The girlies are really putting in the overtime when it comes to under eye patches. Some of them are even going as far as habit stacking them by wearing a set to their 5am Pilates class.
The revival kicked off towards the end of 2023 and really took hold by 2024. You could hardly scroll past a GRWM on TikTok without seeing some with a Rhode or Chanel set slapped across their face. By the time we rolled into 2025, the trend had made its way beyond the bathroom, and the girlies were wearing them to grab coffee, run errands and in airports. It was no longer about covering up your eye bags, but accessorising them.
So, it comes as no surprise that the latest place to wear your under eye patches is your morning workout. We just have one question for the hot mat girlies: how are they not sliding down your face?
We digress. After having a chokehold on us for the past three years, we are still finding ourselves asking the question. Do under eye patches actually do anything, aside from looking cute?
Do under eye patches actually work?
Short answer: yes, but only temporarily. Usually, they’re made from a type of hydrogel, biocellulose, or silicone and soaked in hydrating, brightening ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, caffeine, peptides and collagen so that the patches force the ingredients to melt deeper into your skin. Bonus depuffing can also occur if you let them get cold in your fridge before applying them.
While they’re a nice little morning refresh, they don’t have much of an effect long-term. If your dark circles are caused by hyperpigmentation or incredibly thin skin (thanks, genetics), a patch won’t erase them. Likewise, if the fat pads under the eyes start to shift or sag with age. Sadly, patches can’t tighten loose skin or move fat pads back into place.
So, when should you use under eye patches?
Honestly, you can use them whenever you like. We’d recommend them before special events, big meetings that are preceded by late nights, on long flights, or if you just wanna look a little more awake that day.
If you’re looking for a more long-term solution for your eye bags, you’re going to want to invest in some good eye creams and serums, but that’s a story you can read over here.
How do you wear under eye patches?
Funnily enough, how you wear them seems to be a hotly debated topic on the internet — especially since the crescent-moon/teardrop-shaped patches lend themselves to being worn either way. A casual scroll through TikTok will likely leave you even more confused, so I decided to do some serious investigative journalism.
Brace yourselves, what I’ve uncovered might leave you shook.
You can actually wear them both ways, depending on what you’re targeting. According to Peter Thomas Roth (eye-patch extrodinnare), you wear the bigger end towards the outer corner of your eye if you want to target smile lines and the smaller end towards the outer corner if you’re looking to minimise puffiness and under eye wrinkles.
Either way, just make sure you place the patches as close to the waterline as you can — nobody should be wearing those bad boys halfway down their cheeks.
The most viral under eye patches
Rhode Under Eye Patches
Ms Bieber definitely had a hand in the resurgence of under eye patches. For a while there, our social feeds were awash with the Signature Rhode Peptide Eye Prep Patches ($43). Now, they come in three styles (limited-edition Banana Peel, the signature Rhode logo, and the r icon). Each hydrogel patch is loaded with hydrating ingredients, including caffeine, tetrapeptide, amino acids and glycerin. They work to depuff, minimise fine lines and reduce the look of dark circles. Each box includes six sets of patches, so they’re around $7 a set.
Shop RhodeChanel Le Lift Flash Eye
The Chanel Le Lift Flash Eye ($178) under eye patches are the OG, if you ask us. The Chanel under eye patches are formulated with a high concentration of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, so it penetrates deeper into the thin skin around the eyes rather than just sitting on top. The result? Instantly brighter under eyes. It’s worth noting that they are on the more expensive side, though at around $18 per pair.
Shop Chanel
Peter Thomas Roth Under Eye Patches
Remember when we said that Peter Thomas Roth was an under eye patch extraordinare? Well, that’s because the brand literally sells seven (!!) distinct styles of under eye patches/masks. Now, we won’t rattle them all off, but we will give you the four the internet is obsessed with. The Water Drench, 24K Gold, Cucumber De-Tox, and Potent-C are apparently where you should be spending your hard-earned cash. Each one is slightly different from the next, depending on the hero ingredient — hyaluronic acid, activated gold, aloe and vitamin C, respectively. But they all help to hydrate, depuff, and minimise eye bags and fine lines. These eye patches start at $95 for 30 pairs and cap out at $130.
Shop Peter Thomas RothSummer Fridays Jet Lag Eye Patches
The Summer Fridays Jet Lag range is simply *chef’s kiss*, so it should come as no surprise that the under eye patches are that good. And honestly, probably where the trend of wearing the under eye patches to the airport started. The cooling, non-slip hydrogel patches instantly hydrate, soothe, and de-puff the delicate eye area using ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, cucumber extract and caffeine to refresh tired eyes. A six-pack will set you back $39, so around $6.50 a set.
Shop Summer Fridays
Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Under Eye Patches
According to the internet, there’s a lot to love about the Rare Beauty under eye patches. These no-slip patches instantly soothe and hydrate your under eyes thanks to the winning combo of caffeine, green tea extract, hyaluronic acid, and cacao seed.
Not only will they leave you looking well-rested, but they leave zero sticky after-feel, making it the perfect prelude to make up. It’s $45 for a pack of 8, so around $5.60 per wear.
Shop Rare BeautySkin Gym Reusable Under Eye Patches
Now, Skin Gym’s Reusable Under Eye Patches don’t actually come with any product on them. They’re simply two medical-grade silicone under eye patches that were designed to be used again and again with your favourite eye creams and serums.
To use them, apply your cream or serum, wait a few minutes, wet one side of the patches slightly, pop them on and leave them for 10-15 minutes. The silicone locks in moisture and sends the ingredients from your skincare deeper into the skin.
They’re better for the environment, and work out to be much cheaper than some of the above alternatives. A set of these babies will cost you $41.
Shop Skin Gym
Well, friends, there you have it, the internet’s favourite under eye patches. While they definitely won’t get rid of those dark circles under your eyes forever, they’re a damn cute way to perk you up each morning. And to, you know, get some extra hydration in.
Plus, if they bring you joy, add ’em to your skincare routine, why not?!
Images: Hailey Bieber Instagram / Phoebe Tonkin Instagram / badgal.edie Instagram / stxph.h Instagram / Selena Gomez Instagram / Skin Gym Instagram
The post Everyone’s Obsessed With Wearing Under Eye Patches, But Do They Actually Work? appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
