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What are the reputations of the 11 best-selling steam eye masks on the market?

Life is filled with all kinds of electronic screens, and our eyes are hard to escape fatigue and dryness. At such times, taking a steam eye mask and covering the eyelids can bring a moment of relief to the eyes.

Public data shows that the sales of disposable steam eye masks have reached nearly 2 billion yuan, and the demand for steam eye masks is very strong. There are various types of steam eye masks on the market at present. So, which one can bring us the most considerate eye care this winter?

In December 2023, Consumer Reports searched through well-known e-commerce online stores and other channels for 11 best-selling steam eye masks, summarized over 100,000 consumer reviews about steam eye masks and conducted a positive review rate analysis, finding steam eye masks that were highly praised.

Evaluate the brand

The ranking is not in any particular order: Chaoya, Shining, Xingfutang, Zhongbaotang, Jingdong Jingzao, Kangaroo Doctor, Good Vision, Haishi Hainuo Zhuohu, Beijing Tongrentang, Zhenximing, KAO Meishulu.

In terms of brand selection, although steam eye masks from brands such as MINISO, Yunnan Baiyao Taibang, and Weikang are also quite well-known, they were ultimately not included in this round of word-of-mouth due to insufficient consumer review data.

In terms of product selection, to make a horizontal comparison of the "scent" indicator, the "chamomile scent type" was basically chosen (no chamomile scent type products were found for the Shiny Steam Eye Mask and Zhongbaotang Steam Eye Mask for the time being, so the scent type with more evaluation data was selected. The former is "Tea Language" and the latter is "flower scent type").

Word-of-mouth result

The Super Asia Steam Eye Mask achieved a CCR score of 8.2 in this word-of-mouth report, ranking first. It performed outstandingly in terms of odor, heating speed, heating effect, and durability.

KAO's Masuru Steam eye mask scored 7.7 points in this CCR. Its scent is appealing, but its overall reputation is slightly inferior, ranking relatively low.

The Chaoya steam eye mask ranks first in terms of reputation

Henan Chaoya Medical Devices Co., LTD., abbreviated as "Chaoya", was founded in 2009. It is a national high-tech enterprise integrating the research and development, production, sales, trade and logistics of biomedicine, medical devices and medical and health products. As a leader in functional fever health products, Chaoya Medicine has taken the lead in drafting one industry standard, participated in the drafting of multiple national, industry and group standards, and holds over 700 types of intellectual property rights.

Super Asia Steam Eye Mask

This Super Asia Steam eye mask is a co-branded product of Super Asia Medicine and JD Health. It scores particularly well in terms of smell, heating speed, heating effect and durability. This product promotes a 42℃ constant-temperature hot compress that can last for 30 minutes and even comes with a constant-temperature heating patent. The characteristic of constant temperature is vividly reflected in the comments: "The eye mask has a light fragrance, but it's not too strong. It fits the eyes very well. It gradually warms up, but it's not too hot." "It's much better than other brands I bought before. The heating time is quite long." "It's not too hot. The temperature is just right." "The heating effect is really amazing. The heating time is about 40 minutes." "The heating time is long, but it's not too hot." "Still having a fever an hour later." In addition, in terms of smell, consumers generally find it very pleasant and fragrant.

However, some consumers think that the ear straps are not comfortable enough: "If the straps were looser, it would be great. They are a bit tight in the ears." "The straps of the eye mask are a bit tight in the ears after wearing them for a long time." "They are good, but a bit narrow." But these are just a few comments, and their flaws do not overshadow their merits.

KAO Mishulu Steam Eye Mask The reputation is slightly inferior.

