Eye masks are one of those skincare products that I immediately associate with luxury and self-care. Is there anything better than lying back with an indie acoustic playlist playing in the background and gold foil eye patches under your eyes, transforming your under-eye area, so it is as smooth and bright as the surface of a natural spring on a sunny day?
In this article, we’ve collected the best under-eye masks you can try out, including creams, gels, and eye patches. Whether you use them on a plane, at home or during a quick break, here you have the best under-eye masks and eye patches that fight signs of wrinkles and aging, depuff and get rid of dark circles that might be ruining your look.
1. Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask
These eye masks have both anti-aging and eye-brightening effects, since they contain both retinol and vitamin C. The rest of the formula is light yet super hydrating and full of antioxidants to repair and protect the skin. A hefty dose of retinol has instant effects to improve the look of the under-eye area. These eye patches come in 12 sets, and can be used as often as you’d like – 15 minutes is all it’ll take to see the result. Find them at Sephora!
2. Laneige Eye Sleeping Mask
This super soothing overnight sleeping mask might the best eye mask for those with dry and sensitive skin, though it will work for anyone. One of the cooler things about it is the applicator, a ceramic ball that cools the eye area and gives a gentle yet rejuvenating massage. The gel formula itself is fabulous as well – it contains caffeine to help with puffiness, beta-glucan to soothe, and a whole collection of phenomenal hydrators to pull moisture into the delicate skin under the eyes. It is available at Sephora.
3. Aveda tulasara Wedding Masque Eye Overnight
This is one of those eye masks that come to us in the form of a thick cream, with a formula that includes a lot of nourishing plant oils. Rich and creamy, this is one of the best under-eye masks for those with dry skin that need a boost of both moisture and oils. It contains anti-inflammatories like turmeric extract and caffeine to counter puffiness, while a touch of licorice root extract helps with luminosity. Buy this under-eye mask from Nordstrom!
4. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
At this point we know that just putting cucumber slices over the eyes doesn’t really work, but what about hydra-gel eye patches infused with cucumber extract? Those can have a real effect. This would be one of the best under-eye masks to use in the morning as a hangover cure.
The ingredients in it are great for the skin all-year round, but many of them, like cucumber extract, caffeine, arnica, and hyaluronic acid, address the dehydration and puffiness which are often the result of a late night. Those who are milia-prone or don’t like greasy-feeling eye products will appreciate the light texture. At Sephora, one jar will hold 30 sets of patches.
5. Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift
This is another creamy option for those who have dry skin around their eyes. It contains a mixture of humectants and oils to hydrate the eye area thoroughly, plumping it up and momentarily reducing the appearance of fine lines. Those with a bit of sensitivity will benefit from the addition of barrier-fortifying probiotic extracts, as well. This eye mask comes in a squeeze tube, with a cooling metallic applicator. It does contain some fragrant essential oils that won’t work for everyone. Pick it up at Ulta!
6. Tarte Pack Your Bags Under Eye Patches
These hydra-gel eye patches come in the coolest package we’ve seen so far, but that’s not what makes them so great. What makes this the best eye patch in the hydrating category is the sheer amount of different humectants and antioxidants. This is a light formula that gives intense hydration without any greasiness, and helps to really brighten and improve the appearance of the under-eye area. They’re intended to be single-use, but many reviewers find they can get two or three uses out of a single patch. You can get a package of 4 sets from Sephora.
7. Clé de Peau Beauté Vitality Enhancing Eye Mask Supreme
These are not tiny under-eye masks – it’s a set of 6 masks that adhere to the entire contour of the eye socket while also covering the forehead and the area between the brows. We’re not entirely convinced that they’re worth the price, but if you’re intrigued by the idea of a forehead and eye mask and money is no object, then you might as well give these a try. They contain a collection of natural plant extracts including the exotic-sounding iris extract, as well as some lovely humectants. They come in packs of 6 pairs at Nordstrom.
8. Petitfee Gold & Snail Hydrogel Eye Patch
The best sheet masks come from Korea, so it’s expected that some of the best under-eye masks would also come from there. These gorgeous golden eye masks are loaded with hydrating ingredients, skin-soothing snail extract, and all kinds of natural extracts to protect the skin from free radical damage. You can order a pack of 60 from Yes Style.
9. Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks
I would definitely feel a little weird wandering around an airport with golden eye patches under my eyes, but that’s not to discount these wonderful eye masks for at-home use! The gold foil patches certainly feel luxe, but it’s all about the ingredients soaked into the cellulose underneath that makes them special: hydrating hyaluronic acid, nourishing jojoba oil, and soothing calendula extra. They are great for dehydrated and sensitive skin under the eyes. One set includes six pairs of eye patches. Pick them up at Sephora!
