Do Eye Masks Really Work? Our Best Picks for Recharging Your Eyes

We urbanites are used to checking our phones every morning to confirm that they're 100% charged, but have you ever paid attention to whether your eyes are "fully charged"? Puffiness, dark circles, crow's feet, fine lines - yikes!

Some of the best eye care products to target dark circles (alongside an eye cream of course) are eye masks. I know what you’re thinking - aren’t these gimmicks? We don’t think so! Here’s a round up of eye masks, how they work, and which ones to choose. 

Understanding Eye Masks: How They Work

3 Types of Eye Masks: Cream, Gel, and Bio-Cellulose Masks

According to dermatologists, “The skin around the eyes is one of the thinnest and most fragile areas of our body, which is prone to moisture loss and dryness. The eye masks work like face masks, nourishing and providing active ingredients to the delicate skin around the eyes.” Using a targeted eye mask on this fragile, dehydration-prone part of our faces can help to improve hydration and reduce the appearance of common concerns such as eye bags and dark circles.

The three most common types of eye masks that you’ll see are cream eye masks, gel eye masks, and bio-cellulose eye masks. Here’s a quick run-through on the perks of these masks for your skin!

Cream Eye Masks

Provides high moisturising at bedtime and minimises fine lines, crow's feet, and dark circles. Best used at night before bed to replenish hydration. If you have dry skin, you’ll love a cream eye mask in your routine. Think of these like supercharged eye creams - they often have a heavier texture, and absorb into the skin overnight to really plump your skin’s moisture levels. 

Gel Eye Masks

Gel eye masks are usually what we think of when it comes to eye masks - they’re often shaped like a rounded teardrop to fit perfectly on the contour of your under eyes. These slices of hydrogels are soaked in essence that delivers hydrating and brightening benefits for a well-rested look!

Bio-Cellulose Eye Masks 

These are really similar to gel masks, but the key difference is that they’re made of bio-cellulose. That’s just a fancy word for paper, by the way! They have that same signature cashew shape that fits right under your eyes to deliver brightening Vitamin C or Retinol, depending on what your skin needs!

The Science Behind Eye Masks

What do eye masks help with?

Well, depending on the ingredients, one of the main reasons you’ll pick up one of these products is to help with:

• Dark circles
• Crow’s feet
• Eye bags

Because they deliver targeted amounts of active ingredients, eye masks can help with all of these concerns. To target dark circles, Peptides and Vitamin C should be high up on your list.

To treat crow’s feet, make sure your mask has retinol to encourage collagen production. For eye bags, make sure your make is caffeinated! Caffeine helps to boost circulation, minimising the appearance of eye bags. 

Top Eye Mask Picks

We’ve rounded up some eye masks that we think you’ll love!

Patchology MoodPatch Happy Place Eye Gels

The Patchology MoodPatch Happy Place Eye Gels offer a unique blend of botanicals and antioxidants to rejuvenate and refresh the under-eye area. Infused with natural ingredients like Hibiscus, Rose, and Lotus Flower, these eye gels provide a soothing experience that helps to brighten and hydrate the skin. 

Designed for anyone looking to minimise signs of tiredness and give their skin a gentle, uplifting boost, these eye gels are perfect for a pampering session. Suitable for all skin types, they are an easy addition to any skincare routine, promising to leave the under-eye area feeling refreshed and looking more radiant.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask

Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask has a lightweight, refreshing gel penetrates the skin quickly to provide long-lasting hydration without leaving it feeling heavy and greasy, effectively awakening the skin and leaving the eye area looking smoother and younger in an instant.

Infused with next-generation Flash Filler Hyaluronic Acid, Watermelon & Snow Algae to reduce the appearance of fine lines, and antioxidant Bush Bush Bush Clover, Elemis deeply moisturises and reduces puffiness and crow's feet around the eye contour.

Elemis Absolute Eye Mask 

Elemis Absolute Eye Mask is designed for the delicate eye area for a salon-like experience. It is specially infused with star ingredients, including camellia oil with antioxidants, potent plant extracts, and active ingredients. These ingredients can help reduce fine lines caused by dullness and dehydration. They rejuvenate and nourish the contours around the eyes, creating a vibrant and hydrated appearance.

Patchology FlashPatch® Restoring Night Eye Gels

Patchology FlashPatch® Restoring Night Eye Gels rehydrates the skin around the eyes at night, when the skin is at its most vulnerable. This eye mask contains retinol, which promotes skin cell renewal and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Squalane, a natural ingredient that locks moisture into the skin, leaving it smoother and firmer also features in the formula. In just five minutes, it works to infuse your skin with moisture and address crow's feet and fine lines around the eyes.

Key Takeaways

The skin around our eyes is one of the thinnest and most fragile areas of our body, prone to dryness and loss of moisture. The eye mask acts like a face mask, nourishing and providing active ingredients to the delicate skin around the eyes. 

No matter what type of eye mask you choose, there is no right or wrong thing to choose, as long as you have a clear understanding of the efficacy, choose the best for your skin type, lifestyle, and fit for your cosmetic habits, in order to solve skin problems. If you want to enhance the effectiveness of the eye mask, the beautician recommends that as long as the eye mask is stored in the refrigerator, it can enhance the awakening effect.

FAQ Section

1. How do I choose the right eye mask and which one is the best?

No matter what type of eye mask you choose, there is no right or wrong thing to choose, as long as you have a clear understanding of the efficacy, choose the right one which suitable for your skin type, lifestyle, and habits. For example, you can choose an eye mask gel to wake up your skin before you go out in the morning, and if you want to have a relaxing and recovery night, better to choose a paper eye mask or cream.

2. What are the recommended eye masks?

Beauty Affairs has selected the following eye masks, including Patchology MoodPatch Happy Place Eye Gels, Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask, Elemis Absolute Eye Mask, and Patchology FlashPatch® Restoring Night Eye Gels.

3. Tips and precautions for the use of eye masks?

In addition, it is important to store the eye mask in the refrigerator to enhance the function of awakening the skin and pay attention not to put the eye mask too close to the eyes, avoid using it on wounds, leave it on the skin for a long time, and reuse disposable eye masks. If symptoms such as sensitivity, itching, redness, and swelling appear, you should stop using it promptly and consult a dermatologist.