Kao is already a household name in China. The brand was founded in 1887 and its predecessor was the "Nagasawa Store" that dealt in Western sundries. It mainly sold American-made cosmetic soaps and Japanese-made soaps, etc. Later, starting from the development of the high-end cosmetic soap "Kao Soap", it gradually expanded its business into the fields of cleaning, beauty and health. After over a hundred years of development, Kao's product range now covers multiple fields such as cosmetics, hygiene products, and baby products. The steam eye mask is one of Kao's star products. It comes in various scents including unscented, lavender, grapefruit, and rose, forming a large "mask family". It has sold over one billion masks worldwide. The chamomile scented steam eye mask mentioned by Koubei is also very popular. It has received over 100,000 consumption reviews on the JD.com self-operated store alone.

Kao Mishuru's "Mask Family"

This mask scores first in terms of smell, and many people are very infatuated with the fragrance of chamomile. Although the overall performance of the heat generation score is acceptable, many consumers are still not satisfied: "It's not even 10℃, and it cools down in just 5 minutes." "It's not as hot as before, and the duration of the heat is also shorter." "The heat lasts for less than 15 minutes, and it's not even 40 ℃." "After opening and using it, the heat disappears immediately, and the eye fatigue is not relieved." Even some comments think the cost performance is not high: "I have used this eye mask a few times and found that it only gets hot. I don't feel anything else. If only I had known earlier, I would have just applied a hot towel to my eyes. It also saves money."

Of course, as a product that has been selling well for many years, there are also a lot of consumer reviews that recognize it - "I've been repurchasing this eye mask for many years. It helps with sleep and stress relief." "I'm super fond of Kao's steam eye mask. I've been using it for many years. For me, who often looks at the computer, it's simply a must-have tool during breaks." "I've been using Kao's steam eye mask for many years. The one I like the most is the chamomile flavor. "The heating effect is also good. It lasts for a long time and is not hot. The temperature is just right. It's great for relieving fatigue." "Taking a nap is very stress-relieving. The temperature is just right and very comfortable. I have repurchased it many times."

In addition, the quality and workmanship of this product are relatively low. When Consumer Reports reviewed the reviews, it was found that most of the problems lie in the packaging. Many consumers encountered situations where the packaging box was dusty, deformed, open, or torn when they received the product, which greatly reduced their consumption experience and product favorability.

Some Knowledge about Steam Eye Masks

Why is there no steam in the promised "steam eye mask"? In fact, this kind of eye mask adopts self-heating temperature control technology. It causes a chemical reaction between the moisture in the air and the iron powder inside the eye mask, thus forming a heating element and generating fine and warm water vapor. These fine water vapor are actually invisible to the naked eye.

The raw materials of steam eye masks generally include water, iron powder, activated carbon, etc. If it is of the chamomile fragrance type, chamomile essential oil is often added. When we open the package, the iron powder comes into contact with oxygen in the air, undergoing an oxidation reaction and releasing heat. The heat causes the moisture inside the material to evaporate steadily, generating fine water vapor that is invisible to the naked eye. This water vapor passes through a layer of breathable material and comes into contact with the eyes, giving them a warm and moist feeling.

The main function of steam eye masks is to relieve eye fatigue. The warm and moist steam they release can raise the temperature of eye tissues, promote the opening of eye blood vessels and meibomian gland ducts, accelerate blood circulation in the eyes and increase tear secretion, thereby effectively alleviating eye fatigue.

However, it should be noted by friends that although steam eye masks are advertised to have many magical functions, such as eliminating dark circles and slowing down the increase of myopia, their actual efficacy is questionable. In addition, people with eye diseases, inflammation, wounds, swelling, eczema, etc. around the eyes or eyes should not use steam eye masks, nor should they use them when wearing contact lenses.

At present, there are no unified national or industry standards for steam eye masks. Only the group standard T/SHRH028-2020 can be referred to. According to the standard, the average temperature of a steam eye mask should be between 40 and 53 degrees Celsius. Long-term use of a steam eye mask may cause allergic reactions to the skin around the eyes or eye burns, making it a health product with certain risks. Interested friends can review the "12 Steam Eye Mask Evaluation Report: Recommending Cherishing Eyesight and Good Vision, Calling for Industry Unification Standards" released by Consumer Reports in May 2023.

*This article is from Consumer Reports