MASK OF SORROW
Pippa Bailey seeks inspiration from East Asia to revitalise puffy and tired eyes after a particularly heavy night out
The sheet mask trend has grown to cover patches specifically made to deliver serum to your eye area. Simply pop them on for 20-30 minutes while you go about your business for brightened, moisturised and de-puffed eyes. They’re perfect for pre-party pampering and post-party recovery. For an extra cooling boost, pop them in the fridge for an hour before use, and, if your upper eye is an area of concern, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t swap them from under the eye to under the brow half way through treatment.
1. Chantecaille Energising Eye Recovery Mask: £185 for eight, Space NK
These cost an extraordinary amount of money, but I’m afraid to say they’re my favourite. If you can stretch to it, they cool and soothe, reducing puffiness and plumping out fine lines (concealer applied after use doesn’t settle into wrinkles) for all-round young, bright eyes. Plus the gel-like pad feels more luxe than most fabric ones. The only con is the price.
2. DHC Revitalising Moisture Strips: £8.75 for six pairs, Escentual
These have the authenticity of coming from a Japanese brand (the sheet mask trend originated in East Asia) and contain a natural lightening agent, to help alleviate dark circles, and soy essence for smoothing and comfort. The effects didn’t last as long after use as their more expensive counterparts, but if you’re after something for a pampering session and don’t want to spend a decent chunk of your salary, you can’t go wrong with this product.
3. Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye Mask: £39 for eight pairs, Rodial
My flatmate absolutely swears by these, particularly for a morning boost after a late night. The so-called dragon’s blood is, in fact, not something out of Game of Thrones, but an extract from a South American tree that smooths and firms as well as reducing redness and inflammation. They also boast our favourite water-binding ingredient hyaluronic acid and are made from bio-cellulose, which absorbs 100 times its dry weight in liquid.
4. Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask: £50.15 for 12 pairs, Look Fantastic
These were our favourite for reducing fine lines and crows’ feet and also had the most noticeable affects when used the recommended two-three times a week. Of course, if you can’t afford to go through a box a month, the results remain excellent both pre- and post-party. This is a really mild, gentle way of delivering the regenerating, brightening power of retinols to a sensitive area.
5. Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels: £25 for eight pairs, Marks and Spencer
Skyn Icelend’s pads are the best priced per pair after the budget option from DHC and they produce very good results for it. They are the most cooling of any we tried, and so perfect for waking up and brightening tired eyes and reducing puffiness, and also contain elastin, which restores softness and elasticity – just what’s needed around that delicate eye area.
6. Institut Esthederm Eye Contour Lift Patches: £53 for 10 pairs, Look Fantastic
We found Institut Esthederm’s patches to be the most imperceptible when on as they are very thin and lightweight. This is perhaps because they don’t feel as wet and full of product as others, but the result was a toned (but not tight), smooth and brighter under eye.
7. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Mask: £36 for four pairs, Estee Lauder
It was pretty much a given that we would love these, because Estée Lauder’s famous Advanced Night Repair range is a favourite of ours. Get all its hydrating power delivered direct to your eyes, plus the packaging is unlike any other we tested. The serum and fabric masks are in their own compartments, and you break the seal between the two by massaging the packet. We’re not sure if that really makes any difference to the overall effect, but liked how fresh it felt.
The Verdict
If you can stretch to it, we were completely bowled over by Chantecaille’s offering, but for great results at a fraction of the price, you can’t beat Skyn Iceland’s super-cooling pairs.