The best eye masks of 2024 are by Grace & Stella, Shiseido, Chanel and Dieux. (Amazon; Sephora)
I’ll never forget the first time I got contact lenses, not only because I could finally see without glasses, but because I realized I had bags under my eyes. Since then, I’ve become accustomed to always having the best eye masks at my disposal. Under-eye bags and puffy under-eyes are, of course, a totally normal condition that affects people of all ages (I was in my early 20s), but I was still shocked when the absence of my spectacles revealed those li'l designer Birkins. Dark circles are as common as eye bags, and both can happen for any number of reasons, such as aging, lack of sleep, allergies and good old genetics.
Whatever your issues, keep in mind that the under-eye area is much more delicate than the rest of the face. Using the best eye creams is non-negotiable for me but I also love a good eye mask for de-puffing and helping reduce the appearance of fine lines — they’re a cute self-care gift and an easy product to pack for travel. But are they necessary in a routine? Though not as crucial as a daily face cleanser, eye masks (or eye patches or even eye treatments) have their own benefits, especially if you're worried about the aforementioned bags and dark circles, as well as fine lines and puffiness.
"Eye masks allow for concentrated penetration of whatever ingredients and serum is in the masks," explains Dr. Catherine Chang, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of Privé Beverly Hills and Naked Beauty MD. For this reason, it’s common to find eye masks that contain retinol (like our winning choice below), hyaluronic acid, caffeine and peptides, among others, which are all effective for targeting specific issues.
Update, Dec. 7, 2024: We checked all product prices and availability. Our number one pick for best eye masks remains unchanged.
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Count: 12
Remember when I mentioned that eye masks are great as a travel beauty product? Well, these Shiseido patches are my must-have whenever I go out of town. I always keep them in my makeup bag, even if it’s for an overnight trip to my parents. I’ll throw them on when I’m getting ready in the morning to help me look refreshed from jet lag or driving for a couple of hours. Sometimes I’ll get started on my makeup with these on (some under-eye masks can double as makeup shields from eyeshadow fallout!).
The thing is, these work fast. Popping these bad boys on for just 15 minutes makes my eyes look less tired. The masks are packed with retinol, so they’re addressing not only bags but wrinkles and fine lines too. Plus, they have the tried-and-true ingredient hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate and plump the skin. HA might contribute to why, in the brand’s clinical testing with 102 women, all of them said that the mask improved dryness in the under-eye area. There are hundreds of five-star reviews for the award-winning product online, but if you need a celebrity co-sign to convince you, they’re also a favorite of Ms. Ariana Grande.
Skin Type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Count: 12
Sometimes all I want is a simple eye mask that cools my eye bags without any drama, and this is it. However, the glittery gold design IS the kind of drama I like. With over 14,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Jessica Alba and Leona Lewis, these aesthetically pleasing masks are a must-have. Not to mention, they cost just $2 a pop!
They target all of the usual suspects: puffy eyes, under-eye bags, dark circles, aging signs and dryness, all thanks to ingredients like sea moss, hydrolyzed vegetable protein and HA. Plus, unlike many other eye masks, these are unscented. Fans of the masks love how hydrated and refreshed their eyes look and feel after having them on for 20 minutes.
Skin Type: All | Key ingredients: 100% medical grade silicone | Count: 1
One of the downsides to using any kind of sheet mask, whether for the face or eye (or butt, as those exist too), is that they can create unnecessary waste. Fortunately there are more sustainable options, such as Deux’s very popular Forever Eye Masks, which I call the “cool girl eye masks.” These are completely made of medical-grade silicone, making them safe and comfortable for most people, and help deliver your eye serum or cream right to where it needs to go.
Now, they don’t come with a serum like Chanel’s, so you either have to buy Deux’s Auricle Eye Gel or use one of your own. I love that I can use these with any of my beloved serums (as long as they don’t contain retinol, alpha hydroxy acids or any potentially irritating ingredients). To keep them clean and long-lasting (the brand tested them up to a year), all you have to do is wash them with a gentle hand soap and keep them safe in the tin it comes with.
Skin type: Dry, normal, combination, oily | Key ingredients: 3.5-DA, vitamin complex, plant botanicals, niacinamide | Count: 10
I’ve been joking about designer bags during this review, but you can actually get them with these Chanel eye patches! I’ll consider that a pro on my list. One of my all-time favorite skin care tools is an eye roller (though, I do love to roll my own eyes), so I appreciate how you use one to apply the serum. First, you massage your eyes (don’t forget your orbital bone!) with the adorable tool, which feels cool and soothing as it dispenses the serum, and then you apply the patches. It’s the ritual for me.
