Considering how delicate the skin under our eyes is, it’s not surprising that the area is prone to a slew of different skin concerns—puffing, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, etc.
While it’s difficult to find a product that tackles all of these at once, there’s one that’s quickly become a fan-favorite for doing just that. Grace & Stella’s highly-coveted eye masks—which just so happen to be the best-selling eye patches on Amazon—deliver ultra-targeted active ingredients to treat under-eye concerns, and their results have garnered rave reviews all over the Internet. Naturally, the beauty writer in me had to see what the hype was about, so I put the patches to the test on the puffy, dry, discolored skin under my eyes. And let me just say? They did not disappoint.
Pros:
- Packed with active ingredients
- Affordable
- Targets multiple under-eye concerns at once
Cons:
- Single-use
What’s inside Grace & Stella’s Energizing Eye Patches
Glycerin
Glycerin is a humectant, meaning that it draws water into the skin to noticeably hydrate, plump, and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. is designed to moisturize skin, noticeably plump, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. “I personally think that glycerin is the one ingredient that’s good for everyone,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut. “It’s no bells and whistles, we know it works, and everybody should have it.”
Hyaluronic acid
Another derm-favorite hydrator, hyaluronic acid “can hold 1000 times its weight in water and helps to keep skin hydrated and plump,” says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology. “It’s a powerful humectant and it’s great combined with emollients and occlusives to prevent loss of moisture.”
Chondrus crispus powder
According to board-certified dermatologist Marianna Blyumin Karasik, MD, creator of Stamina Cosmetics and co-founder of Precision Skin Institute, chondrus crispus powder can help diminish the appearance of dark circles. She notes that this red algae powder is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin from oxidative stress (which is what causes visible signs of aging) and is packed with fatty acids and peptides to deliver moisturizing and plumping benefits.
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
The skin in the eye area is prone to dropping and sagging with age, and that’s where hydrolyzed vegetable proteins come in. “Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins typically have softening and plumping effects on the skin through anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties,” says Dr. Karasik.
What happened when I tried Grace & Stella’s Energizing Eye Patches
My under-eye area is prone to dryness and sensitivity, so before I even tried the products I liked knowing that they were designed to be gentle enough to use on all skin types.
The soft, gel-like patches easily stuck to my face, and stayed in place for the full 20 minutes I was wearing them. I didn’t notice any tingling or irritation, but did experience a cooling sensation that felt spa-like and ultra-relaxing. One thing worth noting, though, is that you may need to play with the patches a bit to find the perfect placement—I had to tug them at both ends to get them to go where I wanted them (though maybe I’m just uncoordinated).
After the first use, I noticed that my under-eye area was brighter and less puffy. While it didn’t reduce the appearance of my larger under-eye bags, it did make the smaller ones pretty much disappear.
Considering you can get 24 pairs of these puppies for just about $22 (that’s less than a dollar a pair), they’re well worth adding to your cart to see what the hype is about for yourself.