These Under-Eye Patches Banish Dark Circles, Puffiness, and Crow’s-Feet (2024)

Under-eye patches are great for solving concerns like dryness, puffiness, fine lines, and darkness. "The concept of an under-eye patch is to deliver an active ingredient in a concentrated way via occlusion," explains Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. "Think of it as eye cream with a slightly stronger method of delivery," she says.

What to consider when choosing under-eye patches

When shopping for under-eye patches, it's best to look for skin-benefiting ingredients. "Most eye patches have soothing ingredients like chamomile, hydrating humectants like hyaluronic acid, or ingredients that decrease swelling like caffeine and coffee extracts," explains Sandy Skotnicki, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Toronto, Ontario, and Three Ships Beauty partner.

Do manage your expectations. Under-eye patches don't work miracles, though using them regularly can help you get the most out of them. "Under-eye patches work best on puffiness. With regular use over time they may also decrease fine lines," Skotnicki says. "Typically, these patches will not help dark circles, but their short-term plumping effect can make darkness appear less obvious for a few hours." Many do feel quite soothing and relaxing, too.

We've gathered the best under-eye patches to reduce puffiness, the appearance of crow's-feet, and dark shadows temporarily.

The experts:

• Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York
• Sandy Skotnicki, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Toronto, Ontario

These aren't your regular ol' eye patches. They're an impressive treatment that contains 1,254 self-dissolving microneedles infused with hyaluronic acid to promote hydration and plumpness after each use. They also have daisy flower, hawkweed extract, amino acids, and copper to combat dark circles and help reduce expression lines and wrinkles. Based on the brand's study, users saw a 22 percent reduction in wrinkles from one treatment after 12 weeks. Oprah Daily's creative director Adam Glassman uses them regularly, sharing that they stay put for hours.

Adam Glassman, Oprah Daily creative director, wears the PCA Skin eye patches to bed.

Nuface, the brand of the microcurrent device we all know and love, recently launched hydrating eye patches, and they don't disappoint. "I'm usually weary of eye patches packaged in a jar because they tend to slip allover the face. To my pleasant surprise, once these are on your face, they stay put," says Oprah Daily beauty editor Genesis Rivas. "They're super hydrating, and I can feel a tightening effect. My eyes looked more plump and radiant after five minutes." The formula contains magnesium to depuff and brighten and a hydrating electrolyte blend.

Genesis Rivas, Oprah Daily beauty editor, wearing Nuface power patches for a quick refresh.

Oprah Daily beauty director Kate Sandoval Box says these splurge-worthy patches work incredibly well. "I placed them on clean, dry skin before bed (the rectangular strips went across my forehead lines, the diamond patch on my elevens, and the semi-circles along my crow’s-feet) and woke up to zero fine lines. Zero," she says. "A few things to know: The results are, of course, temporary. My little lines began to creep back later that day, and obviously, they can’t erase deep creases. Do save these for a special occasion, but sleep in them the night before—they aren’t wet, messy, or slippery—I’m a side and stomach sleeper, and they didn’t budge a bit, then remove them at least an hour before the event because he rim of the patches and the built-in micro-cones leave an impression in the skin that takes a little while to go away."

Kate Sandoval Box, Oprah Daily beauty director, applies the 111 Skin patches before bed.

"I've always treated my under-eye area the old-fashioned way: with slices of cold cucumbers, frozen spoons, or tea bags. They all work well for my skin, but they don't brighten my eyes up like these did," says Mandie Montes, Oprah Daily associate social media editor. (Credit for that radiance goes to niacinamide and vitamin K.) "I could see a difference in a matter of minutes. Plus, my skin felt hydrated and fresh for the day."

Mandie Montes, Oprah Daily associate social media editor, wearing The Good Patch Brighten Up eye patches.

These patches contain microscopic "needles" that help the skin-benefiting exosomes penetrate the skin. "I love a product you can actually feel working," says Shelby Copeland, Oprah Daily associate editor for social and livestream events. "I wore them overnight, and they were delicate enough to sleep with but also sturdy enough not to move around. The next morning, my skin actually felt tighter and looked brighter. I would use again!"

Shelby Copeland, Oprah Daily associate editor of social and livestream events, wearing the SŌM SKIN eye patches.

This kit has everything you need for brighter and smoother eyes. Apply the provided eye serum before locking in the moisture with the silicone patches. "I tend to wake up to wide lines under my eyes and these made a noticeable difference in hydrating and plumping them," says Oprah Daily fashion editor Sara Klausing. The formula contains a marine polysaccharide and alpine rose extract to protect the skin barrier and help elasticity. "I appreciate the generous size, too; it’s definitely more than your average eye patch," Klausing adds. "And the material, a medical silicone, is thick and grippy, so I didn’t have to worry about any sliding."

Sara Klausing, Oprah Daily fashion editor, wearing the Babor eye patches.

Skotnicki is a fan of these simple, streamlined patches with hydrating hyaluronic acid and cornflower, an ingredient that softens, soothes, and visibly reduces puffiness. "These contain minimal ingredients and few allergens," she says. "They're a good drugstore option."

These are Mariwalla's favorite for a reason: "The ingredients in these patches really do de-puff and make the under-eye area look transformed for about 72 hours," she says. "I use these before any big event and sometimes when I'm just plain exhausted and my eyes show it."

Vitamin C is a tried-and-true ingredient that you can find in many powerful brightening serums, so it only makes sense that it should pop up in products meant to be used around the eyes. Here, the ingredient gets an assist from vitamin E and ferulic acid to help boosts effectiveness. "I like these eye patches in the summer after a long day outdoors," explains Mariwalla. "All the sun exposure can take a toll on the eye area, and I think of these as a good recovery option once a week in the summertime."

What's so great about these patches is that they're reusable for up to three times. They're rich in musquat rose, wheat germ, and avocado oils as well as ceramides and shea butter. After each use, your eyes will look brighter and feel hydrated and smooth.

These patches are constructed using medical grade silicone, allowing for a compression that draws moisture from the deeper layers of skin to visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles overnight. Suitable for all skin types, these wonders are also reusable.

That green color is a nod to the algae, spirulina, and chondrus crispus extracts in this soothing formula, says Mariwalla, "I have to be honest that these eye masks are wonderful for any age. They contain antioxidant-rich algae and spirulina, which are ingredients I really love as antioxidants. They will help brighten but also hydrate." She recommends using them every two to three days to allow the marine algae to rebalance the under-eye skin.

Infused with a nourishing blend of vitamins and minerals such as cucumber, arnica, and algae, these eye masks are great for reducing puffiness and under-eye bags. Glassman loves this hydrating and soothing pick.

Have a big event that you'd like to look a little bit perked-up for? Mariwalla recommends these: "These are my go-to for an immediate result while getting ready," she says. "Big night out? No problem. While blow-drying your hair, put the eye gel patches on, and by the time you are ready to prime your face, your eyes are ready." What's the secret to their rejuvenating powers? Caffeine improves micro-circulation to brighten, hydrolyzed collagen and centella asiatica improve skin's elasticity, and sodium hyaluronate plumps and moisturizes.