But I consider this a worthy splurge not because of the glitz and glam. The big ingredient is 3.5-DA, Chanel’s exclusive, super potent caffeoylquinic acid compound derived from the edulis morning glory. It targets aging eye and skin issues like skin elasticity loss, uneven tone and puffiness, while the hydrogel patches soothe and brighten. After a particularly tough night where I woke up with puffy eyes, I had my little Chanel ritual and the effects were instant. Reviewers across the board had similar sentiments, calling it a "spa treatment" for the eye area because of its ability to reduce under-eye swelling and firm the area around the eye. If you got the coin, indulge.
Skin Type: All | Key ingredients: Algae extract, chamomile extract, hyaluronic acid | Count: 5
I had a weird dry patch right underneath my left eye for a few days that I could not get rid of. (I’m still unsure of its cause, though I suspect it was from a new sunscreen I was testing.) I kid you not, after one of these masks, it was gone the next morning. I had to look at the ingredient list immediately after that, and said a sort of "a-ha" to myself — algae extract is the first one listed.
The skin care benefits of algae have been well-researched, and many brands (La Mer, for one) clock it as a hero ingredient. It’s known for being a rich source of vitamins and minerals, has antioxidant properties to fight inflammation and skin aging, delivers moisture and so on. I have always had pretty good luck with algae-based skin products, and these masks didn’t disappoint. They also feature soothing chamomile, hydrolyzed silk protein, peptides and hyaluronic acid for even more hydration and skin nourishment.
In my decade-plus as a beauty editor, I've tested and reviewed dozens of eye masks and, over the years, I've landed on a few favorites that I turn to time and again. For this story, I tried a handful of newcomers to the eye mask scene — or at least new to me — including Dieux's, which I loved.
In testing different eye masks for this best list, I tried each product in the morning before my skin care routine, when the eye area tends to be puffiest. I rated them on ingredients, value, feel/texture, adhesive quality and efficacy. (As in: Did my under-eye area appear different after use? Did the eye mask improve common issues like puffiness, pigmentation, fine lines and dryness?).
Dermora's Golden Glow Under Eye Patches are ultra popular on Amazon, but I didn't see a difference after using them and I also felt like they frequently fell off. Similarly, while Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair eye masks top many best lists, I found the product a bit flimsy in real life and overhyped.
Eye masks have many benefits, from reducing puffiness, under-eye bags, and the appearance of dark circles, but Dr. Shereene Idriss, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Idriss Skincare in NYC, believes the main advantage of using them is to hydrate the skin under and around the eyes, making them helpful for anyone with extra dryness in the area. Chang says there are also benefits to the material of the eye mask itself. For example, hydrogel eye masks are soothing and nourishing while sitting lightweight on the under eyes. "In general, having something on your skin prevents motion and movement and smoothes the area, which is another added benefit of eye masks," says Chang.
Eye masks and eye creams may seem to serve a similar purpose — infusing the under-eye area with specialized ingredients — but the experts I spoke to had mixed opinions. Chang, for example, believes that the two work differently. "Creams are good for long-term play, but eye masks can give you immediate improvement. I recommend using an eye cream and eye masks in your routine, as one doesn’t replace the other," she says.
Meanwhile, Idriss says eye masks are not necessary if you’re using an eye cream. "You can actually create your own DIY eye mask by using reusable masks on top of a hydrating eye cream for dry under-eyes or brightening serum for dark circles," she says.
Our verdict? If you feel like you want or need both, use both. We happen to like the ritual and the intense infusion of ingredients that we experience when using eye masks and we like eye creams for every day. But you do you, boo. If you prefer to stick with just eye creams, we've tried, tested and reviewed the very best.
Just like pores, dark circles can’t be erased, but some ingredients might help reduce their appearance. "Dark circles are tricky — they are due to the thinning of the skin and when the skin thins, we see the purple hue of the muscle underneath," says Chang. "Because of the constriction of blood vessels, caffeine is great for helping with this and you will see improvement quickly."
According to Chang, besides retinol, hyaluronic acid and algae, one of the best ingredient to look for in a eye mask for under-eye bags is caffeine. "Caffeine can help to minimize inflammation, but also look for masks that have a cooling agent [like niacinamide] to help de-puff the eyes," she says. Pro tip: Keep eye masks in your fridge for an extra cooling effect.
Dr. Catherine Chang, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of Privé Beverly Hills and Naked Beauty MD
Dr. Shereene Idriss, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Idriss Skincare in New York City
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