Trust Me: Topicals and Rhode Eye Patches Are Actually Different
In the past week I’ve walked into at least five Sephora stores looking for Rhode’s latest drop, its peptide depuffing eye patches. They were sold out every time, and every sales associate gave me the same response: “The Topicals ones are basically the same thing if you wanted those instead.” One associate even went one to say that “I’m not just telling you that because they’re Black owned.” Turns out they didn’t need to convince me. I’ve tried Topicals’ faded eye patches before and know that they really are that good. But their responses echoed a similar conversation that’s been happening online — one that assumes the under-eye masks are the same. Wrong! Let me explain.
So why are people comparing Topicals’ and Rhode’s eye patches?
There are a few reasons. They’re both cooling hydrogel patches made from a gel material that clings to the skin to treat the under-eye area with the ingredients packed into the mask. This design of a mask doesn’t slip like other eye masks. (They’re each covered in their respective logos.) They also both treat dark circles, but that isn’t the only skin concern. The only ingredient that the eye patches share are caffeine, a common ingredient in eye creams and eye masks because it is known to reduce puffiness and lessen the appearance of dark circles by constricting blood vessels. Summer Fridays, Peter Thomas Roth, and Bolden all have eye masks with caffeine as an ingredient.
Topicals launched its eye masks in April 2024, and they quickly became a favorite. They not only brighten the under-eye area but are also cute, with a bubblegum-pink design and eye-catching “Faded” print. I’d see people wearing them in the airport or at the gym, making them not just an eye patch, but an aesthetic. They’re loved by celebrities, too. Savannah James wore them while getting ready for the Met Gala, and Teyana Taylor fronted the campaign for the launch. Social media quickly started calling fans out: “I’m begging y’all, please take the Topicals eye patches off … you’re only supposed to have them on for 15 minutes, not 12 hours,” one TikTok creator said. But when people started wearing Rhode masks as an accessory, it was culturally cool and wasn’t being called out. Hmm.
What makes the eye patches different?
Topicals’ Faded masks are an extension of the brand’s faded collection, made up of products meant to target discoloration, especially for people who experience excess pigmentation. The masks are formulated with kojic acid (an antioxidant that aids in evening out the skin tone), arbutin (a plant extract that fades pigmentation), and tranexamic acid (a topical popular with dermatologists to treat hyperpigmentation). Most of these ingredients are also in their other Faded products, including the serum and cleansing bar.
The Rhode eye masks are formulated with peptides — a signature in Rhode products — to brighten the under eye; sodium PCA, a humectant that creates a hydrating barrier, improving moisture and helping to soften skin; and glycerin, another humectant that helps to moisture and fight dryness.
Which ones should I buy?
Like anything else, you should buy the one(s) that suits your skin concerns. I’m a fan of both brands for very different reasons. I turn to my Topicals products often because my No. 1 skin concern is hyperpigmentation — I use the Faded bar daily because it keeps my body’s skin tone even. I’ve been using the Topicals Faded masks before an event or when I haven’t had enough sleep, and you can definitely tell. Within 15 minutes, I’m a new person with brighter, depuffed under eyes.
Topicals Faded Brightening Under Eye Masks - 6 Pairs
Rhode products are designed to restore the skin’s barrier and deliver moisture — I use the glazing milk as makeup prep for the plumpest skin — and the patches are no different. They’re the masks you put on when your under eyes feel dry, whether that’s because of a skin condition or an environmental factor like cold weather. I prefer the design of the Topicals mask because the narrow tip fits my eye shape well. They’re large, so they cover a big portion of the under eye, though the size can result in gaps. My eyes felt hydrated, but there wasn’t a huge visible difference after one use. If hereditary eye bags are your concern, go ahead and try the eye masks, but don’t expect the kind of results you’d get from lower bleph surgery.
Rhode Peptide Eye Prep Depuffing Eye Patches
Related