Journal
How to choose reusable under-eye patches
Look for 100% medical-grade silicone with published skin safety testing, a thin and flexible patch that fits the curve under your eye, an honest number of uses and a case that keeps them clean. Below is what each of those means in practice.
A note before we start: we make reusable patches ourselves, so read this knowing that. We have tried to write the guide we would want to read if we were buying from someone else.
First, know what they can and can’t do
Reusable silicone patches contain no ingredients of their own. They sit on top of your eye cream or serum and slow down how quickly it evaporates, so the product stays on your skin for longer. That effect is called occlusion. A review of the research found that occlusion often, but not always, increases how much of a product the skin takes in.
What they won’t do is change why you have shadows or puffiness in the first place. Under-eye bags have many causes, from a short night or a salty dinner to allergies, genes and simply getting older. Patches can leave the skin feeling hydrated and looking smoother for a while. If a brand promises more than that, be wary.
1. The material, and the testing behind it
“Medical-grade silicone” is a useful phrase, but on its own it tells you little. What matters is whether the finished patch has been tested for contact with skin. The international standard for this is ISO 10993, and the three parts most relevant to skin are cytotoxicity, irritation and sensitisation.
So ask the brand which tests were done and on what. Our patches were tested to those three parts of ISO 10993. If a seller can’t tell you, that is an answer in itself.
2. Thickness and flexibility
The skin under your eyes moves every time you talk, smile or blink. A thin patch moves with it and stays in place. A thick, stiff one tends to lift at the edges, especially at the outer corner. If you can, bend the patch gently: it should flex easily and settle back flat.
3. Shape and size
Check the measurements before you buy. A patch should reach from near the inner corner towards the outer edge of the eye without touching your lashes. Ours are about 7 cm long and 2.7 cm at the widest point, which suits most faces. A patch that is too small leaves the outer corner, often the driest area, uncovered.
4. With or without adhesive
Some reusable patches have a sticky layer. Others, ours included, have none and hold on through a thin layer of your eye cream. Without glue there is nothing to wear off and nothing pulling at thin skin when you lift the patch away. The trade off is that you need a little product underneath for them to stay put.
5. How many uses, and how that was counted
Claims range from a handful of uses to a thousand. The more useful question is how the number was reached. We used our own pairs more than 100 times before we sold a single set, so we say “100+ uses” because that is what we saw ourselves. Look for a figure the brand can explain.
6. Cleaning and storage
Silicone has a smooth surface that rinses clean with warm water and a little mild soap. Just as important is where the patches live between uses. A closed case keeps dust off, and a flat one helps them keep their shape. We go through the routine in Are reusable eye patches hygienic?
7. Clear or tinted
Colour changes nothing about how a patch works. Clear patches are the more discreet choice, though no patch is truly invisible on camera. A tint is simply a matter of taste.
8. Cost per use
Divide the price by the number of uses you can realistically expect. A set at £29.90 used 100 times works out at about 30p a use, and less if you look after it and keep going. For a fair comparison with patches you use once, see Reusable or single-use eye patches?
One last thing: the returns policy
Many shops won’t take back skincare once it has been opened. Before you buy, check whether a guarantee covers patches you have actually tried. Ours does, for 30 days.
A quick checklist
- 100% medical-grade silicone, with skin testing the brand can name
- Thin and flexible, with the measurements listed
- Adhesive or not, as you prefer
- A number of uses the brand can explain
- Easy to wash, with a closed case for storage
- A guarantee that covers patches you have tried