Reusable Eye Masks, Are They Really Worth This Craze?
WE’RE ALL ABOUT FINDING ZERO-WASTE ALTERNATIVES IN OUR BEAUTY ROUTINE – WHICH IS WHY WE’RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF REUSABLE EYE MASKS.
We love the beauty industry and all its marvellous inventions, but we’ll be the first to admit that sometimes it’s too wasteful for its own good. Useful though face wipes and cotton pads may be, their use-and-dispose nature also makes them an environmental nightmare.
The same is true of eye masks. While they’re great at tackling puffy, dark under eyes, they typically go straight in the trash once they’ve served their purpose. Enter reusable eye masks. Searches for these sustainable (but effective) alternatives have surged by 710% in the past three months. Let’s take a look at why they’re so popular.
WHAT DO REUSABLE EYE MASKS DO?
Our under eyes are incredibly fragile, which means they’re more easily irritated than other areas of the face. Reusable eye masks – just like their non-reusable counterparts – aim to hydrate, brighten, and rejuvenate the area.
“The eye area is complex in its needs. We move the skin around our eyes a lot in the course of a day. Smiling, squinting, frowning. This takes its toll because it’s thin, meaning it’s wrinkle-prone. Then we have to think about dark circles, eye bags and hollowing – the list of cosmetic concerns is long.” – Dr Sam Bunting, MBBS (London), MRCP
The biggest difference between the two is that reusable eye masks are usually made of durable silicone, not sheets, and work by locking in all the nourishing goodness of your favourite eye creams or serums. Like all skincare, dramatic results are a marathon, not a race – but you can expect an immediate glow boost after each use.
HOW DO I USE THEM?
The first step is figuring out the concerns you want to tackle. Different ingredients serve different purposes – pairing your reusable eye mask with the right products can treat and transform your under eyes.
Hyaluronic acid: If your skin is constantly thirsty, products containing hyaluronic acid – such as Eucerin Anti Age Hyaluron Filler + Volume Lift Eye Cream, Avant Brightening Hyaluronic Overnight Recovery Eye Mask, and Sukin Hydration Hydra Eye Gel – can improve its ability to retain water.
Vitamin C: The go-to ingredient for brighter skin, vitamin C evens out your skin tone to reduce dark under eyes. Try Balance Me Vitamin C Brightening Eye Serum or Rodial Vitamin C Eye Souffle.
Retinol: Considering how delicate our under eyes are, you can’t just slap any kind of retinol on the area and hope for the best. The right formulation, however, can strengthen the skin and leave it smoother and calmer than ever. Verso’s Super Eye Serum, NIP+FAB Renew Retinol Fix Eye Treatment 2%, and Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum are some of our favourites.
Caffeine: Turns out your skin needs its morning cup of coffee sometimes, too. Caffeine can soothe, brighten, and protect, making products like Neostrata Intensive Eye Therapy and Susanne Kaufmann Eye Rescue Serum powerful additions to any eye care routine.
Peptides: There’s a long list of benefits to peptides, including reduced inflammation and a long-term collagen boost. We love the Estée Lauder Resilience Multi-Effect Tri-Peptide Eye Crème and the Oskia Eye Wonder Nutri-Active Eye Serum.
REUSABLE EYE MASKS WE LOVE
These eye masks are more than just a pretty face. Made of 100% silicone, they’re dampened and applied ten seconds after the rest of your skincare routine, cooling the skin and helping your chosen serums or creams to absorb even further than usual. After a quick rinse, the patches are good to go again the next day – and the day after that, and the day after that…
Another silicone eye mask that promises to deliver maximum absorption for your favourite eye products. All you need to do is apply, wait 10 to 20 seconds, then gently apply your Forever Eye Mask. Dieux Skin promises that its mask will, quite literally, last forever – and has also given it a thorough sustainability report on Bluebird, where it officially earned a “below average” on both carbon emissions and waste impact. Not too shabby.
The vegan, cruelty-free beauty brand has formulated the ultimate reusable eye mask. Best used with serums, Pacifica has designed the mask to provide a vacuum-like seal (which is less intense than it sounds). Wear them anywhere between 20 minutes and overnight to lock in your serum’s hydrating, nourishing goodness so your eyes can experience its full impact.
Like 4AM Skin says, “sustainability is sexy.” Also vegan and cruelty-free, the brand’s eye masks will be your new best friend when it comes to plumping up your under eye area. They’re usable with any eye cream or serum, sealing in all their benefits for your benefit.
ALL EYES ON YOU
Our under eyes deserve some TLC – but so does the planet. Whatever you choose to use on this delicate area, take things slow to avoid stressing it out even more. Keep those eye masks clean and you’ve got the ultimate tool to keep your skin plump, happy, and healthy for years to come.
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