The Best Under-Eye Patches for Men

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Questions? Reach us at shop@mensjournal.com.

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then your under eyes are the front doorstep. They have the biggest effect on your overall appearance, more than any other part of the body. Your age, heredity, sleep habits, and exposure all play a part in how they look on any given day. If they’re baggy, wrinkly, or have dark circles, they’ll make you look tired and older than you really are. But these sensitive areas, which have some of the thinnest skin on your body, are easily revived with the right tools.

The proper face wash, serum, moisturizer, and eye cream are key to any routine, but under-eye patches applied once a week or so are critical to repairing skin damage, especially after long days exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. After testing many brands, we found that Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches performed the best overall. But for men looking for different features like enhanced portability or more coverage, we have five other fantastic options that will have your skin looking younger and healthier. 

How We Tested

I’ve been testing and writing about products for nearly 15 years. I’m the former fashion and grooming editor at Men’s Health, and my work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, Rolling Stone, Bloomberg Pursuits, and more. I started by contacting every major eye patch manufacturer directly and calling in new and best-selling products for testing. I tried all types and prices, but excluded any full-coverage eye masks that go around the entire eye area. I found many of these are designed for smaller (read: female) faces, which meant they felt small and tended to fall off. I tested two patches at a time, with a different brand under each eye, noting their look, feel, smell if any, absorption rate, packaging, ease of application, how well they stayed put, and how my skin felt afterward. I then balanced my notes with information about each formula’s ingredients and long-term benefits, along with input from industry professionals, to create the list you see below.

How to Shop for Under-Eye Patches

First, for any disbelievers: Yes, these patches actually work. After a few weeks of testing these, I was receiving compliments and noting that my skin looked more taut and less tired, even on Zoom calls. Granted, I was using these daily, but you can also achieve the same look with consistency and proper application.

Under-eye patches should be applied to clean, dry skin. They should have a delicate, gel-like texture so they stick well and keep serum or gel close to your skin without evaporating. The patches should stay in place and not slip or fall off.

Some patches come in individual plastic trays, others in stacks that come with a small spatula that helps apply each. Both work just fine. The two biggest lessons I learned? First, keep the patches in the fridge to further reduce puffiness. And second, don’t be fooled by fancy marketing or packaging. We found it had little overall correlation with each patch’s performance. In fact, some products that touted the most luxe looks scored the lowest in key areas.

The Best Under-Eye Patches of 2023 The Best Overall Under-Eye Patches: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches

Courtesy Image

After seeing what many different eye patches can do for your appearance, even in the short term, this is the product I’d spend my money on. Quite simply because it had the most noticeable effect on my skin afterward. That’s likely because the patches are soaked in hyaluronic acid, a material your body naturally produces. It uniquely retains many times its weight in water and helps drive moisture deep into your eye’s delicate skin. The patches had a smooth, clean texture—not sticky. They were the just-right thickness and texture, which made them easy to pop on and off. Use them consistently to reduce fine lines, crow’s feet, and dark circles. They also have caffeine to reduce the puffiness that makes you look tired. I recommend them to anyone.

[$55 for 30 pairs; peterthomasroth.com]

The Best Value Under-Eye Patches: DRMTLGY Brightening Eye Masks

Courtesy Image

Once you’re hooked on under-eye patches, you’ll want a steady supply. But that’s when things typically can get pricey. At less than $1.50 a pair, these patches are a solid buy for your money. The formula hails from Korea, the mecca of skincare, and includes caffeine, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. That last ingredient, also known as vitamin B3, is great for reducing redness and puffiness, as well as repairing skin damage from long-term sun exposure.

[$44 for 30 pairs; drmtlgy.com]

The Best Under-Eye Patches for Travel: Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks

Courtesy Image

These under-eye patches were perhaps the easiest to put on and stayed in its place the best of any on this list, which makes them perfect for on the go. They come in individually wrapped trays, which make a quick 15-minute mask before a big event even easier. The formula includes moisture-rich hyaluronic acid, as well as two types of algae that boost collagen production, leaving skin firm, hydrated, and healthy. Plus the masks produce antioxidants, which kill cancer-causing free radicals created by long-term UV damage you might encounter from long hours in the sun. 

[$82 for 6 pairs; amazon.com]

The Best Luxury Under-Eye Patches: Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches

Courtesy Image

We had to include these ultra-luxe patches, not because they’re TikTok-famous or lauded by celebrities, but because more than any other patches on this list, you could feel these working. By that, I mean there was a tingle and subtle warmth (but not a burn) that told me the product was taking effect. Yes, these individually packaged patches are expensive, but it’s not all hype. The brand is tight-lipped about what creates this sensation, but credits its proprietary complex called TFC8. It’s a blend of amino acids, vitamins, and peptides based on decades of research and clinical studies. When you really want to pamper yourself, give them a try.

[$22 for single pack; sephora.com]

The Best Incognito Under-Eye Patches: Jaxon Lane Bro Mask Eye Gels

Courtesy Image

Not many brands in this arena market specifically to men. But of those that do, this is the best. The individually packaged gels are easy to put on without much mess and feature bakuchiol, one of the skincare industry’s most popular ingredients right now. The brand calls it “nature’s gentler retinol alternative” because it can smooth fine lines and increase cell turnover. But perhaps the best boon to these is how they go on basically clear with very little shine, so you can easily sneak them on during a lunch break, road trip, or flight.

[$30 for 6 pairs; amazon.com]

The Best Budget Under-Eye Masks: Hero Mighty Patch for Tired Eyes

Courtesy Image

Eye patches don’t have to be expensive to be effective. If you’re looking for a quick fix that you won’t have to think twice about buying, try these. They’re individually wrapped and stay put fairly well. I was often walking around while testing them with no slippage. They’re contoured to fit your eyes comfortably. Instructions say to wear them for 30 minutes or more—or until the patch turns clear.

[$15 for 6 pairs; target.com]