Y’all will know the mornings when you stumble out of the bed, into the bathroom and wonder what kind of ghoul looks at you in the mirror. I’ve decided that hydrogel eye patches help with turning me from ghoul to girl (slightly old-ish one, but still) and are also a nice little pick me up. But: what kind of eye patch should you go for, and are the new cosrx ones any good? My cosrx Hydrogel Eye Patch review.
What it is
My experience with face masks of any kind is mainly sheet masks (we don’t do them any more at twindly), overnight masks (big love) and, yes, lately I’ve been into hydrogel eye patches. I’ve ever only tried Shangpree’s ones that I loved, and a drugstore option that is a plastic waste making machine, if you use them regularly. Enter beloved K-Beauty brand cosrx with their new big batch of releases that includes their first eye patches.
- More: why it’s time to ditch your sheet mask
- More: best drugstore dupes feat. Shangpree
Brand description
Infused with snail secretion filtrate, this perfect fit hydrogel eye patch visibly hydrates, plumps and brightens the delicate eye area.
cosrx
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, Niacinamide, Carrageenan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Betaine, Hydroxyacetophenone, Allantoin, Chlorphenesin, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) Gum, Calcium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Sucrose, Cellulose Gum, Adenosine, Potassium Chloride, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, PEG-90M
cosrx
I usually don’t use products that include snail secretion filtrate, the reason behind being that I don’t enjoy their sticky texture. Reading up on it, I learned that the secretion used in cosmetics isn’t the one snails produce to glide smoothly, but one they produce under stress. If that is cruelty-free is anyone’s guess. (I’ve heard conflicting opinions.) Still, it might help with dry patches, acne-scarring and signs of aging, and there’re studies to support that.
That being said, the cosrx patches ALSO include goodies like brightening niacinamide, antioxidants and soothing allantoin and licorice extract.
If you’re wondering what gives the patches their texture and wobbly appearance, that’s the carrageenan and various gums in the ingredient list (it’s just like the gelatin that sets your desserts).
Application
And here’s the first thing that threw me: the two shapes included in the pot. The first (smaller) one is shaped like a leaf, while the second (larger) one reminds me of a nearly full moon. Both don’t fit my undereye area, where I usually want to use them. cosrx makes a big spiel out of their unique shapes that you can use all over your face, which is nice – but I bought EYE patches and mainly want them to use around my eyes. The bigger ones are too big and too heavy and will slip, even if cosrx says they won’t, and the smaller ones are – too small.
They’re drenched nicely with just the right amount of essence that never drips down your face. The recommended application time is 5 to 20 minutes, and they don’t dry out even then.
I’ve to admit that the application process can be twiddly with the little tweezers supplied in the pot and that the pot is rather messy itself: it arrived leaking.
Effect
I haven’t met any type of hydrogel patch that doesn’t give an immediate moisture boost to the eye area, leaving it plumped and fresh looking. Cosrx’ patches do that, too, although I can’t say that the effect lasts for long.
The main objection I have, though, isn’t that. It’s the uncomfortable feeling I have when wearing the patches. At first I experienced some stinging, and even if that lessened over time, my eye area never felt exactly nourished and soothed – which is mainly what I want from a patch.
Worth it?
My expectations fell short on cosrx Advanced Snail Hydrogel Eye Patches. The shape didn’t suit me, the soothing, cooling effect I mainly wanted wasn’t there, and the essence even stung my sensitive eye area. (I don’t see any ingredients in the formula that I might react to, though.) NOT a product I would consider to re-purchase.
Sustainability-wise, the jar packaging of course is vastly superior to single use packaging. That being said, you should finish them quickly!
Price & Availability
Suggested retail price on cosrx own site is $28 for 60 pieces. Have a look at retailers like YesStyle, Jolse etc., where you can often score a deal.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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