Refresh and revitalise with this summer’s must-have cooling under eye patches

We tried and tested two Contours Rx eye beauty products. Firstly, the Contours Rx Microcrystal Microcrystal Under Eye Patches (£45) are individually packaged microcrystal patches that come in a pack of four. The patches contain hexapeptides to reduce wrinkles and stimulate collagen production. Also, they're infused with hydraluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin. The crystals on each patch permeate skin to deliver active ingredients to the dermis layer. Simply peel off the white backing paper and stick the patch to the area of your face that you want to treat. It's recommended to cleanse the area of skin that you are treating, and apply a patch before you go to bed.

Our tester said: "Having been devotee of microdermabrasion, but now unable to afford this cosmetic treatment, I was delighted to discover these microcrystal patches. They remind me of the face mask that is applied after microdermabrasion treatment. It's rich in hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrates skin.

"For my first go, I applied a patch under each eye and left them for two hours. The skin under my eyes was definitely smoother and fine lines were slightly reduced. The patches can also be applied overnight and they comfortable enough to sleep in. You can wear them under glasses too. The patches are transparent so they're not overly noticeable. They adhere well to your face, and stay on even in the bath.

"I tried a second pair for a longer period of time and I'm really impressed with its effectiveness. It's an eye opener! I'm very pleased to have discovered an affordable alternative to visiting the beautician."

If you're watching your pennies or a trip to the beauty parlour is not an option, Contours Rx non-invasive anti-ageing treatments are a fantastic alternative. The Contours Rx Lids by Design Eyelid Lift Strips give an instant eyelift. The only thing our tester found was they are quite tricky to apply, until you get the knack of it. But certainly impressive results and the transparent strips firmly stay in place.

Pixi Dream-y Eye hydrogel patches contain jasmine flower to nourish and brighten, vitamin A to smooth the delicate skin under the eye and lavender to calm and soothe tired eyes. Simply, use the spatula to lift and apply the patch to a clean, dry under-eye area. Leave on for 10 minutes, discard, and gently massage in the remaining serum.

Customers praise these under eye patches for smoothing their skin and refreshing their eyes. Some wear them at night to wake up to bright eyes. For added refreshment, you can use them chilled, straight from the fridge.

Rejuvenate your self-care with Grace & Stella Under Eye Patches. These popular eye masks are dubbed "an energy drink for your eyes" and they're endorsed by celebrities, such as Jessica Alba. Choose from gold, pink and blue patches, in 24, 48 or 72-pair packs. Grace & Stella eye masks are moisturising and have anti-inflammatory properties to soothe puffy and tired eyes. The serum that the eye masks are infused with contains hyaluronic acid, plus horse chestnut to boost skin's resilience. Also, there is fructose to moisturise and glycerin to smooth fine lines and plump skin. Reviews praise them for being immediately cooling and adhering well, so you can carry on with your day.

This Amazon's Choice recommended brand has over 20,650 reviews rating their products 4.2 out of 5.
Customers were impressed that these eye patches noticeably improved their under eye skin. Soothing and smoothing, the masks are cool and refresh tired eyes.

24 pairs with an RRP of £17.50 works out at around 73p per pair. Look out for when they're on offer.

Brighten eyes with PEACE OUT SKINCARE Retinol Eye Lift Patches. These full eye area biocellulose patches are easy to apply and target the under-eye area, crow's feet and upper eyelid. They're quite unique in that they treat 360° around the eye area. The patches are slow release and contain retinol to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, these eyelift patches contain peptide complex and triple hyaluronic acid to firm and hydrate skin.

Customers praise the patches as comfortable to wear and say they contour well around the eye area. They have a lovely jelly-like texture that feels good on skin. It's advised to use the patches twice a week for 15 minutes. Eyes will look lifted, with reviews saying it's especially effective on crow's feet.

Feel thoroughly refreshed and banish tired eyes with Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches. These energising hydrogel eye patches are part of a luxury skincare range, that's backed by 30 years of research and innovation. The patches are infused with Professor Bader's unique TFC8® (Trigger Factor Complex) blend of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and peptides.

The individually packaged under eye patches are infused with serum that's potent and adaptive, targeting individual skin imperfections. Acetylated hyaluronic acid and niacinamide intensely hydrate and plump the under eye area. In a clinical trial, after one application, 85 per cent of users said their eye area looked lifted and skin felt tighter and firmer.

Reviews say the eye patches are thin – like a gold second skin – so you don't feel them. Simply apply to clean, dry skin and leave for 20 minutes. For best results, use two or three times a week. Skin will look smoother, plus eyes will appear brighter and more energised.

Augustinus Bader The Eye Patches are a clean and vegan product, without potential irritants or synthetic fragrance. Additionally, the patches are biodegradable and the packaging is plant-based, sustainable and recyclable.

