Wait, Why Are Sliced Eye Patches Suddenly Everywhere?

Why Do All the Sliced Eye Patches Look the Same?

K-beauty is always ahead of the curve—just look at skincare revelations like PDRN and XERF—so it's no surprise to learn the sliced eye patch technology originated in Korea. In fact, K-beauty brand WONDER BATH introduced its own “Slice Serum” eye patch line back in July, though it’s worth noting the brand doesn’t ship stateside just yet. 

Instead of eye patches sitting loosely in a conventional jar, the “slicing” packaging houses hydrogel in an airtight environment. Turning the lid of the container shifts the hydrogel forward and slices off a fresh eye patch while keeping the rest of the hydrogel protected—and keeping your hands free of any slimy residue. For a better look, take a peek at GLOW RECIPE’s version of the packaging. 

Further research suggests the no-fuss packaging was developed by South Korean company Samhwa, which then made the technology available to other beauty brands, seemingly under the guise of exclusivity. 

Huda Kattan, founder of HUDA BEAUTY, explained the debacle on Instagram: “I think it’s pretty obvious that we all got screwed over by the same packaging supplier. Formulas are different, but we were lied to on exclusivity with the packaging supplier. Pretty crazy.” She later told Business of Fashion that HUDA BEAUTY would no longer be moving forward with its Undereye Jelly Patches.

FENTY BEAUTY added some humor to the conversation by posting its own version of the iconic Spider-Man pointing meme, with four different eye patch dispensers pointing at one another. “Touché 😘💖,” GLOW RECIPE commented. “This is too good 😂😂😂,” Kattan wrote. Even WONDER BATH chimed in, writing, “there is room for everyone in the market ❤️.” GLOW RECIPE and HUDA BEAUTY later followed up with their own memes too, turning the mix-up into a funny marketing moment. 

What’s the Difference Between the New Sliced Eye Patches?

While the packaging may be the same, what’s inside isn’t. Each product is formulated for different skincare concerns, so it’s up to you to discern which one you’ll want to try. 

FENTY BEAUTY’s Dew N Plump Fresh-Sliced Hydrogel Eye Patches feature Barbados cherry fruit juices,  hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Kalahari melon, star fruit, and squalane to refresh and hydrate the under-eye area. GLOW RECIPE’s Exopeptide Caffeine Brightening and Depuffing Fresh Slices, on the other hand, do exactly what they promise in the title, combining caffeine and peptides to brighten and plump the under-eye area. 

For more variety, you can also check out the OG, WONDER BATH, which sells its Slice Serum eye patches in pore, spot, and lift categories. 

Are Sliced Eye Patches the Next Big Skincare Trend?

At the end of the day, the hydrogel eye patches will help depuff, hydrate, and do whatever they need to do—regardless of which brand came first. Still, it’s worth acknowledging the Korean origins of the “sliced” technology, and if you really want the original product, you’ll have to wait for WONDER BATH to become available in the U.S. (or order from the Korean site and pay for international shipping). That said, we have a feeling sliced hydrogel eye patches will be everywhere soon.