No. 9 NAD+ Collagen Under Eye Patches

The under-eye area is the most demanding real estate on your face. The skin is thinner, the blood vessels are closer to the surface, and every late night, allergy season, and stressful week writes itself into dark circles and fine lines that no amount of concealer fully hides. Most eye creams ask you to solve these problems with a pea-sized amount of product massaged in for three seconds. Numbuzin's No. 9 NAD+ Collagen Under Eye Patches take a fundamentally different approach: what if, instead of seconds, you gave your under-eyes eight hours?

The overnight format is the strategic advantage here. While traditional eye patches are designed for 15-20 minute sessions — barely enough time for a hydrogel to release its active ingredients — these patches are engineered to maintain adhesion and steady-state delivery through an entire night's sleep. The hydrogel matrix, built on carrageenan (Chondrus crispus) and agar, slowly releases its cargo of actives over 6-8 hours, turning sleep into a treatment session.

Caffeine is the most immediately satisfying ingredient. Applied overnight, it works during the hours when fluid pooling and vascular dilation cause morning puffiness. By constricting the small blood vessels beneath the thin under-eye skin, caffeine visibly reduces the puffy, swollen appearance that greets many people in the mirror each morning. The cooling sensation of the hydrogel patch amplifies this vasoconstrictive effect, and the combination makes for a genuinely effective depuffing treatment.

Niacinamide and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) form the brightening partnership. Dark circles have multiple causes — vascular pooling, melanin deposition, thin skin showing underlying structures — and this duo addresses the pigmentation component. Niacinamide inhibits melanosome transfer to keratinocytes, gradually evening out periorbital hyperpigmentation, while vitamin C supports collagen synthesis and provides antioxidant protection to this vulnerable area. Over several weeks of consistent use, the cumulative brightening effect is noticeable.

Hydrolyzed collagen provides the immediate plumping effect. While topical collagen can't replace the structural collagen lost to aging (that requires deeper delivery), it functions as an effective humectant and film-forming agent that makes the under-eye area appear smoother and more taut. The overnight contact time allows more thorough absorption of these collagen peptides compared to a brief cream application.

The NAD+ and peptide complex extends the No. 9 line's anti-aging approach to the eye area. Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 (Eyeseryl) is specifically studied for periorbital puffiness reduction. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) relaxes the micro-expressions around the eyes that contribute to crow's feet formation. Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) signals collagen production. These peptides, delivered over hours rather than seconds, have the extended contact time that their signaling mechanism benefits from.

The patches themselves are elegantly constructed. They contain embedded shimmer particles — calcium aluminum borosilicate and synthetic fluorphlogopite — that give the hydrogel a subtle sparkle. This is purely cosmetic (it provides a soft-focus brightening effect while wearing), but it adds a touch of K-beauty playfulness to what could otherwise feel like a clinical treatment. The shimmer can occasionally transfer to pillowcases, which is worth noting.

Adhesion is crucial for overnight patches, and these perform well. The hydrogel conforms to the under-eye contour and stays put through typical nighttime movement. The recommended application technique — angling the thin end toward the outer eye corner — targets both the under-eye hollow and the crow's feet area simultaneously. They're comfortable enough to sleep in without conscious awareness.

The formula is impressively gentle for the sensitive periorbital area. No fragrance, no alcohol, no essential oils. Allantoin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate (licorice root derivative) provide anti-inflammatory soothing. The pH is appropriate for the eye area. This is a formula that respects the vulnerability of the skin it's treating.

Morning results are consistently reported across early reviews: reduced puffiness, brighter under-eyes, and visibly plumped skin that makes concealer application smoother. The immediate effect is largely hydration and caffeine-driven. The longer-term anti-aging benefits from the peptide and collagen complex require consistent weekly use over 4-8 weeks to become apparent.

At $16.20 for 5 pairs ($3.24 per use), these sit at a reasonable price point for premium eye patches. Used 2-3 times weekly as recommended, the monthly cost is $26-39 — comparable to a mid-range eye cream. The difference is delivery format and contact time. Whether overnight patches outperform a daily eye cream depends on the specific cream and your discipline in applying it consistently.

The box contains only five pairs, which means frequent repurchasing for regular users. A subscription or larger box option would improve the value proposition significantly.

