Tried and tested: under eye masks

A face mask is one of my favourite beauty treats to use when I need a skincare boost or I'm having a pamper evening, but traditionally our eyes have often been left neglected when it comes to the mask world. Our eyes can often betray us when it comes to late nights, too much junk food and not enough sleep, so it's about time we gave them a good pampering!

This year has seen the launch of a huge number of masks designed specifically for the delicate eye area, each with different benefits from de-puffing to reducing dark circles. They usually come in a half moon shape, which you stick underneath your eye (they are shaped to fit) and leave on for around 30 minutes. I've tested out a range of eye masks for all budgets to see which ones perform best.

DHC Revitalising Moisture Strips* - the most budget friendly of the lot, these do a really good job of hydrating the eye area. They aren't as slippery as some of the more expensive masks so apply easily and left my eye area feeling really refreshed. At £6.95 for a box of 6 pairs of masks, these are a great product for regular use, although you may not see a huge reduction in dark circles.

Elemis Pro Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks* - Infused with collagen and plankton extracts, Elemis' offering feels quite slippery when you apply them, but once positioned stay in place without any problem. I left these on for about 30 minutes and once removed my eye area not only felt a lot more hydrated, but also much firmer. I think these would be good if you're concerned about fine lines around your eye area as they have a noticeable firming effect, which while temporary, makes them  a good choice for before a big event or night out. At £46 for 6 pairs, these are pretty pricey, so I would save them up for use before special occasions.

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels* - targeted for firming and de-puffing, these really do the trick. They're infused with a long list of ingredients, including Icelandic glacial water, oxygen and a hexapeptide to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and are apparently a celeb favourite. I definitely noticed my eye area felt a lot firmer after use and my eyes looked much more awake than they did before. They only need to be applied for 10 minutes, so are good for a quick fix. £25 for 8 pairs of masks.

For me, I think the DHC masks provide a great budget friendly option which you can use 1-2 times a week, with the Elemis and Skyn Iceland masks as back up for special occasions or big events.

Have you tried any under eye masks before? Is this something you'd like to use?

*PR sample