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Dark circles? These are the 7 best under-eye patches for brightening and depuffing from just £6
They'll make you look like you actually slept last night
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).
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. 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. Just take a ~little peek~ at some of our all-time faves.
Our top picks for the best under-eye patches in 2025:
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Keep reading to discover the best under-eye patches. Late nights and early mornings, you've met your match, bb.
grace & stella Energizing Under Eye Gel Patches
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.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, amino acids
Pairs per pack: 6
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."—MH
Peace Out Retinol Eye Lift Patches
The entire orbital area—not just your under-eyes—is delicate and susceptible to discolouration, puffiness, and dryness. Not to mention, your eyes are the first part of your face to show signs of ageing. That's why Peace Out manufactured these superhero-like masks to deliver the benefits of anti-aging and smoothing retinol, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and plumping peptides around your entire eye. Retinol around your eyes might seem irritating (since it's typically sensitising), but these are sensitive skin-approved.
Key ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, peptide complex, triple hyaluronic acid
Pairs per pack: 5
One Cosmo editor says: "These patches are, first off, so much fun to wear. But the best part is the results. I've noticed my crow's feet becoming less prominent, and my eyes are overall brighter when I use these!"—MH
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.
Key ingredients: Glacial water, magnesium, amino acids
Pairs per pack: 30
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
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.
Key ingredients: Seaweed extract, vitamin E, peptide complex
Pairs per pack: 8
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."—LB
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.
Key ingredients: Caffeine
Pairs per pack: 5
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
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.
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, jojoba oil
Pairs per pack: 6
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." KR
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.
Key ingredients: Caffeine, Arbutin, Kojic Acid
Pairs per pack: 6
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."
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.
Meet the expert:
- Karan Lal, MD, is a double board-certified adult, pediatric, and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ.
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.
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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