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14 Best Undereye Patches to End Dark Circles, Puffiness and Bags
We updated this article in June 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute. Several of our original top-rated picks, selected by the Beauty Lab, remain the same, but we removed several out-of-stock products and added three new picks, including ones from Pacifica, Dieux and Good Molecules.
For those morning-afters when you haven't slept a wink (think: red-eye flights, bachelorette parties, the eve of a big meeting), undereye masks are calling your name. Unlike a sheet mask or a traditional skincare face mask, these patches are formulated specifically for your delicate under eyes to target eye-specific issues like fine lines and crow's feet. Uniquely curved and formulated to stay put, they're perfect to slap on your clean, dry under eyes anytime you're feeling puffy or swollen, morning or night.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, we test thousands of skincare products year-round to help our readers rest easy knowing they're investing in products that actually work. Most undereye patches claim to do anything from hydrating and firming the skin underneath the eyes, to reducing fine lines, diminishing puffiness and dark circles or brightening the eye area — but only some actually do the trick. That said, we parsed through 43 of the most popular undereye masks on the market and tested on 228 consumers to narrow down the field and recommend the best picks that actually work.
Below are the best undereye patches you can buy, a combination of our top-tested products, editors' and expert picks, and cult favorites that have stood the test of time. Don't forget to follow up with a best-tested eye cream and a concealer for your most awake-looking eyes ever.
Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab chemists send products (with labels obscured) to testers with undereye concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and lack of firmness. After using the masks at least three times, the women 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 not interfering with any makeup application following use, making them ideal for applying first thing in the morning, before a night out, or on the go. Bonus: 79% of testers reported softening, cooling, and relaxing benefits across the board, so try 'em during your next self-care regimen.
Do undereye patches actually work?
Yes — The most common benefit seen with these products in the Lab wassoftening and smoothing of fine lines and wrinkles immediately following application. About 90% of the panelists agreed that the patches hydrated their skin.
As far as eliminating dark circles and undereye bags, our findings only saw occasional tightening benefits, low reduction of undereye bags and little (if any) improvement of 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.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute features a team of product experts and scientists who frequently collaborate in making the best recommendations out there. Executive Director of the Health, Beauty & Sustainability Lab Birnur Aral and Deputy Editor Jessica Teich teamed up in naming the best undereye patches listed above: Birnur ran the Lab and consumer tests, analyzed the data and compiled them in a technical report, while Jessica distilled the findings, gathered additional recommendations and wrote this roundup.
In addition to her 15 years of leading clinical and consumer testing in the Beauty Lab, Birnur has R&D experience through her seven-year stint at Unilever U.S. and contributes her expertise across beauty categories, from anti-aging products to sunscreen safety. Jessica has over 10 years of experience researching, testing and writing about skincare products, including skincare ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and ceramides), moisturizers and more.
Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping InstituteDeputy EditorJessica is the deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty, lifestyle, and home content.
Birnur Aral, Ph.D., Good Housekeeping InstituteExecutive Director, Beauty, Health & Sustainability LabBirnur Aral is the executive director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees all Lab tests and applications for the GH Seal, the Green GH Seal and the GH Innovation emblem.
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