FAQ
The questions people actually ask.
What makes these different from standard eye masks?
Most eye masks are built around caffeine and hyaluronic acid. Ours is built around copper tripeptide-1 — GHK-Cu — with caffeine for the morning and a beechwood-derived sugar for hydration. Every active is named, on the box and on this page.
Are these just hydrating patches?
No, though hydration is a real part of it. Glycerin and hydroxypropyl tetrahydropyrantriol hold water in the area, so it looks fuller and smoother rather than papery. Caffeine handles the puffiness and the shadow. And it's formulated around GHK-Cu — a copper peptide you'll usually only find in serums, not patches.
What does the peptide actually do?
There's one, and it's copper tripeptide-1 — GHK-Cu. Three amino acids bound to a copper ion, first isolated from human plasma in 1973, and studied in dermatology ever since. The honest answer on what it does in this patch: the published research is on the ingredient, in leave-on formats, at its own concentrations. We've chosen to formulate around it rather than around the cheapest thing that works for twenty minutes. That's the difference we're selling.
Why is the copper peptide so low on the ingredient list?
Because that's where it belongs. GHK-Cu is a signalling molecule used at fractions of a percent — in our patch, and in the serums selling it at ten times this price. INCI lists are ordered by weight, so anything used at that level sits near the bottom. A peptide high on a list is usually a sign it's a different, cheaper peptide.
Should I keep them in the fridge?
You don't have to, but it helps. Cold constricts the vessels under the eye on its own, so a chilled patch de-puffs a bit harder. It doesn't change the ingredients — just adds a second thing working in the same direction.
Is there fragrance in them?
No. There was, in our first formula. We took it out because an eye patch sits on the thinnest skin on your face, and fragrance is the most common reason people react to one.
Can I sleep in them?
No, and we'd rather explain why than just say don't. Hydrogel dries out. Once a patch dries it stops delivering anything, it gets uncomfortable, and it usually ends up on the pillow. Fifteen to twenty minutes is the window where it's actually working.
How long until I see something?
Puffiness and brightness the first time you use one — that's the caffeine and the cold, and it's immediate. That's what the patch does on the morning.
Will this get rid of my dark circles?
It will make the area look brighter and less shadowed while you're using it. If your circles are structural — genetics, thin skin, the shape of the bone underneath — no topical product is going to remove them, and anything claiming otherwise is overselling.
Can I use them with retinol or vitamin C?
Use them at different times. Copper peptides don't sit well alongside strong acids or high-dose vitamin C in the same layer, and there's no reason to make your skin negotiate it. Patch in the morning, actives at night.
Are they safe in pregnancy?
There's nothing in Peptome flagged as unsafe in pregnancy, but we can't give you medical advice. Show the ingredient list to your doctor.
My eyes are sensitive. Is this okay?
Peptome is fragrance-free and alcohol-free, and the patch sits on the bone rather than the lid, so nothing should reach your eye. Patch-test on your inner arm first if you react easily.
Can I pause or skip a month?
You can cancel at any time, with no minimum. We can't skip individual months yet — if you're building up a few boxes, cancel and start again when you need to.