No matter where you look right now, reality TV, Instagram, or at your favorite spa you are likely to have come across the hottest trend in beauty right now: eye masks.
What are under eye masks?
I won’t bore you with the obvious, it is exactly what it sounds like: just like a regular mask, but for under your eyes. They are “comma shaped” strips of material that typically have an adhesive backing and are loaded with nutrients. You stick em’ under your eyes, and they are supposed to be good for you. Some of them are more like traditional masks, where you spread some cream under your eyes and it hardens where you can wash it off or peel it off like a peel. Most of them are adhesive backed.
Before cell phones we had land lines, and before eye masks, there were cucumbers. People sliced off some cucumbers and set them under their eyes. They were cool and moist, the perfect ingredients to heal puffy eyes after a long night.
Do under eye masks actually work?
Eye masks are one of those things where enough doctor’s have basically said “they have X vitamin and X mineral in them, they moisturize your skin, so they must be good.”
It is really just a matter of opinion. Do they work? Applying your favorite skin regimen followed by a healthy dollop of your favorite anti-aging moisturizer under your eyes, and you’ll likely reap the same benefits as an under eye mask.
Celebs Use Under Eye Masks
If you’ve got a favorite celeb chances are they are using an under eye mask, and they all have a favorite.
Listed below are some of our favorite eye masks, along with a few of our celeb favorites.
Our Favorite Eye Masks
$120 Nordstrom’s MDNA Skin (Madonna Brand)
From the description: “What it is: A clinically tested and personally perfected by Madonna eye mask to help visibly de-puff, firm, soothe and strengthen the delicate eye area.”
If Madonna endorses it it must be good!
Pick it up for $120 @ Nordstrom.
($195 for 8) Chantecaille Brand (Kate Hudson)
What it is: A natural seaweed-based mask infused with a luxurious 24K gold serum rich in powerful components that replump and moisturize.
Is it me or does the packaging look like a cross between rolling papers and condoms?
($20 for 4) KollagenX Jessica Alba Recommended
- Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles by 25%-75% even after one use.
- High performance moisturizer and hydration you can see and feel up to 24hrs.
- Reduce dark circles and puffiness
- Firmer more taut skin
- Easy and convenient to use anywhere
$130 Chanel Le Lift Firming Anti-Wrinkle Flash Eye Revitalizer
Made by Chanel with classic branding on the patches. This is a 2 step eye revitalizer.
A two-step eye care system that starts with an intense roll-on serum followed by hydrogel patches for immediate revitalization and radiance.
$35 – Erno Laszlo Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask (6 count) (Rachel Zoe
Reduce under-eye dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles with Erno Laszlo’s Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask. This silky, all-in-one hydrogel eye mask is soaked in serum powered by algae extract, vitamin B3, amino acids and allantoin to deliver powerful results to the eye area.
($320 for 3) Valmont Eye Regenerating Masks
Definitely on the higher end, and sold at Saks.From the Intensive Care Collection. Specially designed to meet the specific requirements of the eye area, this collagen mask helps reduce bags and dark circles for a radiant look. Used occasionally, this “booster” treatment immediately soothes and relaxes the eye area. With regular application, it spectacularly improves the texture of the skin and smooths wrinkles and lines, regenerating tissue firmness and tone. 5 masks. Made in Switzerland.
$8 EyeBoost ??
This mask was made with some yadda yadda ingredients, so you can take cool pics on Instagram.
$22 Caffeinated Cooling Water Eye Patches
I’ve heard caffeine dries your skin, so I really am not sure about these. It is also called “cooling water eye” but has “milk” on the label. Confused. You can pick them up at Sephora.
These cooling eye patches are packed with caffeine, lavender, and aloe barbadensis leaf extract to soothe and calm inflammation and brighten up the eye area.
