As promised, we are returning to vanity and frivolity this week and we are going to examine eye patches.
If you didn’t know this (and probably all of you do), the skin around the eyes is very delicate. It shows age quickly and is nearly impossible to restore. My single most frustrating battle in anti-aging (pro-youthing!) has been the saggy, wrinkly skin under my eyes.
I’ve searched high. I’ve searched low. To date I haven’t found that miracle cream or balm or serum that restores and rejuvenates under eyes. I’ve tried a lot.
ALOT! A quick review of my “trial and error” notebook has entries on over 60 different brands, types, formulations and active ingredients. If you have any you love, let me know. I’ll definitely see if I’ve tried it out.
So far for me, no luck. No miracle worker, no holy grail.
What I do find helps (even just short term) is…eye patches. Perhaps it’s because they stay on longer. Perhaps it’s the carrier they use – but I really think my under eye looks better after I use them.
Well – most of them.
A year ago, on a desert trip with my mother and my sister, I brought along skin care to give us in-house spa treatments. When my mother took off the under eye patches, she noticed an immediate difference. I was stunned she had never used them, but it started me on a journey to keep her in the best eye patches I could find. Since then, I’ve been carefully testing out any eye patches I could put my hands on. Now you get to benefit from my obsessive search!
They aren’t all cheap but the more expensive ones are worth it – and by that I mean – I see visible results.
By Material
There is a range of “carrier” materials used for eye patch formulations and I have favorites broken down by category.
- Gel – This has become more common in recent years, for good reason. They generally stick to your face (if you’re like me you can’t sit still and you are always multi-tasking). They are usually very moisturizing but don’t have the risk of drying out like other materials do. These are probably my favorite material in general. Specifically my very favorite so far is Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches. Second to these are Tarte Sea Pack Your Bags Under Eye Patches which work well and are my go-to eye patch before a big event.
The caution with gel eye patches is how slippery the serum or active ingredient is. I’ve tried some that slip and slide around so much that you have to really lie down and stay still while you have them on. Who needs that?! - Cotton – These are best when saturated in the formula they are trying to impart. There is only one type I favor in this category and it’s Shiseido’s Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask. I’ve used it for years and think it truly has long term impact. It’s not the immediate gratification of the hydro-gel patches, but they bring good quality skincare to your under eye.
- Gel and Cotton – This is an interesting blend that feels like cool gel against your skin but has a cotton backing that makes it a less sticky to the touch. I’ve only found a few like this and they feel weird, but after I got used to the strange sensation, I really enjoy them. My favorites in this category are Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels (transdermal gel patches) and Peace Out Puffy Under-Eye Patches (bio-cellulose patches).
Eye patches have saved my vanity (and sanity!) on those days when I really hate the look of my under eye area. They aren’t a long term solution, but the benefits they impart short term are totally worth the price to me!
