I know I have. Inside this episode, we take a look at the under-eye patch. And understand what exactly makes such a small thing so popular? Do they actually make a difference?
episode takeaways
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What You Will Learn In This Episode:
- If under-eye patches actually make a difference to your puffiness, dark circles or fine lines under your eyes
- About key ingredients to look for for specific targetted issues you want to manage
- The pro tip technique to get your patches to go the extra mile
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click here to read the transcript!
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I often wonder about how effective under-eye patches really are.
At work, we pop them in the fridge. Keep em nice and cool, which I know is going to help calm puffiness, purely by temperature alone. But are the patches actually doing anything to improve the surface of your under-eye area?
And if so, how can it do it so quickly?
The answer is yes and no.
The results really depend on the cause of your puffy or dark-circled eyes.
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Why Do You Have Dark Circles Under Your Eyes?
I ask because this will determine the effectiveness of an under-eye patch for you.
Now, if this was something that you were born with or you’ve had dark circles under your eyes for a long, long time, then perhaps you won’t see any change from an eye patch.
But if your eyes are puffy due to a more recent cause, let’s say a lack of sleep, or even too much salt, well, these more short-term causes can actually minimize by applying a quality under-eye patch. They really can.
Eye patches can help to reduce puffiness, dark circles and even minimize fine lines.
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What Ingredients to Look for in Your Eye Patches?
Is it dark circles?
Look for brightening ingredients like vitamin C, and niacinamide. They can help to lessen the dark circles as well as provide anti-inflammatory goodness.
Caffeine will minimize the blood vessels and help to reduce darkness in the under eye area.
Hyaluronic acid will help to rehydrate the area as well.
Arnica will also help to minimize darkness. And it’s great to put on bruises too.
If you are looking to minimize fine lines, then look for ingredients like collagen and glycerin. Other ingredients to keep an eye out for are peptides, and even retinol. But sure to be careful with retinol, as it’s a powerful ingredient.
And if you have any hesitatitions, please consult a professional, or visit your dermatologist.
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If your eyes are puffy, then ingredients to look for include cucumber.
Caffeine is another one, by constricting those blood vessels in a similar way to cucumber.
And tea bags – remember how we used to use cold teabags on the eyes?
Of course, tea contains caffeine so any tea ingredients are worth keeping an eye out for as well.
Click here to listen to this episode!
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Resources mentioned in this episode :
Eye Patches to Minimize Dark Circles
Eye Patches for Puffiness and Fine Lines
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Episode Transcript
Every time I pop on an under-eye patch, I secretly can’t help but think inside this little head of mine. “Is this thing actually working, or does it just make my actor feel like they’re gonna look better?” I’m sorry. I really do.
I know that there are some pro tips that we all use on set, but seriously, what can slapping on those little goldfish-like slimy slivers really do? And how can they do it so quickly?
On every show I work on inside the little fridge in our makeup trailer, alongside the milk and the odd lunchbox, and the random beginning-to-smell three-day-old limp salad, there’s always a pack or two of under-eye patches. We pop them on our beloved actors when they drag themselves reluctantly into our world at some ungodly hour.
And the patches usually sit in place while they get their hair set, styled, cut, or blow-waved prior to getting their makeup done.
You know, the chilling is part of the draw card of the patch for me, as it allows the patch to cool and calm the puffy under-eye skin at least temporarily.
And it really does make a visual difference in cooling the skin and minimizing any swelling or puffiness that your star may have, or you at home.
But aside from what we do to the patches by chilling them, do they really work well?
The answer is yes and no.
Like most non-surgical, topical treatments that you can use at home, the results depend on the cause of your puffy or dark-circled eyes.
Now, if this was something that you were born with or you’ve had dark circles under your eyes for a long, long time, then perhaps you won’t see any change from an eye patch. But if your eyes are puffy due to a more recent cause, let’s say a lack of sleep, or even too much salt, well, these more short-term causes can actually minimize by applying a quality under-eye patch. They really can.
Eye patches can help to reduce puffiness, dark circles and even minimize fine lines.
So what to look for in your eye patches, then? Well, it depends on what you need help with.
Is it dark circles? Then look for brightening ingredients like vitamin C, and niacinamide that can lessen the dark circles as well as provide anti-inflammatory goodness. Caffeine is another ingredient that will minimize the blood vessels and help to reduce darkness and hyaluronic acid as well. I always struggle with that word, hyaluronic acid, which will help to rehydrate the area. And let’s not neglect our old friend Arnica. It’s another gem of an ingredient that will help minimize darkness. And it’s great to put on bruises too.
On the other hand, if you are looking to minimize fine lines, then look for ingredients like collagen and glycerin, as well as peptides, and even retinol. But just be careful with retinol, as it’s a powerful force. I’m sure there’ll be a Marvel character called Captain Retinol one day, and just kidding. Yeah, retinol’s pretty serious. So if you’re getting into that world, please see a professional or do some dedicated research on retinol.
If your eyes are puffy, then look for cucumber as in cool as a, oh, sorry. Oh my God, who’s writing this stuff?
So remember back in the day when we just used to pop slices of cucumber on our eyes, just chilled from the fridge? See, there’s that chilling thing again. Well, they really do calm the puffy. Caffeine is another one, by constricting those blood vessels in a similar way to cucumber.
Remember the old cold tea bags? Well, they do the same thing because they contain caffeine.
I hope I’ve made some sense. I feel like I’ve just completely waffled on about that. But under-eye patches really can provide a useful quick fix and are a great treat to keep in your fridge. Just don’t eat ’em by mistake.
Now, I’d love to ask you a favor.
If you have a friend or two that you know just loves this stuff, I’d really appreciate it if you tell them about the podcast. I mean, I know it’s still new, and I’m still finding my feet with it all, but I’d love to share this info with anyone who needs to hear it.
So if you know someone who has trouble with their makeup or skincare and loves talking about it just like I do, just put them onto 5 Minute Face Talk, put them onto the website, The Makeup Refinery. That would mean the world to me.
And if you really love it and if you’re getting value out of this so far, go ahead and leave me a little review. Can you give me a little five-star review and just share some love?
Alright, that’s it for today and I’ll see you next time.
