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12 Best Undereye Patches for Puffiness and Wrinkles

Our best budget pick is less than $1.67 per use!

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VerifiedReviewed by Beauty and Personal Care Lab Reviews Analyst
Two jars of eye patches, one cream-colored and one pink, on a pink grid background.

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Tired, puffy eyes can happen after a sleepless night or a long day spent staring at a screen. While an eye cream can help over time, undereye patches offer a quick way to hydrate, depuff, and refresh the eye area. Designed specifically for the delicate undereye area, these patches can target concerns like puffiness and fine lines. Their unique shape hugs the contours of the eye area, and they're designed to stay put while quickly (and visibly!) depuffing and brightening the eyes.

To find the ones that actually deliver, we tested 43 under-eye patches in our most recent study at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, with feedback from 228 consumer testers.

Our top picks

Our top performers helped hydrate, firm, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and puffiness. (Just don't expect miracles: Our rigorous Beauty Lab testing found that they didn't erase dark circles.) Check out the very best below to find a pair that suits your specific undereye needs.

Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels (8 count)

Pros

  • Visibly reduced fine lines
  • Made testers' undereyes feel hydrated

Cons

  • May slide down if skin isn't completely clean and dry

These eye patches—designed to work in just 10 minutes—ranked easiest to use in our tests. Testers gave them perfect marks for their pleasant fragrance and for staying put without leaving any unpleasant residue. In the Lab, they received high marks for diminishing fine lines and wrinkles—by 23% in our tests.

Testers also gave this set one of the highest scores for hydration, with one saying, “loved the way my undereye skin felt after using this product,” and that skin “looked noticeably different.” The asymmetric shape and generous size tackle myriad issues and can extend to reach crow’s feet, too. Note that they can slide down if they’re applied to skin that isn’t completely clean and dry.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, elastin
Price per pair~$4.50
FlashPatch Eye Gels (30 Pairs)

Pros

  • Proven soothing and hydrating benefits
  • Quickly reduces the appearance of fine lines

Cons

  • Oversaturated

Clocking in at about $1.67 per use, these undereye gel masks are a budget-friendly choice that deliver serious results. The gels feel instantly soothing as the patches go on, and testers liked that they stayed put during application and left a serum-like residue behind that left consumers feeling hydrated. However, some thought the patches were too saturated with serum.

Lab tests showed this mask improved the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by 9% immediately after application, and a quick five-minute use means you'll see results fast. They're not the lowest-priced per pair on this list, but for the measurable results they deliver, we think they offer the best value for the performance.

Key ingredientsCaffeine, hydrolyzed collagen, centella asiatica
Price per pair~$1.67
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Retinol Collagen Undereye Patches

Pros

  • Earned perfect score for not causing redness or irritation, despite containing retinol
  • Fits comfortably
  • Doesn’t leave an unpleasant residue

Cons

  • Can be a little difficult to remove from packaging

A GH Beauty Award winner, these multitasking patches contain niacinamide, retinol, five types of collagen, and hyaluronic acid to smooth the appearance of fine lines, brighten, reduce puffiness, and hydrate without slipping down your face. In GH Beauty Lab testing, they earned a perfect score for not causing redness or irritation, even though it contains retinol, which can be irritating. Testers said the patches were easy to apply, fit comfortably, were hydrating, and didn’t leave any residue.

“I liked that it stuck really well on the undereye area and I was able to continue doing my everyday chores while wearing them without falling off,” a tester said. “It felt hydrating, and my eyes felt refreshed after using them. I also liked that they were thin and not thick or chunky. The little spatula that was included was also a plus.” However, one tester shared that they can be a little difficult to remove from packaging.

Key ingredientsNiacinamide, retinol, hyaluronic acid, collagen
Price per pair~$0.80
Person with an under-eye gel patch in a polka dot top.
mary kay® hydrogel eye patches pictured on a white background, good housekeeping's pick for best under eye patches for puffiness
Person with an under-eye gel patch in a polka dot top.
mary kay® hydrogel eye patches pictured on a white background, good housekeeping's pick for best under eye patches for puffiness

Pros

  • Refreshes eyes
  • Visibly reduced the appearance of puffiness

Cons

  • Extracts may not be ideal for sensitive skin

If bags and puffiness are your main issues, reach for this GH Beauty Award winner. The effective patches had 80% of testers reporting reduced eye area puffiness after just one use, and 96% said they felt instantly refreshed. They're infused with botanical extracts like pear, blueberry, and blackberry, along with glycerin, which helps soften and hydrate skin, though they may be a bit harsh on sensitive skin.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, botanical extracts
Price per pair~$1.47
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Hyaluronic Eye Pads

Pros

  • Helps depuff
  • Smooths appearance of fine lines

Cons

  • Only six pairs per box

GH Senior Beauty & Style Director April Franzino shares that these give her the best results of any eye mask she has used. “I have tried countless undereye patches and these gave the most noticeable instant results of any I have seen,” she says. “My puffiness was deflated, my fine lines looked smoother, and the skin looked almost airbrushed. I can’t think of any cons except you only get six pairs in a box, which isn’t a lot compared to some other brands.”

