I’ve used these under-eye masks every day for the past year

Before I started working at NBC Select, I was not dedicated to my skin care routine whatsoever. Besides using the acne medication my dermatologist prescribed, plus a moisturizer and sunscreen I picked up at my local pharmacy, I wasn’t loyal to many products and didn’t have much of a regimen. But now that I’m constantly writing about, surrounded by and testing skin care products, I’ve meticulously constructed a multistep routine that works for my acne-prone, sensitive, combination skin. The part I look forward to most? Throwing on a pair of Grace & Stella Under-Eye Masks.

These under-eye patches are nothing fancy, but they make my skin feel refreshed and hydrated. They also force me to carve out a few minutes for self-care, even on my busiest days. I never feel bad about using them daily — a pack of 24 costs $35 — because they’re frequently on sale. I believe everyone should keep a box (or two) of Grace & Stella Under-Eye Masks in their bathroom — I even have a drawer dedicated to them to make sure I know when I’m running out.

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Grace & Stella Under-Eye Masks

$21.95

$35.00

Amazon

$24.00

$30.00

Grace & Stella

What we like

• Hydrating
• Nonirritating
• Cooling

Something to note

• May slip down during wear
• Little variance between types

Grace & Stella has four types of under-eye masks: Energizing, Moisturizing, Illuminating and Restoring — all of them depuff the under-eye area and reduce the appearance of dark circles, according to the brand. Pairs come individually wrapped and you can buy boxes of 24 ($30) or 48 ($40). Each type is soaked with a different serum that targets specific concerns, like dryness and dullness. However, all of the patches have hyaluronic acid and glycerin in their formulas — both ingredients are humectants, which means they draw in moisture and help hydrate skin, according to our skin care glossary. 

• The yellow Energizing masks brighten and tighten skin, according to the brand.
• The pink Moisturizing masks alleviate dryness, according to the brand.
• The blue Illuminating masks reduce dullness and soothe skin, according to the brand. They’re made with niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, which can brighten skin and reduce water loss. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
• The purple Restoring masks are meant to plump and nourish skin, according to the brand. Notable ingredients include retinol, which can minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and moisturizing ceramides.

Beyond the formulas and the mask colors, each type of Grace & Stella under-eye patch is identical. They’re made from hydrogel, a soft, porous, flexible material that feels similar to silicone. The brand recommends applying them to clean, makeup-free skin, wearing them for 15 to 20 minutes and patting the remaining serum into your skin after you remove them.

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I wear these under-eye patches for about 20 minutes, and they instantly make my skin feel cool when I apply them.Courtesy Zoe Malin

I’ve used Grace & Stella’s Under-Eye Masks once a day, every day for about a year. I have sensitive, acne-prone, combination skin that tends to be on the drier side. In addition to these patches, my skin care routine now includes prescription acne medication, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums, eye cream, moisturizer and sunscreen.

As recommended by the brand, I apply these under-eye masks to clean skin and keep them on for about 20 minutes. I mostly wear them before bed or in the morning as I’m doing my hair, but sometimes I’ll put them on while I’m working from home in the afternoon.

One of the biggest pieces of skin care advice my mom gave me when I turned 20 was to start taking care of my delicate under-eye area. Your body begins to decrease collagen production in your mid 20s and 30s, which can lead to fine lines and crepey skin, according to dermatologists we previously spoke to about eye cream. My mom bought me her favorite eye cream and eye patches as a gift, so I started religiously using them. But eventually, I became curious about other options and shopped around.

I wasn't particularly loyal to one brand when it came to under-eye masks. I tried pairs from Skyn Iceland, Pixi and SiO Beauty, and while I liked them all, I didn't fall head-over-heels in love. That changed when I stumbled upon Grace & Stella’s under-eye patches about a year ago. One of my co-workers had them at her desk and asked me to try a pair. I put them on later that night and immediately bought a box on Amazon.

My under-eye area — as well as the rest of my face — occasionally gets dry and flakey, which is uncomfortable and can cause my concealer to pill throughout the day. The thick eye serum I use at night sometimes isn't enough to fully moisturize my under-eye area, but adding Grace & Stella’s eye masks to my daily routine has made a major difference. I can not only feel my skin drinking up the patches’ hydrating ingredients, but I can see results: My skin looks noticeably brighter and more plump post application.

Grace & Stella has four types of under-eye patches, all of which leave my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.Courtesy Zoe Malin

After a few weeks of using Grace & Stella’s eye masks daily, I noticed that my makeup sits better on my skin. My concealer doesn’t crease or look cakey, and it’s easier to blend in. The eye masks also never irritate my sensitive skin, even during the winter when the cold air makes it rawer and more prone to irritation than usual.

I’ve used all four types of Grace & Stella eye masks, and I don’t notice a difference between them. For example, the Energizing masks don’t brighten my under eyes more so than the Illuminating masks, in my experience. If you’re leaning toward one type of eye mask due to the specific benefits it advertises, my advice is to manage your expectations. With that said, I find all Grace & Stella eye masks equally hydrating, so I’m not picky about which type I use from day to day.

When I apply these eye masks, I immediately feel a cool sensation against my skin. I find it refreshing, and it perks me up, which I appreciate in the morning or after a long day. The cooling aspect helps with depuffing, too. My skin feels tighter and firmer after I use a pair, and my under-eye area looks less swollen. If I notice that my under eyes look super puffy, like when I’m dealing with seasonal allergies or didn't sleep much the night before, I put the masks in the refrigerator for about an hour before I use them. This enhances the cooling sensation and makes the masks feel like little ice packs. 

These under-eye patches have a slim profile and come individually wrapped so they’re easy to throw in my bag when traveling or store in the fridge. These under-eye patches have a slim profile and come individually wrapped so they’re easy to throw in my bag when traveling or store in the fridge.Courtesy Zoe Malin

Since Grace & Stella’s under-eye patches come individually wrapped, I don’t have to spend time painstakingly unsticking two from a stack of a dozen inside a little jar. Instead, I just tear open a pack and pop the patches on, which takes less than 30 seconds. Sometimes I’ll throw the eye masks on between calls if I’m working from home, even if I have two minutes to spare. They’re that easy to apply, although sometimes they slip down my face a bit when I first situate them. Pushing the masks back up usually solves that problem, and trial-and-error taught me that ensuring my skin is dry is key to helping them stay in place.

I also find these eye patches easy to travel with since I can throw one pack for each night of my trip into my toiletry bag. The packs don’t take up much space — they’re about as thin as a credit card and fit in the palm of my hand — so I often bring extra packs on trips for my friends and family members to use.

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Grace & Stella’s under-eye masks are not magic. They’re not going to erase your dark circles, under-eye bags or wrinkles overnight. However, as part of a skin care routine that also includes various creams, serums and lotions, I find that they’re hydrating enough to alleviate dry skin and cooling enough to decrease puffiness. Also, at $30 for 24 pairs — less if they’re on sale, which they often are — Grace & Stella’s eye masks are more budget-friendly compared to similar options from brands like Peter Thomas Roth, which are $55 for 30 pairs, and Patchology, which are $50 for 30 pairs. 

Their effectiveness and affordability is what keeps me coming back for more. I look forward to using them every day, whether it’s while I scroll through TikTok before bed, work from home or do my hair as I’m getting ready in the morning.

I am an associate updates editor at NBC Select who writes about skin care, including articles about tinted sunscreen, ingrown hair treatments and sunburn treatments. I also frequently test and review skin care products. For this article, I tested Grace & Stella’s Under-Eye Masks for about a year. 

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