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8 best under-eye patches for brightening and depuffing, tried and tested 2026

Keep your cool with these under-eye patches

By ,
best under eye patches
Lauren Balsamo; Beth Gillette

In a perfect world, I'd get a solid eight hours of sleep every night and wake up fresh as a daisy. Fresh skin, wide eyes, can't lose, right? Unfortunately, all that sleep rarely ever happens. But my secret weapon for looking as though I slept like an angel is the best under-eye patches.

These sticky miracle workers quickly boost hydration, help brighten dark circles, depuff under-eye bags, and work to smooth fine lines – all in just 10 to 15 minutes (if you get the right ones, ofc).

Our top picks for the best under-eye patches in 2025:

Not sure which ones are worth it? Cosmo's beauty team took the time to test and review dozens of eye masks to find the best. The best ones are soaked in hydrating ingredients (keep scrolling to discover which ones) to instantly refresh and hydrate. Plus, with summer well and truly here, you can store them in the fridge and the cooling sensation helps to de-puff.

Whether you need a go-to mask that'll help you fake a full night's rest, or want under-eyes that look more moisturized and plump, you've come to the right place.

Keep reading to discover the best under-eye patches. Late nights and early mornings, you've met your match, bb.

8 best under-eye patches for brightening and depuffing

1
Best Brightening Eye Patches

Pixi BeautifEYE Hydrogel Under-Eye Patches

BeautifEYE Hydrogel Under-Eye Patches
1
Best Brightening Eye Patches

Pixi BeautifEYE Hydrogel Under-Eye Patches

If brightening your under-eyes are is your biggest concern, turn to the Pixi BeautifEYE Hydrogel Under-Eye Patches. They’re held within a formula of vitamin C, licorice and ginseng: the ideal trifecta to help brighten the under eyes and reduce puffiness.

One Cosmo editor says: “These were the first under-eye patches I picked up and I still use them to this day. Especially in this super-warm weather, I find them refreshing on my tired eyes in the morning – or sometimes I’ll apply them midday for a pick-me-up. They don’t slip off either!” – Clare Stephenson, Senior Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Writer.

Key Specifications:

Key Ingredients:Vitamin C, licorice and ginseng
Pairs per pack:30
2
Best Hydrating Under-Eye Patches

NuFACE Ionplex Hydra-Gel Power Patches

Ionplex Hydra-Gel Power Patches
2
Best Hydrating Under-Eye Patches

NuFACE Ionplex Hydra-Gel Power Patches

Hi, if your under-eye area is dry and dehydrated AF, you need to try these incredibly hydrating eye masks. Thanks to the intense dose of electrolytes in the formula (yep, the same ones you'd drink), these basically act like a tall glass of water for your skin, leaving your under-eyes looking (and immediately feeling) plump and hydrated.

One Cosmo editor says: “I am an under-eye patch girl through and through, and these ones from NuFace are the most hydrating ones I’ve tried to date—plus, they don’t slip or slide off my face, which I very much appreciate. They’re the perfect under-eye pick-me-up on tired mornings thanks to their smoothing and de-puffing benefits.” — Jasmine Hyman, Assistant Beauty Editor

Key Specifications:

Key ingredients:Glacial water, magnesium, amino acids
Pairs per pack:30
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3
Best Budget Under-Eye Patches

Grace & Stella Energizing Under Eye Gel Patches

Energizing Under Eye Gel Patches
3
Best Budget Under-Eye Patches

Grace & Stella Energizing Under Eye Gel Patches

Now 29% Off

If your eye area could use some brightening and your wallet could use a little break, try these affordable under-eye patches. They're loaded with mega hydrators—like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and amino acids—for more supple and luminous skin. Pro tip: Store them in the fridge for an extra jolt of de-puffing power.

One Cosmo editor says: "I put allllll of my girlfriends onto these inexpensive patches. These make it easy to incorporate a little self-care moment into my routine, and not only do I look much more alive after wearing these for 20 minutes, I also feel more energised too."

Key Specifications:

Key ingredients:Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, amino acids
Pairs per pack:6
4
Best De-Puffing Under-Eye Patches

Yepoda The Depuff Eyespresso

The Depuff Eyespresso
4
Best De-Puffing Under-Eye Patches

Yepoda The Depuff Eyespresso

Yepoda’s Depuff Eyespresso patches do exactly what you’d expect from the name. Thanks to ingredients like aloe vera, caffeine and green tea, they help to create a more awakened appearance while also reducing swelling and morning puffiness.

One Cosmo editor says: “What I love most about these patches is they don’t use single-use plastics. Instead, each patch is made out of algae and natural gums – plus the jar itself is made of recyclable glass, adding a more expensive feel.”