Soothe and depuff with uklash Hydra-Gel Eye Patches. This pot of 60 patches can be used daily, or whenever your eyes are in need of rejuvenation. The patches are infused with a gentle hydrating serum. It contains ceramides to lock in moisture, caffeine to reduce puffiness and hyaluronic acid to soothe skin. The formula also contains marshmallow root extract, liquorice and aloe vera and vegan collagen that's planet-friendly and suitable for all skin types. Store in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. Leave on skin for 10-15 minutes, discard after use and rub the remaining serum into skin.

Customers praise these eye patches for being soothing and hydrating. The patches smell pleasant and skin feels noticeably tighter as the serum dries.

Panda eyes are a no-no thanks to Patchology Serve Chilled Rosé Eye Gels. They're infused with hyaluronic acid, grape-derived resveratrol to calm inflammation and strawberry extract to soften and protect skin from environmental stressors. These fruity gels are best served chilled and are ultra refreshing used straight from the fridge. Leave in place for 10 minutes and see notable results, (not rose-tinted glasses) as the anti-oxidant rich ingredients helps to soothe irritation and hydrate skin. When you remove the patches, massage the remaining serum into skin. Chill the patches in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation.

Reviews praise the way they feel on skin, genuinely hydrating the under eye area. They adhere well, and don't come unstuck while you're talking. Also, the patches are refreshing and smoothing with a pleasant fragrance.

Choose these Rosé Eye Gels for relaxing and refreshing tired eyes, rather than smoothing wrinkles, as reviews comment the anti-ageing effects are minimal.

Firm and tighten the under eye area with Skin Republic Collagen Eye Patches. These are a collagen hydrogel under eye patch that works to reduce wrinkles in 30 minutes. Tested by dermatologists, the patches target the five signs of ageing eyes: reducing fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, puffiness, dark circles and dryness. Even after one application, wrinkles are reduced by 12 percent.

The formula contains collagen, green tea, aloe vera and vitamins A and E. It gives a cooling sensation and moisturises skin. On the whole, customers love these Skin Republic eye patches. Even after a bad night's sleep, bags under the eyes are reduced and skin is smooth and hydrated. Some reviews have mixed opinions on the patches' usability and effectiveness, but the positive vastly outweigh the negative. Plus, at around £5 for a pack of six, it's superb value for money.

Minimise dark circles and replenish moisture with Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Hydration Jelly Eye Patches. The patches have a cool gel effect that brings down puffiness and refreshes eyes. The pot of 20 pairs comes with tweezers so you can remove the individual eye masks without touching them. The masks are infused with a serum that's a formulation of four super moisturising, hydrating and protective ingredients, including hyaluronic acid.

Online reviews comment that the patches adhere well to skin, so you can get on with your day without worrying they'll fall off. The majority of customers say that the patches are cooling, hydrating and makes their skin feel more supple. But, a few felt that they didn't see much of an anti-ageing difference after using them. In short, these jelly masks are great for giving hot, tired eyes a refreshing treat – which we all need from time-to-time.

Looking for an alternative to under eye patches? With a sheet mask, lie down relax and close your eyes for 15 minutes. You deserve it! Keep the delicate eye area hydrated and looking fresh with Garnier Moisture Bomb Coconut Water Eye Mask. Ideal for hot weather, keep this eye mask in the fridge for an ultra cooling effect that feels like -4°C. It contains hyaluronic acid and coconut water to soothe puffy eyes, plump skin and reduce fine lines. In addition, this sheet mask refreshes and hydrates skin.

Garnier is the UK's #No1 sheet mask brand and reviews are positive that this eye mask is gentle on sensitive skin. However, unlike eye patches, you have to sit back and close your eyes to use this product. Customers praise it for reducing the appearance of puffy eyes in just 15 minutes. The single packet keeps the eye sheet mask moist; it's a real treat on pampering nights. Whilst customers wholly praise the fragrance of the product, some may prefer a non-fragranced option.

Reduce puffiness overnight with Patchology FlashPatch Restoring Night Eye Gels. You don't actually need to wear the eye patches all night – just five minutes can make a difference. The product is based on the science that skin best repairs itself between 10pm and midnight. There are 30 patches in the container, plus a spoon to scoop the eye gels out. Each patch is a biodegradable hydrogel eye mask that's coated with serum.

These Patchology eye gels are infused with anti-ageing retinol and peptides. Additionally, cedrus atlantica bark reduces dark circles and arnica extract soothes tired eyes. Finally, squalane – which is an anti-inflammatory – softens, hydrates and protects skin from free radicals.

Reviews say that it's best to leave the eye gels on for 15-20 minutes. They feel very soothing and hydrating and cover a large area under the eyes. Some customers like to use three times a week as part of their anti-ageing skincare routine.