The hyaluronic eye patches contain konjac root to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and the hyaluronic acid is sourced from Chinese tremella mushrooms to smooth and erase signs of fatigue.

Before, during, and after application of skincare product showing visible results on skin appearance.
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Person with dark hair in a black polka dot shirt looking to the side.
Sweed - Peptide Ice - Lift Firm Hydra Gel Eye Patches | Hydrate, Lift, + De-Puff On-The-Go | Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Clean Beauty (30 pairs)
Person with dark hair in a black polka dot shirt looking to the side.
Sweed - Peptide Ice - Lift Firm Hydra Gel Eye Patches | Hydrate, Lift, + De-Puff On-The-Go | Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Clean Beauty (30 pairs)

Pros

  • Can apply makeup immediately after
  • Cooling and depuffing

Cons

  • Slippery; can be tricky to remove from jar

Sweed was founded by a makeup artist, so it makes sense that these eye patches are ideal before makeup. “I wear these while I’m applying my makeup,” says a GH editor. “Not only do they catch any fallout from eyeshadow, but they smooth skin. I also love their cooling sensation, which helps with depuffing. Since they don’t leave any residue behind, I only have to wait a few seconds before I apply concealer.”

The formula is infused with vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and caffeine. The only catch is that, despite coming with a spatula, they’re a little slippery and can be tricky to remove from the jar because they tend to stick together.

Key ingredientsVitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid, caffeine
Price per pair~$2
Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches (30 pairs)

Pros

  • Great for dry, sensitive skin
  • Larger-than-average size

Cons

  • Some reviewers found them to be on the dry side

When you want bright, hydrated undereyes, think of these as a drink of water and a cup of coffee for your face. Water Drench is packed with hyaluronic acid that helps hydrate skin all day long, while caffeine brightens the eyes. These patches are larger than a standard undereye patch to cover more surface area and are formulated with skin-soothing ceramides and collagen to soften skin and smooth lines.

One of our beauty editors swears by them to quickly hydrate and brighten even dry, sensitive skin. However, some reviewers found these patches to be on the dry side since they aren't as saturated as others.

Key ingredientsCeramide NP, hylauronic acid, collagen, marshmallow root extract
Price per pair~$1.87
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Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask (12 Pairs)

Pros

  • Great for mature skin
  • Claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines

Cons

  • Retinol may be irritating on sensitive skin

If you have crow’s feet and visible signs of aging around your eyes that you want to nix, these retinol-infused patches are for you. We stand by the fact that retinol is the gold standard of anti-aging skincare ingredients: It’s proven to speed up cellular turnover to boost the skin’s collagen production to both minimize and prevent fine lines, meaning it works on existing lines and stops new ones from popping up. Reviewers swear it immediately improves the appearance of wrinkles and puffiness, but retinol can be irritating to the skin at first, so expect some mild discomfort at the beginning.

Key ingredientsRetinol, hyaluronic acid
Price per pair~$6.25
Eye Therapy Patches (6 pairs) & Case

Pros

  • Reusable
  • Comes with a metal case for storage

Cons

  • May be irritating for very sensitive skin

A celeb favorite, these French pharmacy eye patches are actually reusable for up to three wears, which means less waste and more bang for your buck. If you follow the instructions, each use comes out to around $3.89, though one editor has worn them more than three times each, and they still totally work. "I love the way they hydrate and reduce puffiness," she says. They're made with wheat germ oil, ceramides, and avocado oil. After wearing the patches for 30 minutes, simply place them in the included chic metal case until you're ready for your next round. Note that some reviewers with very sensitive skin said they could be irritating.

Key ingredientsCeramides, shea butter, plant oils
Price per pair~$3.89
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Baggage Claim Eye Masks (6 Pairs)
Now 15% Off
Credit: Wander

Pros

  • Stay-put adhesion
  • Made with hydrating and soothing ingredients

Cons

  • May not be as saturated with serum as other masks

You'll feel like a star using these glitzy masks while traveling. They are formulated with elastic for a snug, custom fit, and the hyaluronic acid helps hydrate and fill the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while aloe and calendula soothe skin. Since these patches are made of cellulose fiber and gold foil, not slippery gel, they'll stay put even if you're running to catch a flight (hence the name), though one GH staffer found they don't feel as saturated as other eye masks on the market.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, calendula
Price per pair~$4.33
Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches

Pros

  • Uses niacinamide to brighten
  • Feels cooling on skin

Cons

  • Can sometimes slip

These caffeinated hydrogel patches have a gel-like texture that feels soothing on the skin, while their 1% caffeine claims to wake up sleepy eyes. Its brightening niacinamide is a great dark spot-fighting addition to your skincare routine. One GH editor loves how cooling these feel when prepping for her makeup routine, but notes that the gel texture is prone to slipping, so you'll have to readjust them to keep them in place.

