When a full eight hours of sleep is out of the question (which is ver much the case these days thanks to our COVID-19 related anxiety), there's only so much concealer can hide — and that's where a fatigue-fighting under-eye mask comes in.
Unlike heavy eye creams, eye masks harness lightweight but potent serums packed with ultra-cooling, skin-plumping and dark circle-busting ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid and ceramides to leave you bright-eyed and revived. Oh, and the best part? They get to work in ten minutes or less.
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So whether under-eyes need extra love because you’re sleep-deprived, hungover, or you just stayed up all night binge-watching Netflix—it's time to start investing in eye masks. Wearing these patches for just 10 minutes or so tackles puffiness, dryness, fine lines, and dark circles. Consider them exactly what you need to look awake and refreshed (even if you don't feel like it on the inside). Ahead, our top picks for the best masks for tired eyes to see you through tiring times.
best for...
Dark Circles
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Vitamin C and liquorice extract help to combat discolouration, while a long list of antioxidants delivers protective benefits. (Also nice: There’s plenty of leftover serum in the mask tray, which you can use to apply elsewhere on your face). And the patches are in fact made with rose quartz, the crystal known for helping to promote universal love. What more could you need?
ROSE QUARTZ ANTIOXIDANT COLLAGEN EYE MASKS, €15, Knesko
best for...
Puffy under eye bags
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Soaked in caffeine and collagen, these silky-textured gels will instantly soothe tired eyes. Pop a pair in the fridge and keep restocking for S.O.S situations.
EyeRevive FlashPatch 5 Minute Hydrogels, €3.70, Patchology
best for...
Energising tired eyes
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These cooling eye patches from MILK MAKEUP are packed with caffeine, lavender, and aloe barbadensis leaf extract to soothe and calm inflammation and brighten up the eye area. Basically, say goodbye to under-eye bags and dark circles.
Cooling Water Undereye Patches, €25, MILK Makeup
best for...
Instagram selfies
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There's a reason why you've seen these eye patches all over your Instagram - and it's not just because they look cool. Chanel's signature Le Lift ingredient is 50 times more concentrated here to boost and firm the eye area. Add that with a vitamin complex to reduce puffiness and get rid of dark circles, and it's a true miracle worker.
LE LIFT Firming Anti-Wrinkle Flash Eye Revitalizer, €120, Chanel
best for...
Brightening dull, tired eyes
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Running low on rest? You don't have to look like it, thanks to these brightening beauties. These patches are blended with hyaluronic acid and allantoin, an an active healing ingredient best known for soothing dry and irritated skin. This is the tired-eye instant cure so you can look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and take on the day.
Brightening Eye Firming Mask, €58.50, Joanna Vargas
best for...
Dry eyes and crow's feet
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Your under-eyes deserve the very best, so why not reach for an eye mask packed with 24k gold? Gold works to visibly firm the skin, while the hydrogel patch de-puffs the under-eye for a smoother appeararance.
best for...
Early mornings
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Pop this on for 10 minutes while you blowdry your hair or get dressed and thank us later. The gel-cream uses horse chestnut extract to minimize the look of dark circles, as well as soothing Irish moss. It’s also a great choice to use in the AM because it contains quinoa extract, which works to protect skin from environmental aggressors. You know, everything that your skin gets attacked with the second you leave the house. But if you want to save it for nighttime you totally can; it doubles as a leave-on mask that can be used overnight once or twice per week.
Hydra-Essentiel Moisturizing Reviving Eye Mask, €33, Clarins
best for...
Bedtime
You deserve to give your eyes the attention they deserve after a stressful day. These masks combat the stresses of life, whether that's lack of sleep, pollution, or dehydration — or all of the above. They're soaked in hydrating botanicals and anti-aging ingredients to firm and hydrate tired eyes. Pop these babies on at night for just 10 minutes and awake to glowing, well-rested under-eyes.
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Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Mask, €43, Estée Lauder
best for...
Firming under eye bags
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This mask is a cult favourite for a reason. Formulated with shea butter, olive oil, and jojoba oil this works wonders on exhausted eyes. All of your de-puffing, firming, brightening, and smoothing needs will be met with its cooling ingredients.
Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, €25, Skyn Iceland
best for...
Targeting wrinkles
Retinol can be a scary ingredient to tackle, especially around the delicate eye area. The formula in these masks is specifically made to be gentle yet effective, penetrating the skin to help prevent wrinkles from forming and coming to the surface. Wrinkle reduction is promised in 15 minutes!
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Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Eye Mask, €69, Shiseido
best...
Budget buy
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By now, you should know that boujée prices don't necessarily equal better results. Case in point: Soap & Glory's Puffy eye attack under-eye brightening hydrogel patches. With 'puffease' technology (a tripeptide that reduces the appearance of puff) and super-naturally good ingredients including cucumber fruit juice and liquorice root extract, this undereye mask rivals most of the picks on the list and delivers smooth, revitalisted, hydrated eyes.
Soap & Glory Puffy eye attack Under-eye Brightening Hydrogel Patches, €4.49, Boots
best...
Boujé buy
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This is not technically an under-eye patch (it's a mask), but it is a favorite of celebrity makeup artists everywhere. Plant-based actives and vitamins work overtime to hydrate skin and contour the eye area so that skin is smooth, bright, and de-puffed in time for the Oscars—or Monday morning zoom calls.
Eye contour mask, €106.50, Sisley
Main image by @amaka.hamelijnck on Instagram
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