Eye patches: what do they do and how do you use them?
Eye patches are small gel masks you leave under your eyes for ten to thirty minutes. They give the thin skin there a quick hit of moisture and a cooling feel, so your eyes look fresher and less puffy. The effect is mostly instant and temporary: puffiness goes down visibly, but dark circles caused by pigment or genetics won't disappear.
What exactly are eye patches?
Eye patches, also called eye pads or under eye masks, are crescent-shaped patches soaked in serum. Most are made of hydrogel: a firm, cool gel that moulds to your skin and releases moisture while it sits. There are also fabric pads, like a mini sheet mask, patches that slowly melt into your skin, and reusable silicone patches with no serum of their own.
The skin under your eyes is thinner than the rest of your face and dries out faster. Dry skin makes fine lines and shadows more visible. A patch holds the serum right where you want it, so it doesn't evaporate or slide off the way a cream sometimes does.
What do eye patches do, and what don't they do?
Eye patches are good at three things. They hydrate, so the skin looks smoother and plumper and concealer sits better. They cool, and cold helps puffy eyes calm down faster after a short night. And they give your eyes their own moment in your routine.
What they don't do: permanently remove bags caused by genetics or ageing. Dark circles from pigment or visible blood vessels stay too, although a hydrating patch can make them look a little softer. Collagen in a patch doesn't sink into your skin as collagen; it holds moisture on the surface. If you want to hide dark circles for the day, concealer is the tool for the job. In concealer 101: tips for dark circles and bags you can read how.
What types of eye patches are there?
| Type | How it feels | How long | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogel patches | Cool and firm, stays in place | 15 to 30 minutes | Moisture and a fresh morning |
| Fabric eye pads | Thin and wet, like a mini sheet mask | 15 to 20 minutes | A quick moisture boost |
| Melting patches | Slowly dissolve into your skin | Until dissolved | Actives like retinal, often at night |
| Reusable patches | Silicone with no serum of their own | 10 to 15 minutes | On top of your own eye cream or serum |
New to eye patches? A jar of hydrogel patches is the easiest place to start. The Essence Milky Glazed Hydro Gel Eye Patches contain hyaluronic acid, rice extract and niacinamide, are fragrance-free and come with thirty pairs in a jar.
Which eye patch suits your eyes?
Puffy eyes in the morning. Choose a patch with caffeine and pop it in the fridge for fifteen minutes first. The cold does most of the work, caffeine helps. The Everybody London Cooling Peptide Eye Patches combine caffeine, niacinamide and peptides and smooth the skin for your concealer. They do contain fragrance, so if the skin around your eyes is sensitive, try them on a small area first.
Dry, sensitive skin. Look for a fragrance-free patch with ingredients that hold moisture and calm the skin, like ceramides, panthenol and hyaluronic acid. The Abib Collagen Eye Patch Jericho Rose Jelly has that combination, plus niacinamide and a little caffeine. With sixty patches in a jar, you can easily use them a few times a week.
Fine lines. Patches with actives you'd also find in an anti-ageing serum help here, such as retinal, bakuchiol and peptides. The Beauty of Joseon Revive Under Eye Patch Ginseng + Retinal slowly melts into your skin and works best in the evening. Already using a strong retinol or retinal product? Don't use these patches on the same night, and wear SPF during the day.
You'll find more Korean options with collagen, PDRN or peptides in our Korean eye patches.
How do you use eye patches?
- Cleanse your face and pat it dry. If you use a toner, apply it first.
- Place the patches under your eyes with the narrow end towards your nose, a few millimetres below your lashes so no serum runs into your eyes.
- Leave them on as long as the pack says, usually ten to thirty minutes. Longer adds nothing, because a dried-out patch has nothing left to give.
- Peel them off from the outside in and gently pat in any leftover serum.
- Finish with an eye cream or carry on with your makeup.
Rather not use disposable patches? Reusable patches are an option. Apply your own eye cream or serum first and place the patch on top; it keeps your skincare in place and feels cool straight from the fridge. Rinse the I Heart Revolution Midnight Cherry Cool Reusable Undereye Patches after use and let them dry for next time.
How often can you use eye patches?
Hydrating patches without strong actives are fine to use every day. Build up patches with retinal or retinol slowly, two or three evenings a week, just like you would with a new serum. If your skin stings, turns red or starts to flake, give them a few days off.
Eye patches don't replace your eye cream: the cream is your daily basic, the patch is an extra. In what is eye cream and what is it good for you can read how to choose that basic. You'll find every type together in our eye patches and masks.
Frequently asked questions about eye patches
Do eye patches help with bags under your eyes?
They help with puffiness after a short night, temporarily. Bags caused by genetics or ageing stay. Chill the patches for the best effect.
Should you keep eye patches in the fridge?
You don't have to, but chilled patches work better on puffiness. Don't put them in the freezer; that's too cold for the thin skin under your eyes.
Can you use eye patches under makeup?
Yes, use them right before your makeup. Pat in the leftover serum well and wait a minute before applying concealer.
Can you sleep in eye patches?
Only if the pack says so. Most hydrogel patches have done their job after half an hour and start to slide after that.
Can you use eye patches on other areas?
Many patches also work on your forehead, smile lines or around your mouth. Keep the same time as under your eyes.