10. KNC Beauty All Natural Retinol Infused Eye Mask
These eye patches with retinol are best for those looking for some serious anti-aging effects. They also include hydrating hyaluronic acid and collagen, and brightening licorice root extract for eyes that feel renewed and awake. Despite the serious age-fighting effect, these under-eye masks will still make you feel youthful when you use them, since they have the cutest design possible: made of hydra-gel, they are shaped like little shooting stars. Buy a pack of 10 pairs from Net-a-Porter!
11. Patchology FlashPatch Restoring Night Eye Gels
The list of active ingredients is a very long one, so no surprise these are the best eye patches for those who want radical effects. They contain a whole collection of peptides, so they do merit using regularly to reverse the look of fine lines. They also include rejuvenating retinol, brightening licorice, and soothing arnica. Despite the powerful ingredients they seem to work well for those who have sensitive skin. Order a set of 30 pairs from Ulta!
12. Hey Honey Look Into My Eyes Retinol and Propolis Eye Mask
Propolis, a nutrient-dense resin made by honey bee, is the star ingredient in what might be the best eye mask with a creamy texture on the K-beauty arena. In addition to healing propolis it also contains anti-aging retinol and soothing coconut oil for skin. The formula is creamy without being heavy, and should work for everyone except those prone to milia. Buy it from Ulta!
13. Sisley Paris Eye Contour Mask
Those with dry skin are obsessed with this creamy eye mask. While its main ingredients are extracts known for their healing and soothing properties, like ginkgo biloba and arnica, there is also vitamin E to nourish and protect and panthenol to hydrate. It comes packed in a squeeze tube, and you can find it at Nordstrom.
14. Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
Peptides are some of the most promising anti-aging ingredients in skin care these days, and if you’re also excited about the hype then you definitely want to try these eye patches. Made with a whole collection of peptides as well as a few other popular skin care ingredients like elastic and ginkgo biloba, this eye mask will make you feel more awake in the short term and may help fade the look of wrinkles in the long term. One pack comes with 8 pairs at Ulta.
15. BeautyBio Bright Eyes Illuminating Colloidal Silver + Collagen Eye Patch
Colloidal silver is normally touted for its antibacterial effects, but according to BeautyBio it can also help with skin rejuvenation. Whether that’s true or not, the effects don’t lie: these are the best eye patches for brightening the skin instantly. They infuse the skin with an irresistible glow, so if you’ve been feeling dull lately these should be you go-tos. One box includes 15 pairs of under-eye masks that you can purchase at Nordstrom.
16. Milk Makeup Cooling Water Eye Patches
These are the best eye patches for anyone feeling a little stressed out. They have a cooling and depuffing effect that is hard to resist, with some classic hydrating ingredients to infuse the eye area with moisture. They’re great even for those with sensitive skin, as they contain aloe, caffeine, and lavender. One box includes 6 pairs of under-eye masks, which are packaged individually so they are quite easy to travel with, which is a bonus! Pick them up at Sephora!
17. H2O+ Beauty Oasis Water-Infused Gel Eye Mask
The name of these eye patches just makes me think of dew, water drops and glowing skin. The purpose of these under-eye patches is to hydrate the skin, protect it from free radical damage, and keep it soothed and strong. There are probiotics in this formula along with some antioxidant plant extracts. Order a pair to try online from Dermstore!
18. Eminence Organic Skin Care Raspberry Eye Masque
This unique and all-natural eye mask will restore your eyes dramatically, especially if you have sensitive skin and dark circles. It contains vitamin K, an ingredient that seems to be extremely effective for treating blue and purple under-eye circles. There are also some old favorites here like hyaluronic acid, green tea, and calendula, and some ingredients we don’t see a lot of in eye masks like sea buckthorn extract and raspberry juice. It’s a rich and rejuvenating formula that would be best for aging and dry skin. It is available via Dermstore.
19. Earth Therapeutics Hydrogel Under-Eye Recovery Patch
If the idea of using eye patches seems a little novel to you and you don’t want to spend a lot of money on these right off the bat, then consider these hydrating eye patches. This is probably the best eye patch at this price point, with green tea extract, vitamin A, vitamin C, and a whole host of different humectants. One no-frills box includes 5 sets of eye patches that should really work for all skin types. Buy them from Ulta!
20. Kat Burki KB5 Eye Recovery Masks
Depuffing, soothing, hydrating, and anti-aging – it’s hard to resist these eye patches, especially if you’re a fan of all-natural products. They contain some traditionally great ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin, and some cool plant extracts from gotu kola, cassia angustifolia, and a few others we haven’t heard of before. They do contain quite a bit of cucumber extract, chamomile, and arnica, as well. You can find them in packs of 4 at Nordstrom.
21. 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask
This is the kind of eye mask you reserve for when you want to feel like a queen being pampered. It contains proven anti-aging ingredients like retinol, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, but while those are available in cheaper eye masks as well, what brings it up a level is the black diamond particles that make it feel glowy and sophisticated. Use it to ward away those fine lines while feeling as fancy as can be! You can order it online from Net-a-Porter.
Photos via @TalKalderon, Sephora, Nordstrom