Dermatologists Say These Undereye Gel Patches Actually Smooth Wrinkles (2025)

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As someone who is always on the go, I'm a big fan of beauty products that are portable. The ones I can take with me anywhere. And whether I'm on a flight, in a car, or just relaxing at home, soothing under-eye masks have always been a staple in my skincare routine. It might sound silly, but my undereye area is where I can feel dryness the most, and eye creams and masks save my skin time and time again.

It’s no secret that there’s a certain self-care ~vibe~ that comes with wearing eye patches, but it turns out that they’re actually as beneficial to your skin as they are to your social feed. “The skin under the eyes is prone to changes related to aging skin, such as fine lines, and conditions like dryness and discoloration,” says dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD. Like your favorite eye cream for wrinkles, a little extra TLC from undereye patches can serve as a helpful form of preventative care that targets these very issues.

The Best Undereye Gel Patches

But where eye masks really get their power is from their ingredients, some of which are typically hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, and caffeine. “Eye patches incorporate key ingredients like hyaluronic acid to boost moisture, peptides to firm, ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier, caffeine to help reduce puffiness, and niacinamide to reduce discoloration,” says dermatologist Marisa Garshik, MD.

What to consider

As with any beauty product, there are always a few things to consider before making the investment. Since these masks are mostly advertised for their ability to soothe and hydrate your undereyes, you'll want a formula that can back up the claims. Here's what to look out for.

Key ingredients

For starters, look for key ingredients such as aloe, chamomile, cucumber, green tea, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid. You're less likely to come across vitamin C and retinol, but it's a plus if you do. Patches with a cellulose gel material can also prevent them from sliding off your face (a con I often deal with and try to avoid as much as possible).

Benefits

Not only is the skin under your eyes thinner and more delicate than in other areas of your face, it’s also where lymphatic fluid drainage occurs, says dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD. It can also show more blood vessels, and in turn, make dark circles appear more visible, Dr. Garshick notes. Most eye masks are created to reduce fine lines, undereye darkness, and wrinkles while giving your skin the boost of moisture it needs. The overall effect of these patches is to revive and hydrate, which is why so many people use them to get a more refreshed look.

Many people complain about looking tired, but eye patches are a nice quick fix. Still, it's important to be realistic about the kind of results you'll get in just one or two uses. So, you’ll want to zero in on the reason you’re buying patches, says Dr. Camp. “For example, if you are concerned about puffiness, you may be looking for a product that you can use in the morning before starting your day. In that case, look for ingredients like caffeine or green tea.

How we chose

As a member of the beauty team at Women’s Health, I’m constantly on the hunt for the best products and spend a lot of my time testing and reviewing the latest drops. I frequently consult skin experts, which is exactly what I did to kick off my selection process. I consulted five New York-based dermatologists and had them give their recommendations with insight on why these undereye masks are so splurge-worthy. I tested several of their picks and compared them to some of the other undereye masks available in our beauty closet.

To narrow down the list even further, I got a few other members of team WH, including Addison Aloian, Lily Wohlner, Brian Underwood, and Danielle Jackson to get in on the testing process. Ingredients, price, and overall efficacy were taken into account to determine which would be best for a wide range of needs and preferences.

Here are the fruits of our labor.

Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Masks

After testing tons of undereye masks, this one takes the cake for best overall. Why? It's the most hydrating option on this list and it doesn't slip off your face, which is super hard to find in an undereye mask.

ICYMI, Wander Beauty basically started the undereye mask trend. This OG mask is made with peptides, amino acids, and hyaluronic acid to improve your skin's texture, tone, and hydration. It's also expert-approved by Garshik and dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD.

"I love that this mask is made with three different layers that allow the formula to penetrate the skin deeply and prevent it from sliding off the face, so you can multitask while you wear it," says Dr. Engelman.

Many users say it helps improve the look of morning undereye puffiness (big ups!). For an extra soothing experience, you can leave the mask in the fridge. However, those with more sensitive skin may have occasional redness with this mask when using it after storing it somewhere cool.

That said, the construction of this mask consists of super light and flexible material versus the conventional plastic material found in a lot of other eye patches that were tested, giving this product a high-quality feel.

Read More: Best Retinol Eye Creams

$26.00 at amazon.com

Serve Chilled Rosé Eye Gels

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my personal fave patch from Patchology. It contains hyaluronic acid (hi, hydrated, plump skin) and feels super cool under the eyes to de-puff and smooth out that area.

"This gel patch is ideal for those looking to decrease signs of aging around the eye area," says dermatologist Anar Mikailov, MD. He mentions that there's resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in grapes that helps improve barrier function, and other antioxidants that provide protection against oxidizing agents that can age the skin. That also means it can help treat wrinkles.

After using this patch, I noticed a reduction in puffiness and discoloration near the eyes. My only con was that the mask slides out of place after a while.

$13.50 at amazon.com

Rays Copper Eye Masks

These eye masks from Live Tinted are packed with copper peptides and banana extract to reduce puffiness and smooth fine lines. They also reduce puffiness after just a few uses and leave skin looking glowy and feeling hydrated.

WH associate health and fitness editor Addison Aloian adds that the mask allows for an easier makeup application process because it makes her skin feel so smooth. "Not only is the patch super cute—it's shaped like a sun—but it also genuinely hydrates and brighten my undereye area," she says. She adds that the patches make her feel confident going makeup free because of the glow they leave behind, but it's just as helpful on days when she wants a dewy base before applying makeup.

