6 Under Eye Patches That Are Actually Worth Your Money

I first came across Le Mieux’s under eye patches at an event for pro makeup artists that work in television and film—my first clue that these would be ideal for multitasking. Since under eye patches are soaked in various serums, they tend to slide down your face or drip excess product. These babies, however, stay put. It makes sense that they’re a go-to on sets, considering that I wore them during a particularly chore-filled evening. They didn’t budge while I vacuumed and schlepped around the laundry. 

As for formula, the gel is packed with hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex, including one Le Mieux says mimics TGF (aka transforming growth factors) to support firmness, plus barrier-supporting algae extracts and green tea. You can flip the placement of these patches depending on your needs — with the wider end toward your nose if puffiness and dark circles are your main complaint, or the thinner end by your nose to plump fine lines near the outer corners. 

I found that these were my favorite of the bunch. They stayed in place, made applying makeup a breeze, and perked up my under eyes — plumping and firming the tiny fine lines. They’re a great on-the-go option, so I’ll definitely be keeping them handy for future travel.

If, like me, you love salty things, you may be familiar with what I call a salt hangover, when your eyes are puffy, bleary, and a little swollen. Essentially, sodium makes your body hold on to water, and overnight that fluid settles into the thin, soft skin under your eyes. So it makes sense that after a night of Korean barbecue (where I was quite literally dipping everything into a bowl of salt) I woke up with next-day puffies so intense I needed to call in backup. YISE’s under eye patches came to the rescue.

These patches handle puffy under eyes with a gel that feels cool on contact, helping to tone down the swelling. The formula also contains depuffing caffeine and menthol — which is rounded out with a stable vitamin C derivative, hyaluronic acid, and allantoin to plump and calm. They’re constructed with a fabric-backed gel rather than a serum-soaked sheet, so they’re good about staying in place. I popped a pair of patches on in the morning and by the time I had finished my coffee, the swelling had already subsided significantly and I was much more comfortable.

There are many who will argue that under eye patches and masks aren’t necessary, that eye cream will suffice, but to them I say, why not have both? These reusable under eye patches from Barefaced are made from a thin layer of silicone that can be paired with any eye cream under the sun — or even just your usual moisturizer. Simply stick them onto your skin after applying eye cream or moisturizer to keep the product sealed against your under eyes. This will provide that occlusive layer that prevents transepidermal moisture loss.

Because the silicone has no formula of its own, a pair is only as good as whatever’s underneath it, which makes it an excellent excuse to finally use the eye cream you’ve been rationing. I found that using a lighter hand with eye cream helped keep them from sliding — but because the silicone was so delicate, it easily hugged the contours of my eye area to stay in place. Thicker constructions tend to have a hard time settling into the grooves of your face.

Barefaced claims they'll hold up to 12 months of usage with the only upkeep being rinsing and drying. They also come with a handy case for flat storage. So while $30 for a single pair may seem like sticker shock at first glance, the reusable factor makes their cost-per-wear potential a very economical choice.

If you don’t snap a selfie with your under eye patches, did they ever really happen? Pics certainly aren’t mandatory, but cute designs like these are made for attention. Live Tinted’s Rays are cut like little bronzy sunbeams that veer from the traditional tear drop shape that most under eye patches have. The triple complex (and fragrance-free) formula contains copper peptides, banana extract, and bakuchiol — all designed to gently brighten and boost collagen production. They’re also the fastest of the bunch, since their wear time is listed at ten minutes tops.

I found that the semi-circle shape sat nicely under my lower lash line, but didn’t quite reach the fine lines in the outer corners — which was fine because I was primarily after their under eye brightening effects. And they did brighten. My under eyes came back to life after a rough night’s sleep and I felt a touch glowier. They’re cooling and feel great on their own, but when popped in the fridge (a pro tip from the brand), they’re next-level.

While almost all under eye patches promise some level of hydration, Grown Alchemist’s Hydra-Restore patches lead with an unusual ingredient: Ectoin. This moisturizing ingredient works by forming what scientists call a hydration shell, so the formula is designed to help prevent water loss beyond just the time spent wearing the patches. In tandem with biomimetic hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and allantoin, the formula is designed for longer-term hydration.

These would be my go-to for allergy season — when the irritation and constant rubbing tends to result in dry, patchy areas around my eyes. They’re also slightly oversized compared to other patch sizes, so they cover a good amount of skin while staying firmly in place. Each box contains a set of 8 masks for $25, making them the most economical of the bunch — and they’re biodegradable, too. A win-win.

These under eye patches may be comparatively pricey, but they’re dermatologist developed to do more than a quick fix. Referred to as an “advanced biocellulose eye treatment”, these masks were formulated by dermatologist-scientist Dr. Macrene Alexiades as a plant-based alternative to injectables in the under eye area. They’re packed with a ton of actives, including peptides, micro-encapsulated hyaluronic acid, plant-derived caffeine and green tea, carried by their proprietary MA37™ delivery system, which boosts your skin’s absorption of the formula. If I wanted the best possible results before an important event (like a wedding), I’d be reaching for these under eye patches.

They come in a sachet with protective cotton layers you peel away before the gel goes under your eyes and out toward your crow’s feet. They’re big and there was a ton of liquid, which made them slip and slide a bit — so I’d recommend laying down or sitting still for these. However, the benefit of all that liquid is that it can be repurposed and applied to the rest of your face, neck and chest. Overall, I found that just one wear really did make a visible difference in my under eyes. Slightly brighter, a little firmer, significantly more hydrated, and I looked a little more alive before an evening event.