eye area too. The patches don’t slip around. They stay put and leave the eye area looking awake and fresh.
Key Ingredients: Amino acids, Argireline, aloe, hyaluronic acid
Good For: Dryness, wrinkles
Size: 6 pairs
Quick Tip: These masks are disposable. But because they’re not hydrogel, they don’t shrivel quickly. Keep them in your fridge because trust me, you can get a few more uses out of them.
11. KNC Beauty All Eyes On Me All Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask
Pros
Natural formula
Boosts collagen for long term results
OK, speaking of cute packaging, these are something else. Don’t be fooled, though. These aren’t just for cute selfies. These are retinol eye patches with an impressive formula. The serum is packed with skin-plumping collagen, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin.
Retinol encourages collagen production for younger-looking eyes. But for instant gratification, the patch contains soothing aloe and allantoin and brightening licorice extract.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, licorice extract, hyaluronic acid
Good For: Anti-aging, brightening, dryness
Size: 5 pairs
12. Loops Beauty Weekly Reset Under Eye Mask
Pros
Big patches cover more area
Super hydrating
Anti-aging
Containing the ultimate anti-ager, these retinol eye patches renew the eye area while boosting moisture and nutrition. The patches also have niacinamide for its brightening and moisture-enhancing benefits to plump up the eye area.
Moreover, vitamin B5 soothes and hydrates while vitamin E helps with free radical damage. To calm the skin and freshen up the eye area, the patches are soaked in allantoin and calendula extract as well.
Key Ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide, vitamin B5
Good For: Signs of aging, discolorations, dryness
Size: 5 pairs
13. Sephora Collection Clean Eye Mask – Cucumber
Pros
Affordable
No slip
Hydrating
Cons
Nothing too special
Another budget-friendly under-eye patch that doesn’t travel across your face is this one. The hydrogel mask is really thin and adheres to the skin really nicely. This is a cucumber eye mask but Sephora also has this with caffeine, watermelon, and pomegranate too.
The hydrating mask infuses the eye area with cucumber, glycerin, and watermelon extract. It softens the look of dehydration lines and freshens up tired-looking eyes.
Key Ingredients: Cucumber
Good For: Dryness
Size: 1 pair
This completes our list of the best under-eye patches for wrinkles. If you want to up your under-eye care game, check out how to exfoliate the under-eye area for smoother skin.
