The greatest under-eye masks for dark circles and de-puffing tired eyes

Dermatologists are always telling me that not everyone needs a separate eye care product in their skincare routine – as long as your skincare is eye-safe, you’re fine. So do you need under-eye masks in your skincare routine? Absolutely not. Under-eye masks are luxuries, not essentials. For the most part, they’re absolute Instagram fodder, but they are also instant de-puffers, they feel great if you’re hungover, they’re amazing if you have tired, sore or itchy eyes from lack of sleep or allergies and they’re really revitalising if you want to take 15 minutes to treat yourself. These are the best under-eye masks of the bunch.

The limited-edition Bareminerals Skinlongevity Green Tea Herbal Eye Mask, €30.95 are made with a cooling gel that is heaven-sent for a hangover or hot day. Infused with a calming willow herb extract and green tea, leave them on for 15 minutes for eyes that feel soothed, wide awake and free from puffiness.

The Chanel Le Lift Flash Eye Revitalizer, €131, eye masks are impossible to get your hands on, due to their popularity with the influencers of the world, but if you can get your hands on them, you should. There are two steps: first, a cooling roll-on releases anti-ageing serum infused with vitamin C, but the second part is what we’re all here for – the re-invigorating patches. Incredibly expensive? Sure. But this is the eye mask of those who do a #SundayFacial for Instagram and if that’s your bag, there’s no better choice. Plus,  you get to use the caption, “the bags under my eyes are Chanel”.

Sit up, those who take their skincare seriously, because this one is for you. Do you know how you can’t use most retinol around the eyes? The Shiseido Benefiance Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Masks, €69, are suitable on the delicate orbital eye area, infused with vitamin A and work fast (we’re talking 15 minutes fast) to reduce dark circles, fines lines and dryness around the eyes.

Inspired by the micro-needling treatments you might be seeing all over social media, Vichy create Vichy Lift Activ Micro Hyaluronic Acid Eye Masks, €25.99, overnight eye masks that contain 160 micro-cones of solidified hyaluronic acid of natural origin which penetrate the skin and plump up wrinkles and crow’s feet around the eyes. Life hack: you can also use these to plump fine lines around the mouth.

Have you tried Milk Makeup Cooling Water, €24.20, yet? It’s basically water-on-a-stick, which I know sounds like the ultimate gimmick, but it’s so refreshing. I keep mine in the fridge – it’s a cooling balmy hydration booster that boost circulation, heals a hangover and generally just calms you down. Milk Makeup Cooling Water Under Eye Patches, €24.20, are the same principle, but with added caffeine to de-puff your tired eyes and calming seawater and lavender to soothe and hydrate.

There’s also a Patchology under-eye mask, €11.80 each, for every mood. The FlashPatch Illuminating Eye Gels soothe and brighten with vitamin C and green tea in just 5 minutes, the”Perk Up” Energizing Tea-Infused Aromatherapy Eye Gels take ten minutes to awaken your eyes while soothing your soul with a scented boost of bergamot. If winter is leaving you dry-eyed, the “Happy Place” Inspiring Tea-Infused Aromatherapy Eye Gels moisturise and soften and if you’re having a self-care moment, look to the “Down Time” Calming Tea-Infused Aromatherapy Eye Gels – they’ll renew tired eyes while helping you chill out with a waft of lavender.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Yeux Light Pearl Eye Mask, €13.45, looks like a superhero mask, travelling right across the brow bone, around the eyes and underneath and contain the same amount of bifidus extract found in half of a bottle of Lancôme’s cult Advanced Génifique. Your eyes are instantly revived, with fine lines less visible and dark circles destroyed.

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