These patches work best as part of the No. 9 system — using the NAD+ Lifting-sil Essence daily and the patches 2-3 times weekly creates a comprehensive anti-aging routine for the eye area. But they're effective enough as a standalone treatment for anyone wanting targeted overnight under-eye care with genuine active ingredients rather than just moisturizing.

Formula

The Science

Caffeine's effectiveness for periorbital puffiness is well-documented. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2015) demonstrated that topical caffeine significantly reduced under-eye puffiness through its vasoconstrictive and anti-inflammatory properties. The mechanism involves inhibition of phosphodiesterase, leading to increased cAMP levels and subsequent smooth muscle relaxation in blood vessel walls, reducing blood flow and associated swelling.

Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5 (Eyeseryl), one of the targeted peptides in this formula, was specifically developed for the periorbital area. Research published in the International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics demonstrated its ability to reduce edema around the eyes by inhibiting glycation and improving lymphatic drainage. Clinical studies showed a 32% reduction in eye puffiness after 60 days of use.

The hydrogel delivery system using carrageenan (Chondrus crispus) creates an occlusive environment that enhances transdermal penetration. Research published in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology has shown that hydrogel-based occlusive delivery can increase active ingredient penetration by 2-5 times compared to non-occluded application, making the overnight contact time genuinely functional for ingredient efficacy.

Niacinamide's role in dark circle reduction involves inhibition of melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes, as demonstrated in a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology (2002). For the periorbital area specifically, where skin is thinner and pigmentation more visible, this mechanism provides gradual but meaningful brightening over 8-12 weeks of consistent use.

References

1. Caffeine's mechanisms of action and its cosmetic use — Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (2013)
2. The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation — British Journal of Dermatology (2002)

Dermatologist Perspective

Dermatologists recognize that the thin, delicate periorbital skin benefits from extended-contact delivery formats like overnight patches. Board-certified dermatologists note that caffeine is a validated depuffing ingredient for the eye area, and the combination with niacinamide and vitamin C provides a reasonable approach to dark circle management. The hydrogel occlusion enhances ingredient penetration, which is particularly relevant for the eye area where the skin barrier is naturally thinner. Dermatologists may recommend these patches as a supplementary treatment alongside retinoid-based eye creams for comprehensive periorbital anti-aging.

Guidance

These patches extend Numbuzin's No. 9 anti-aging line into targeted eye care, addressing the specific concerns of the periorbital area — puffiness, dark circles, crow's feet, and fine lines. The overnight format maximizes ingredient contact time during the skin's natural repair window, while the cooling hydrogel provides immediate depuffing.

About Numbuzin Established Brand (5–20 years)

Numbuzin launched in 2019 under Korea's Benow Inc. These eye patches extend the No. 9 NAD+ anti-aging line into targeted under-eye treatment, using the same peptide and NAD+ technology in a hydrogel delivery format designed for overnight use.

Brand founded: 2019 · Product launched: 2025

Myth vs. Reality

Myth

Eye patches can permanently eliminate dark circles.

Reality

Dark circles have multiple causes — genetics, vascular pooling, pigmentation, thin skin — and no topical product permanently eliminates them. These patches provide temporary improvement through caffeine (vasoconstiction), niacinamide (brightening), and hydration (plumping), with cumulative benefits from consistent use.

Myth

Collagen in eye patches rebuilds the collagen lost in aging.

Reality

Topical hydrolyzed collagen cannot penetrate deep enough to replace structural collagen in the dermis. It functions as a humectant and film-forming agent, providing surface-level plumping and hydration. The anti-aging benefit comes more from the peptides that signal the skin's own collagen production.

FAQ

Common Praise

"Cooling sensation feels refreshing and depuffing"

"Stays in place overnight without sliding"

"Under-eye area looks brighter and more hydrated in the morning"

"Beautiful shimmer effect from the patch material"

Common Complaints

"$3-4 per pair adds up with regular use"

"Only 5 pairs per box requires frequent repurchasing"

"Shimmer particles from patch material may transfer to pillowcase"

"Overnight wear may not suit all sleeping positions"

Appears In

best eye patches for dark circles best overnight eye patches best k beauty eye patches best eye patches for puffiness

Related Conditions

dark circles aging dryness

Related Ingredients

caffeine peptides niacinamide hyaluronic acid