Key Specifications:

Key Ingredients:Aloe vera, caffeine and green tea
Pairs per pack:30
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5
Best Splurge Under-Eye Patches

111SKIN Cryo de-puffing eye mask (eight)

Cryo de-puffing eye mask (eight)
5
Best Splurge Under-Eye Patches

111SKIN Cryo de-puffing eye mask (eight)

You don't have to stick these under-eye masks in the fridge to experience a cooling sensation—the hydrogel patches naturally feel so soft and soothing on your skin. Plus, they're filled with botanicals, like seaweed and raspberry, which are full of antioxidants to protect your skin against free radical damage, which leads to signs of aging, like fine lines and puffiness.

One Cosmo editor says: "I normally sleep well on planes (brag), but my last red eye to Europe was insanely bumpy and I never got a chance to fully relax and get some rest. Thank god I had these patches in my carry-on. The cooling effect feels amazing and instantly depuffs sleepy eyes. And they’re hydrating enough to plump up the little lines under my eyes too."

Key Specifications:

Key ingredients:Seaweed extract, vitamin E, peptide complex
Pairs per pack:8
6
Best Travel Under-Eye Patches

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Eye Patches

Jet Lag Eye Patches
6
Best Travel Under-Eye Patches

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Eye Patches

These eye patches are hella hydrating and so are perfect for your in-flight routine for a long haul trip. They're infused with niacinamide which is perfect for improving skin texture and dark circles.

One Cosmo editor says: "The whole Jet Lag range is never far from my travel bag, to be honest. These patches are a real fave for how hydrating they are and they truly do make my dark travel-weathered eyes look less sunken." – Keeks Reid, Beauty Director

Key Specifications:

Key ingredients:Niacinamide, jojoba oil
Pairs per pack:6
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7
Best quick refreshing under-eye patches

Dolce&Gabbana Caffeine No-Puff Eye Patches

Caffeine No-Puff Eye Patches
7
Best quick refreshing under-eye patches

Dolce&Gabbana Caffeine No-Puff Eye Patches

No coffee? No problem! These luxe gel patches work quickly to de-puff and re-energise the under-eyes, no matter how little sleep you have. They also aren't too wet like some patches can be so genuinely work when you're on the go.

One Cosmo editor says: "These came in so clutch when I was on a trip to Paris and had a few champs on the evening travelling over. I popped them on first thing and genuinely looked so much more refreshed." - Keeks Reid, Beauty Director

Key Specifications:

Key ingredients:Caffeine
Pairs per pack:5
8
Best For Dark Circles

Topicals Faded Under Eye Mask 6 Pack

Faded Under Eye Mask 6 Pack
8
Best For Dark Circles

Topicals Faded Under Eye Mask 6 Pack

If stubborn dark circles are a perennial bother, these eye patches should be your next add to basket. In as little as 10 minutes, it gets to work fading darker and uneven skin tones. They are also not wet so there's no worry of them slipping down your face as you relax or get ready.

One Cosmo editor says: "These are my most-reached-for Topicals product as someone that gets dark circles as soon as I have less than 7 hours sleep. They are so comfy to wear and the little packets are really easy to travel with."

Key Specifications:

Key ingredients:Caffeine, Arbutin, Kojic Acid
Pairs per pack:6
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How to choose the best under-eye patches:

Consider the ingredients.

"Some patches have vitamin C, which helps with hyperpigmentation, while others have hyaluronic acid, which helps plump your under-eye skin," says dermatologist Karan Lal, MD. He notes that eye patches can be beneficial for everyone, but they're best if you have puffy, tired eyes that need a quick refresher.

There are also under-eye patches that include actives such as retinol, which work to smooth your skin and boost collagen production, and caffeine, which can temporarily tighten and firm your skin. Though Dr. Lal warns that if you have sensitive skin, retinol may not be the best to start with as it is potent and your under-eyes are especially delicate. He suggests beginning with a hyaluronic acid-based under-eye patch and seeing how you tolerate that. "If you do, you can work your way up to integrating more actives into your patches," he says.

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Meet the expert:

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Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?

Mary Honkus is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a deep dive into the plumping agent Maxi-Lip and testing out viral moisturizers. She’s an authority in all beauty categories, and she uses eye patches almost every day. For this story, she consulted the Cosmo beauty team to discover their favorite under-eye masks that de-puff, hydrate, and smooth the delicate area.

Headshot of Mary Honkus
Mary Honkus is a freelance writer who covers beauty, home, fashion, health, and wellness (just call her a jack of all trades!). She has held staff roles at Real Simple, People, and InStyle, and her bylines can be found in numerous other publications. When she's not testing the latest and greatest products, she can be found chilling on her Hell's Kitchen rooftop, checking out NYC's hottest new restaurants, or recording her podcast Good Trouble NYC. Follow her on Instagram.
Headshot of Keeks Reid
Keeks Reid
Beauty Director

Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old.  She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.  
 

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