We’ve all experienced under eye bags and puffiness at one time or other, and more often than not (especially in our younger years) the problem usually goes away on its own.
As we get older, as with so many things, the issue tends to get worse. But what causes puffy eyes?
The usual culprits are lack of sleep, genetics, excess salt or alcohol, allergies and local irritants, ranging from contact lenses, hay fever, dust and pollution to over-applying skin creams. Unfortunately, under eye bags and puffiness can make us look older – by five years according to one study. To remedy it, here’s what you need to know.
Home remedies to try
The quickest way to reduce puffy eyes naturally is by applying something cool for 10-15 minutes to constrict local blood vessels and reduce the flow of fluids into the soft tissues. Traditional remedies include cool slices of cucumber or raw potato, cold teabags or even a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel (never place anything frozen directly onto your skin).
Top MUA Mary Greenwell also recommends witch hazel cold compresses to shrink puffy eyelids and tighten skin. (Don’t saturate them – they should be damp, not dripping). Other DIY tips include not lying flat when you sleep but instead keep your head raised on pillows to encourage drainage. Another is to place your index fingers either side of your nostrils and press gently for 10 seconds, then repeat five times.
Iced water can also help. Legendary beauties from Marie Antoinette and Greta Garbo to Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Gwyneth Paltrow are said to have used it, and it’s still part of the daily skincare routine for Korean women. There’s nothing refined about it. Just fill a bowl with cold water, top it up with ice cubes and dunk your face three times for 10-30 seconds. Besides reducing swelling and inflammation, it also tones the skin, adds radiance, constricts enlarged pores, and even stimulates collagen and elastin production. But think twice if you’re prone to broken veins.
Remedies to buy
Rollerball technology was apparently inspired by boxers who rolled cold metal objects. such as chilled teaspoons, over their swollen eyes to take down swelling. A gentler version occurs in the applicators of products such as Obagi Elastiderm Eye Complete Complex Serum, £83.82 which also contains caffeine to drain puffiness; Trilogy Age-Proof CoQ10 Eye Recovery Concentrate, £26.50 which helps cool, brighten, lift and refresh with the help of CoQ10 for cell renewal, jojoba for firmness, and caffeine to drain; or try Embryolisse Radiant Eye Cream, £20.50 a roll-on stick with opalescent properties to brighten, while cooling aloe vera and circulation boosters treat undereye bags, heavy lids and grittiness.
4 more suggestions
* Allergies: Highly perfumed fabric conditioners or detergents used on pillowcases may cause allergic reactions, including swelling. Try non biological versions instead.
* Vitamin D deficiency: According to anti-aging experts Adonia Organics, a clinical study of nearly 5,000 women aged 27-60 found that 82% suffered from dark circles and puffy eyes in winter, compared to just 38% in summer. It concluded that dark circles may be aggravated by lower levels of Vitamin D and serotonin, so vitamin D supplements may be useful for younger-looking eyes as well as stronger bones.
* Over-applying eye cream: The trick is never to put it directly over the eyelid or too close to the eye itself. Always keep it to the bony areas i.e. over the brow bones and cheekbones. The super-thin skin of the eye area then acts like blotting paper and soaks up the benefits. It’s also best to pat, not rub, it on in order to encourage local drainage.
*That well-known celebrity tip: Yes, it’s true, haemorrhoid creams constrict the blood vessels and have often been cited as an effective emergency treatment for under eye puffiness and bags before celebrity red carpet appearances. However, those formulations were designed for a different kind of sensitive area, and not for use near the eyes, so beware.
We’d love to know if you have any other remedies to share. Just comment below…
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