Dr. Mikailov says that along with a mix of peptides to help stimulate collagen production, this eye mask contains niacinamide, bakuchiol, caffeine, and Vitamin C. He explains that bakuchiol is a great retinol alternative that helps stimulate collagen production.

WH associate fashion and commerce editor Lily Wohlner also gave this patch a try and loves how flexible it is under the eye. However, she did note that it does tend to slip down the face because it's super thin.

$22.00 at livetinted.com

Energizing Eye Mask

This undereye mask is basically an expert at reducing puffy, tired-looking eyes thanks to its cooling effects. It also treats dark circles and fine lines with hydrating hyaluronic acid.

This option comes with a lot of serum, so it may slip down your face over time. But, you can use the extra serum in the bag to apply under the eye for lasting hydration while you snooze or wear under your makeup. Need even more convincing? Celebs like Jessica Alba posts about this mask on her Instagram story time and time again, noting that she's a major fan.

Most masks on this list only need 10 minutes on the skin, but this one can stay on for up to 20. That said, you can totally stick to 10 minutes if you're low on time. Although, 20 minutes fly by when you have a good book in hand (pro tip!).

$9.95 at amazon.com

Potent-C Power Brightening Hydra-Gels

This vitamin C-packed eye patch is perfect for helping brighten up the undereye area while reducing signs of aging and puffiness with the help of caffeine.

Yeah, it's a little pricier, but trust that it's totally worth it if you have the budget. The gel patches are super easy to apply. Plus, they can reduce discoloration and fine lines within just a few weeks. Sometimes I'm weary of products with vitamin C in them because the smell can be a bit aggressive, but these are just right.

Derms also deem this patch worth the money. "The key ingredient in this mask is THD Ascorbate Vitamin C, which is 50 times more powerful than other forms of vitamin C," says Dr. Engelman. Dr. Mikailov adds that this is especially good for surface dark spots that need brightening rather than deeper dark circles.

It's worth noting that these dry up around the 10 minute mark, and while they stay on really well, the edges break off easily if you try to move the masks around a few minutes after the initial application.

Read More: Best Eye Creams For Wrinkles

$65.00 at sephora.com

Dissolving Microneedle Eye Patches

This option just might be one of the most tech-forward eye patches out there. It features bioactive dissolving microneedles (yup!) that are filled with hard-hitting ingredients that melt down into the skin's surface layers to hydrate and firm. The ingredients in question? Hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and a hexapeptide complex to combat wrinkles.

While the spikes on the patches are definitely noticeable, they're not super prickly to the point of discomfort. As the brand notes, you feel a slight tickle upon application, which is how you know it's working.

You have to wear this patch for at least two hours, and you can even wear it overnight to increase absorption. As mentioned with the Grace & Stella pads, patches that are worn for shorter increments of time are preferred because wearing something heavy under the eyes for long periods can get uncomfortable. However, this option is extremely lightweight giving it barely-there feeling. One other con: You get just one set of patches for $18.

$18.00 at skyniceland.com

Puffy Under-Eye Patches

As the name suggests, this patch is meant to soothe tired-looking eyes. So, for those of you who have a lot of sleepless nights or are just night owls at heart, this is your winner. Infused with caffeine, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, these work overtime to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

"I often recommend Peace Out’s acne patch for the face, but I also love the brand’s eye patches," says Dr. Engelman. "It's so effective at quickly bringing down puffiness and brightening and smoothing the under-eyes." She adds that the patch is biodegradable and made with biocellulose, which helps the formula deeply penetrate the skin.

I also tested these patches, and it delivered on my high expectations. The patches were super easy to apply and fit snuggly under my eyes. Another pro? It wasn't completely soaked in serum, which can make the process a bit messy. Instead, they had just the right amount.

I have very sensitive skin, so I'm always cautious when it comes to trying things out, but this didn't give me any issues. It also doesn't have much of a scent, which put my mind at ease since fragrance tends to be an early indicator that my skin might not like a product.

My only cons are that these patches are on the larger side, which makes it feel a bit bulky. I also have to slightly adjust them because they slide down a tiny bit over the course of 15 minutes.

$25.00 at sephora.com

Faded Brightening Under Eye Masks

Yes, a lot of products on this list are known to brighten, but this mask from Faded features both kojic acid and tranexamic acid, which brighten and treat discoloration on the skin. Both ingredients are known to help with pigmentation concerns, so you can rest assured that bright undereyes are on the horizon with these babies.

Using these twice weekly for a few weeks can result in improvement of dark circles. The patches are also reusable and do a good job at staying on your face, so you really get a bang for your buck. Plus, users agree that its dry and sensitive skin-friendly.

One con to note: There aren't many patches in the box despite the price.

$22.00 at amazon.com

Meet the experts

• Lauren Penzi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.

• Marisa Garshick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.

• Brendan Camp, MD, is a double board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.

• Anar Mikailov, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Skintensive.

• Dendy Engelman, MD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Shafer Clinic.

See more of the best at-home eye treatments

Eye Creams for Dark Circles | Anti-Aging Eye Creams | Drugstore Eye Creams | Eye Serums | Retinol Eye Creams | Eye Creams For Wrinkles

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