You swore you were going to go to bed after just one episode, but that was (of course) a lie. Luckily, the best under-eye patches can make it look like you actually got REM sleep even if you were too busy pulling another all-nighter (for business or pleasure, we don’t judge).
“Under-eye patches help hydrate, depuff, and brighten the delicate skin under the eyes,” Dr. Tia Paul, a board-certified dermatologist, says. “They do work, especially for temporary improvements, by delivering active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, caffeine, or peptides directly to the area.”
As Paul notes, these skin care products aren’t for permanent, long-lasting results. Rather, they’re for an immediate energizing perk-up when your eyes are looking just a little more tired than usual. To help you navigate the unwieldy selection of options available at the checkout counter, we found the best under-eye patches for every situation and skin type.
The Best Under-Eye Patches, According to GQ
- Best Under-Eye Patch Overall: Borghese Restorative Eye Sheet Masks, $7
- Best Under-Eye Patches to Use Before an Event: Kat Burki KB5 Eye Recovery Patches, $10
- Best Anti-Aging Under-Eye Patches: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks, $8
- Best Reusable Under-Eye Patches: Dieux Forever Eye Masks, $25
- Best Affordable Under-Eye Patches: Topicals Faded Under Eye Brightening & Clearing Eye Masks, $4
- Best 360-Degree Eye Mask: Dr Dennis Gross DermInfusions Lift + Repair Eye Mask, $9
- Best Under-Eye Patches for Depuffing: 111SKIN Cryo De-Puffing Eye Mask, $14
- Best Luxury Under-Eye Patches: Chanel Le Lift Anti-Wrinkle Flash Eye Revitalizer, $145
- Best Under-Eye Patches for Dark Circles: Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches, $3
- Best Under-Eye Patches for Brightening: YSE Beauty The Overachiever Brightening Eye Mask, $6
Best Under-Eye Patch Overall: Borghese Restorative Eye Sheet Masks
Thanks to the inclusion of natural ingredients from antioxidant-rich fruits—including acai and avocado—these under-eye masks help to smooth and firm the delicate skin around the eye by reducing the signs of aging around there, such as fine lines and wrinkles. “Infused with botanical extracts, they work to de-puff and refresh, making them the perfect remedy after long nights or early mornings,” Ian Michael Crumm, a celebrity esthetician and skin care expert, says. Plus, the addition of caffeine provides almost immediate results if your puffy eyes are the result of receiving fewer hours of sleep than you need.
Best Under-Eye Patches to Use Before an Event: Kat Burki KB5 Eye Recovery Patches
“These masks are a powerhouse for restoring vitality to tired eyes,” Crumm says. These eye patches are infused with the brand’s signature KB5 complex, which is a blend of cold-pressed botanicals meant to soothe, nourish, and brighten the under-eye area. Crumm says these provide immediate results, and recommends them for any situation in which you’ll want an instant eye-opening look.
Best Under-Eye Patches for Anti-Aging: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks
From fighting acne to early signs of aging, “retinol” is a term you’ll hear thrown around a lot for its benefits. These Murad under-eye patches utilize the power of retinol to hydrate, firm, and refresh tired eyes,” Paul says. Their bio-cellulose construction means they have a jelly-like consistency, which also makes them great for putting in the fridge—the added cooling effect will enhance the eye-opening experience, and it just feels…nice.
Best Reusable Under-Eye Patches: Dieux Forever Eye Masks
Heads up: These under-eye masks don’t actually contain any skin care products. Instead, they’re reusable patches that you use over top your typical eye products, like your favorite eye cream. The whole purpose of using masks—whether they’re full face or for under the eye–is to encourage the absorption of the key and active ingredients to better absorb into the skin. By using these reusable masks, you’re able to get more of a benefit from the products you’re already using—and you don’t need to keep buying new one-use patches.
Best Affordable Under-Eye Patches: Topicals Faded Under Eye Brightening & Clearing Eye Masks
A favorite of Vogue’s beauty commerce editor Conçetta Ciarlo, who calls these “non-pretentious” and “super effective,” these eye masks from Topicals help to even skin tone under the eye, while doing everything you expect from a product like this (e.g. depuffing, reducing fine lines, etc.). They’re also great for those with sensitive skin because it’s made without synthetic fragrances and dyes, which you almost never want in your skin care routine.
Best 360-Degree Eye Mask: Dr Dennis Gross DermInfusions Lift + Repair Eye Mask
The brand behind cult-favorite beauty bestsellers—like our go-to at-home LED face mask—masks an excellent eye mask that actually works around the whole eye area and not just where the under-eye bags and under-eye circles are. It utilizes green tea and niacinamide for dryness, while working together to turn back time around your eye area and slow down future signs of aging.
Best Under-Eye Patches for Depuffing: 111SKIN Cryo De-Puffing 8-Piece Eye Mask Box
People interested in biohacking have definitely heard of, and used, cryotherapy before. It’s basically a way to harness the power of super-cold temperatures for its restorative health benefits. This eye mask doesn’t manage to put sub-freezing temps against your orbs, but it does use its ingredients to replicate the effects of cryotherapy, namely: reducing inflammation and smoothening out the skin.
Best Luxury Under-Eye Patches: Chanel Le Lift Anti-Wrinkle Flash Eye Revitalizer
Chanel’s line of Le Lift skin care products is meant to help those who want to look like they’re in their 20s forever. Its Flash Eye Revitalizer comprises a concentrated eye serum and a pair of masks, which when used together, helps the serum penetrate the skin barrier for long-lasting effects. The appearance of dark circles seem to disappear, while the skin tone evens out, and the overall skin quality around the eyes see improvement—all worth the exuberant $145 price tag.
Most Under-Eye Patches for Dark Circles: Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Just like gold flakes on your drink, the gold in these eye patches might not be doing that much for your skin situation, but hey, at least you’ll look cool. Besides the gold, these much-beloved gel patches feature all the good skin care ingredients you know and love, including collagen, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid for a more lifted and awake appearance around the eyes.
Best Under-Eye Patches for Brightening: YSE Beauty The Overachiever Brightening Eye Mask
Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm, recommends these eye masks because of their hydrating, depuffing, and brightening properties. They’re packed with good-for-your-skin ingredients, all of which will have you looking like you’re a well-rested human being who prioritizes self-care—and not like you’re slogging through your day.