Key ingredientsGlycerin, niacinamide, caffeine
Price per pair~$0.60
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12
BEST REUSABLE

Dieux Forever Eye Mask

Forever Eye Mask
12
BEST REUSABLE

Dieux Forever Eye Mask

Credit: Dieux

Pros

  • More sustainable than other eye masks
  • Silicone patches stay put

Cons

  • Requires cleaning after each use

Tired of tossing out single-use patches? Try these reusable Dieux eye masks, designed to increase the efficacy of your favorite eye cream or serum. (Simply put them on after applying a serum or eye cream.) According to the brand's testing, the Forever Eye Mask lasted one year before the logo started to fade with daily use, making it one of the most affordable and sustainable options, though you'll have to take care in cleaning them after each use.

"These are a godsend for those who struggle to keep over-soaked eye patches in place and have no time to wait for the excess product to absorb," Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann says. "The non-porous silicone patches are slender yet durable and quickly adhere to the skin, preventing evaporation and extending the product beyond the surface." Its elegant aluminum case allows for easy, breezy storage, with cleaning taking next to no time.

Key ingredientsVaries
Price per pairVaries

How we test the best undereye patches

a person holding under eye masks during testing
Good Housekeeping

Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab chemists send products (with labels obscured) to testers with undereye concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness, and lack of firmness. After using the masks at least three times, testers answer a detailed survey on performance, ease of use, and efficacy.

We also take in-Lab measurements before and after use with the Visia Complexion Analyzer, which can measure wrinkles, spots, UV spots, pore size, and skin texture. The top performers in our last study scored points for not leaving an unpleasant residue and for not interfering with makeup application after use, making them ideal for use first thing in the morning, before a night out, or on the go.

For our most recent study, we reviewed 43 popular under-eye patches and tested selected products with 228 consumer testers. This roundup includes top performers from that testing, along with additional picks recommended by GH editors and experts.

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What to look for when shopping for undereye patches

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Keep these factors in mind when shopping for eye masks:

✔️ Type of patches: Eye patches are typically made of hydrogel or fabric. “These types of patches are soaked in a serum,” says GH Beauty Lab Analyst Chiara Butler. “There are also reusable silicone patches that you use with your own skincare. Hydrogel patches retain moisture longer, but they can fall off the face more easily than cloth patches. Cloth patches can dry out more quickly but tend to grip the skin better. Reusable patches are a longer-lasting option and allow you to use your own serum or cream underneath them.”

✔️ Ingredients: Most patches contain hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid and soothing ingredients like Centella asiatica and calendula extracts. “In our test of eye patches, we evaluated them for their ability to reduce wrinkles under the eyes temporarily by hydrating and plumping skin,” Butler says. “Eye patches are meant to quickly hydrate, refresh, and cool the undereyes. Though they contain skincare ingredients, I wouldn’t consider them a replacement for leave-on anti-aging skincare products around the eyes.”

Do undereye patches actually work?

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Yes—the most common benefit observed with these products in the Lab was the softening and smoothing of fine lines and wrinkles immediately after application. About 90% of the panelists agreed that the patches hydrated their skin, and 79% of testers reported softening, cooling, and relaxing benefits.

"Eye patches are great for patients with crepey skin, puffiness, rough skin, and light discolorations," says David Shafer, M.D., FACS, double board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Shafer Clinic in New York. As for eliminating dark circles and undereye bags, our findings showed only occasional tightening benefits, a low reduction in undereye bags, and little (if any) improvement in dark circles. That means that undereye patches really are best for acute issues like puffiness and tired eyes, and you'll probably see the most results immediately after application.

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Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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Jessica Teich, former director of editorial commerce and product reviews, distilled the findings of the Beauty Lab, gathered additional recommendations from double board-certified plastic surgeon David Shafer, M.D., FACS, and wrote this roundup.

Beauty Analyst Chiara Butler has led countless hands-on tests of health and beauty products at the Good Housekeeping Institute over the years; she reviewed this article for accuracy.

Temporary Beauty Editor Celia Shatzman has 20 years of beauty editorial experience and most recently updated this story.

Headshot of Chiara Butler
Reviewed byChiara Butler
Beauty and Personal Care Lab Reviews Analyst

Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.

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