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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
"Mask" is kind of a loose term these days. There are PPE masks, cloth masks, and various types of skincare masks, like sheet masks and leave-ons. And then you've got eye masks. According to Dennis Gross MD, board-certified dermatologist and the co-founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, eye masks are similar to face masks in that they offer a treatment boost for your skin.
Additionally, Dr. Gross notes, "Eye masks are used infrequently compared to a cream." Think of it like a trip to the spa for the windows to your soul—not something you do every day but a nice refresher when you need it most.
Most masks come in the form of little patches that you place over your under-eyes to address dark circles and puffiness. "I think these are a great option to put in the refrigerator and apply first thing in the morning after a night of salt-rich snacking or alcohol to reduce puffiness," says Claire Wolinsky, MD, a New York dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation.
There are also little pots and tubes containing gels, creams, and balms you can apply all around the delicate eye area morning, night, or whenever you feel like it. These tinctures tackle other eye-area woes, like dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, crepiness, and hyperpigmentation. With pointers from skincare experts in mind, we rounded up standout options for every concern, skin type, and budget.
Ahead, the best eye masks and patches out there today.
Best Overall
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Mask
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Courtesy of Sephora
Reduces under-eye bags
Intensive formula
Noticeable results
Expensive
Who else recommends it? Oprah Daily, Healthline, and Glamour all picked the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Mask.
Our number one pick comes from the queen of cosmetics, Estée Lauder. From the beloved Advanced Night Repair line, these eye patches get to work while you get your beauty sleep.
They simultaneously hydrate with squalane and hyaluronic acid, soothe with chamomile, and battle puffiness with caffeine and coffee extract. "Caffeine constricts blood vessels and can therefore reduce the amount of fluid accumulating," explains New York dermatologist Hadley King, MD.
The high concentration of ingredients makes for a truly effective product, delivering plumper, calmer, more radiant skin with each application. This eye mask is so good, in fact, that you only need to use it once a week to reap the benefits.
Price at time of publish: $42
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, coffee extract, squalane, chamomile, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Hydrating, depuffing, smoothing, soothing | Size: 8 patches (4 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
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Byrdie / Leigh Weingus
What Our Testers Say
“I was happy to find that these eye masks did nothing but hydrate my under-eye area, and I never experienced any irritation.” — Leigh Weingus, Product Tester
Best Budget
e.l.f. Cosmetics Charcoal Hydrogel Under Eye Mask
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Courtesy of Walmart
Budget-friendly
Reduces under-eye bags
Large patches
Results aren't dramatic
For something more budget-friendly, your best bet is the e.l.f Charcoal Hydrogel patches. They’re powered by charcoal, which is thought to help purify the skin, though more research is needed to back up those claims. Still, they also hydrate, boost radiance, and soothe with green tea, lavender, and allantoin.
Price at time of publish: $15
Active Ingredients: Green tea, lavender extract, charcoal, allantoin | Benefits: Depuffing, plumping, boosting radiance, soothing | Size: 6 patches (3 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore
Yes To Cucumbers Depuffing Undereye Masks
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Reduces under-eye bags
Good for sensitive skin
Contains fragrance
Yes To Cucumbers makes the best eye masks from the drugstore aisle. These green patches are saturated with verdant ingredients, like aloe, green tea, and yes, cucumber, all of which offer soothing and depuffing benefits.
Price at time of publish: $18
Active Ingredients: Aloe, green tea, cucumber | Benefits: Soothing, depuffing, smoothing, plumping | Size: 16 patches (8 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge
111Skin Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask
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Courtesy of Dermstore
Improves elasticity
Softens fine lines
Minimizes dark circles
Expensive
Contains fragrance
Want to give your eyes the top-shelf treatment? 111Skin won't let you down. The Sub-Zero Eye Mask doesn't waste time cooling and calming stressed under-eyes. Thanks to researched-backed ingredients like CoQ10, peptides, and red algae, you can also count on improved elasticity, less visible fine lines, and free-radical protection.
Price at time of publish: $105
Active Ingredients: Coenzyme Q10, peptides, red algae, collagen | Benefits: Cooling, smoothing, depuffing, firming, softening | Size: 8 patches (4 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Dark Circles
Bliss Eye Got This Under Eye Mask
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Minimizes dark circles
Reduces under-eye bags
Contains fragrance
Dark circles got you down? This serum-rich eye mask is formulated not only to reduce discoloration but also to depuff under-eye bags and leave firmer skin in its wake.
Price at time of publish: $15
Active Ingredients: Glycerin, fermented yeast, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Depuffing, smoothing, firming | Size: 10 patches (5 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Brightening
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Brightening Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
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Courtesy of Ulta
Minimizes dark circles
Reduces hyperpigmentation
Boosts collagen production
Expensive
Board-certified dermatologist Marie V. Hayag, MD of Fifth Avenue Aesthetics stands behind Peter Thomas Roth's Potent-C Eye Patches. "The caffeine helps constrict blood vessels to reduce the appearance of circles and puffiness," Dr. Hayag tells Byrdie.
"Vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of darkness and also helps increase collagen production," she adds. "Ferulic acid and vitamin E help stabilize vitamin C (which is quite unstable and oxidizes easily when by itself), so it can provide its benefits."
Price at time of publish: $65
Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, caffeine, ferulic acid | Benefits: Boosting radiance, smoothing, depuffing | Size: 60 patches (30 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Puffiness
Versed The Fix Emergency Eye Mask
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Courtesy of Dermstore
Budget-friendly
Reduces under-eye bags
Generous amount
Results are temporary
"[With] provitamin B5, caffeine, cucumber, and vitamin E, this gel eye mask nourishes and hydrates the delicate skin around the eyes," says celebrity aesthetician Joshua Ross of SkinLab. "Cucumber juice cools and depuffs, and caffeine calms swelling and redness."
Price at time of publish: $18
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, cucumber juice, vitamin E, panthenol | Benefits: Depuffing, smoothing, soothing | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Hydrating
Tarte SEA Pack Your Bags Undereye Patches
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Courtesy of Sephora
Reduces crepiness
Fragrance-free
Good for sensitive skin
Results aren't dramatic
Tarte's ultra-gentle, fragrance-free patches replenish parched skin with glycerin, peptides, and coconut oil. After one use, you can expect a hydrated, plumper under-eye area.
Price at time of publish: $22
Active Ingredients: Glycerin, peptides, coconut oil, algae | Benefits: Hydrating, plumping, soothing, smoothing | Size: 4 patches (2 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Firming
Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift Mask
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Courtesy of Dermalogica
Leave-on formula
Improves elasticity
Noticeable results
Expensive
If you're dealing with crepey eyelids or general loss of elasticity, go with Dermalogica Stress Positive. Containing fermented yeast and gallic acid, this powerful potion delivers noticeably firmer skin while lifting and boosting radiance around the eye area.
Price at time of publish: $69
Active Ingredients: Fermented yeast, gallic acid, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Firming, lifting, smoothing, depuffing, boosting radiance | Size: 0.85 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best K-Beauty
Benton Snail Bee Ultimate Hydrogel Eye Patch
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Softens fine lines
Generous amount
Some people may have allergic reaction
There's no shortage of amazing Korean eye masks out there, but Benton's Snail Bee Eye Patches stand out from the rest. As the name suggests, this treatment contains snail mucin (a natural source of hyaluronic acid) and healing bee venom to plump, soothe, and repair the skin while softening the appearance of fine lines.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Snail secretion filtrate, bee venom, hyaluronic acid, seaweed extract | Benefits: Hydrating, soothing | Size: 60 patches (30 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Tired Eyes
Skin Camp Magic Eyes Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Mask
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Courtesy of Skin Gym
Budget-friendly
Improves elasticity
Reduces under-eye bags
Results aren't dramatic
We're also big fans of Skin Camp Magic Eyes. The kicker is caffeine, which offers a temporary pick-me-up by minimizing under-eye bags while leaving the skin firmer and supremely hydrated.
Price at time of publish: $5
Active Ingredients: Collagen, caffeine, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Depuffing, hydrating, plumping | Size: 2 patches (1 pair) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best With Vitamin C
Elina Organics Leave On Under Eye Recovery Mask
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Courtesy of Elina Organics
Contains 30% vitamin C
Reduces hyperpigmentation
Can be applied to entire eye area
Unhygienic container
Small amount
Containing a whopping 30% vitamin C, plus kojic acid from white truffle extract, this leave-on mask isn't messing around when it comes to boosting radiance around the eye area and reducing hyperpigmentation.
Price at time of publish: $36
Active Ingredients: Vitamins C and E, white truffle extract, mango butter, ceramides | Benefits: Boosting radiance, hydrating | Size: 0.2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Wrinkles
Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask
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Amazon
Leave-on formula
Softens fine lines
Noticeable results
Unhygienic container
"I love this because the retinol is encapsulated, therefore it is not irritating," says skincare authority and expert cosmetic injector Kristina Kitsos. "Also, the avocado oil, avocado extract, and coffeeberry are packed with antioxidants that help fight wrinkles and protect the skin from a number of different environmental pollutants."
Price at time of publish: $42
Active Ingredients: Retinol, avocado oil, coffeeberry | Benefits: Smoothing, retexturizing, hydrating, depuffing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Sensitive Skin
Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks
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Amazon
Good for sensitive skin
Reduces under-eye bags
Results aren't dramatic
"Wander Beauty Baggage Claim contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to smooth thin, sensitive under-eye skin," offers Dr. Wolinsky. However, she says those with particularly reactive complexions should use eye masks with caution to avoid irritation.
