7 Brilliant Ways to Beat your Under Eye Bags

Some of us are simply genetically more inclined to under eye bags than others, although other factors can make them appear worse.

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon Sabrina Shah-Desai, explains…

‘Under Eye bags can be hereditary, so even young people can have them. It’s also extremely common to develop them from your mid-40s onwards as there’s a loss of fat pads in the eyelid/cheek junction. Allergies and eye rubbing are also contributors because they make the skin thinner and the underlying blood vessels more visible. The fat pads under the eyes also move, leading to hollowing and/or puffy eyes.’

Here’s how to help…

1. Handle with care.

‘Eyelid skin is very thin and delicate so make sure you’re being gentle when removing eye makeup,’ advises Dr Justine Hextall, Consultant Dermatologist on behalf of The Harley Medical Group. ‘Use a gentle cleanser and leave it on the eyes for a minute to give it a chance to break down the makeup, then gently wipe off with a damp cotton pad.’ Also, if you have itching or allergies don’t rub, but soothe with cool compresses instead.

Anti Ageing Products…

As for anti-ageing products, helpful ingredients include caffeine which helps local drainage and puffiness, and antioxidants which help natural elasticity and suppleness. Try L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew Anti-Ageing Eye Cream, 22.49, which contains caffeine, hyaluronic acid and firming agents, or Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream, £21, with caffeine, ginseng and antioxidants.

2. Apply gently.

Don’t rub. Pat or tap in products instead, or look for creams or serums that combine helpful ingredients with cooling, drainage-promoting rollerball applicators.

Designed to prevent dragging and pulling, Trilogy CoQ10 Eye Recovery Concentrate, £26, has a spherical applicator to gently ease bagginess.

3. Use under-eye masks.

Ideal before going out, treatment pads directly target bags and wrinkles in 10-20 minutes.

Try award-winning Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, £25 for 8. The cooling under eye patches contain circulation-boosting ginkgo biloba and antioxidants as well as anti-ageing peptides, omega fatty acids and molecular oxygen.

4. Don’t disregard home remedies.

They really do help drain water from the tissues by cooling and constricting blood vessels rather like miniature cold compresses.

Avoid anything that’s really icy such as bags of frozen peas which could damage delicate tissues. Instead, lie down with cucumber slices over your eyes as a helpful natural anti-puffiness remedy.  Or try slices of raw potatoes, or even cotton pads dipped in milk.

5. Consider professional treatments.

Says Sabrina, ‘The only solution for severe bags is a lower lid blepharoplasty.  This involves sculpting the fat and skin to restore a bright-eyed look.

For emerging bags, a combination of superficial skin boosting and deep hyaluronic acid filler injections can help restore volume and plump thin skin. However, Botox under the eye lid can potentially worsen under eye bags.’

6. Help from the inside.

According to Helen Bond, Consultant Nutritionist for The Harley Medical Group, ‘Certain nutrients can help reduce puffiness and dark circles. Foods such as berries and spinach contain vitamins C and K.  These help skin make collagen, and in turn helps reduce puffiness under your eyes.’

Also helpful is eating more water-rich foods such as cucumber.

This also has collagen-boosting silica and vitamin K to support blood vessels; watermelon, which is 92% water and contains antioxidant bêta-carotène; and tomatoes which are rich in the antioxidant lycopene. Above all, as Sabrina Shah-Desai, says, ‘Controlling the amount of sodium you have in your diet can also benefit puffiness. Aim to consume no more than 1500-2300mg of sodium per day.’

7. Add camouflage.

MUAs love Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, £27.50. In a choice of colorways, each palette contains two shades that can be mixed for perfect skin matching. Brush it over discoloured or shadowy areas, then brush on an illuminating concealer, such as YSL’s famous Touche Éclat, £25.50, now in 12 shades, to lift and brighten the groove underneath the bag to smooth out the whole area.

Have you got any particular remedies for under eye bags you can share with us?  Please comment in the box below…

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