Price at time of publish: $26
Active Ingredients: Panthenol, aloe, copper peptides, jojoba, glycerin, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Soothing, smoothing, hydrating | Size: 12 patches (6 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
"Anyone with sensitive skin should look for a mask with the fewest ingredients and consult their dermatologist before using a new product." — Claire Wolinsky, MD, New York Dermatologist
Best With Retinol
KNC Beauty All-Natural Retinol-Infused Eye Masks
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REVOLVE
Award-winning product
Contains retinol
Star-shaped patches
Contains fragrance
Looking for a product that makes you look rested even when you're not? KNC Beauty's Star Eye Mask is your new best friend. These cute but effective shooting star-shaped patches combine retinol, collagen, licorice root, and hyaluronic acid to plump, boost radiance, and hydrate the skin before you put on makeup.
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: Retinol, collagen, aloe, licorice root, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Smoothing, plumping, hydrating, boosting radiance, soothing | Size: 10 patches (5 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Lifting
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
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Courtesy of Sephora
Fits securely around the eye
Softens fine lines and wrinkles
Plumping
The jar dries out quickly
Pricey
These Peter Thomas Roth eye patches basically treat everything: dark circles, fine lines, wrinkles, crow's feet, puffiness, and more. While they're successful at combating all of the above, the eye mask is a favorite for lifting tough areas. The combination of 24K gold, colloidal gold, and hydrolyzed collagen each visibly improve fine lines by giving the skin a more youthful appearance overall—bye, bye fine lines and wrinkles!
Price at time of publish: $75
Active Ingredients: 24K gold, colloidal gold, hydrolyzed collagen, caffeine, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Lifting, firming, hydrating, de-puffing | Size: 60 patches (30 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Reusable
Dieux Skin Forever Eye Mask
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DieuxSkin
Sustainable alternative
Boost product absorption
Aesthetic design
Requires a good amount of product to adhere to the skin properly
If you're looking for a sustainable alternative, Dieux Skin's reusable eye patches are made from 100% non-porous silicone so you can wear after more than one use (lasts up to one year with daily use, to be exact). Using this product will help your skin care, such as eye creams, serums, and moisturizers, saturate deeply into the skin, boost hydration, and leave a beautiful plumping effect.
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: None | Benefits: Plumping, hydrating, maximizes product absorption | Size: 2 patches (1 pair) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Clean Beauty
Mei Apothecary Cloudberry Dew Eye Gel Mask
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Courtesy of Mei Apothecary
Affordable
Unscented for sensitive skin types
Hydrating
They're a tad slippery
The adorable cloud shape in the Mei Apothecary Cloudberry Dew Eye Masks correlates to the product's star ingredient: cloudberry. The vitamin C and antioxidant-rich ingredient, along with hydrating peptides and hyaluronic acid, visibly plump and awaken the eye area after just one use. Not only are these eye patches super affordable for the pack of three, they're also clean, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Cloudberry, hyaluronic acid, peptides | Benefits: Plumping, hydrating, and brightening | Size: 6 patches (3 pairs) | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Final Verdict
When it comes to eye masks, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Eye Treatment is a reigning champion. With weekly use, you can expect reduced puffiness, smoother skin, and an all-around radiant eye area. On a budget? Your best bet is e.l.f. Cosmetics Charcoal Hydrogel Under Eye Mask (view at Amazon), a hydrating and soothing solution that won't run you more than a few bucks.
Meet the Expert
- Dennis Gross, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the co-founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare.
- Claire Wolinsky, MD, is a New York board-certified dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation.
- Hadley King, MD, is a New York board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Marie V. Hayag, MD, is a New York board-certified dermatologist at Fifth Avenue Aesthetics
- Joshua Ross is a celebrity aesthetician at SkinLab.
- Kristina Kitsos is a skincare authority and expert cosmetic injector.
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama.
What to Look for in Eye Masks
Antioxidants
According to board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, some of the best ones to look for if you’re after brightening benefits include antioxidants, such as vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and coffeeberry.
Caffeine
Another one of Dr. Hartman’s suggested ingredients, this is commonly found in all kinds of eye products, thanks to its ability to constrict blood vessels, tamping down puffiness and dark circles.
Moisturizing Ingredients
Any type of product that’s going around the eye should contain moisturizing ingredients because the skin in this area is innately drier, Dr. Hartman explains. Ingredients to look for include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, and other humectants.
Why Trust Byrdie?
Byrdie contributor Theresa Holland is a copywriter and editor specializing in commerce, lifestyle, and wellness. For this story, she interviewed four dermatologists, an esthetician, and a cosmetic injector for product recommendations and insight into how eye masks work and what ingredients to look for. From the above brands, Theresa is particularly fond of Estée Lauder, Peter Thomas Roth, Wander Beauty, and Benton.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough eye masks from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
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