I bet just like me while you may love bags, but you know not all bags are created equal. That's right we’re talking UNDER EYE BAGS!! I for one will not be wearing those bags out anytime soon. Even though most of us will experience or have experienced under eye baggage or puffiness on probably more than one occasion, they can still seem to weigh on your confidence. We get it, we get them and we wish it were different. So, how can you stop those bags from appearing? Read on for some tips and tricks on how to prevent and reduce those eye bags.
To understand how to get rid of your under eye bags you first have to understand what causes them. Just like they can appear differently (puffiness, dark circles and hollows) there are many different causes for under eye bags. For some people it can be as simple as lack of sleep, dehydration, heavy salt in-take, not removing make-up, amongst other outside factors. For others it is a genetic factor or even allergies. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to change your genetic make-up or the weather, there are still ways to reduce the appearance of under eye bags.
Preventing Under Eye Bags
So we know under eye bags can come from various causes and we’ve established that we’re not really fans, but how do you prevent them exactly? Here’s a list a preventative steps;
- Get More Sleep: With so much going on these days it can be easy to not get enough restful sleep. A restful night's sleep can help your entire body feel good, getting enough sleep can also help the fluids drain away from the under eye area. When not drained properly the area underneath the eyes can appear puffier.
- Hydrate: We can’t say it enough hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Much like sleep being hydrated is just good for you overall. When you aren’t properly hydrating or eating a high sodium diet or drinking too much alcohol your skin can appear puffy. Not only will being hydrated help in preventing under eye bags, being properly hydrated can help in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles - double win!
- Remove Your Makeup Before Bed: Makeup can be an irritant no matter how natural or how used to it you are. Properly removing your makeup can help to avoid any potential irritants.
Treating Under Eye Bags
So you’ve slept, you’ve hydrated and you’ve cut back on salt and alcohol…but you still have dark circles and packed bags! Ugh we can just feel the frustration. Don’t fret we’ve got some tried and true methods that can help you in reducing and treating dark circles and under eye bags.
-
A few ways to reduce the appearance of under eye bags at home may include placing tea bags or cold compresses on your eyes.
Tea Bags: Go ahead and steep two extra tea bags when making your morning tea. Caffeinated tea bags can help to reduce the appearance of dark circles. The caffeine has been shown to increase blood flow within the skin. Green tea in particular has been studied and applauded for its potentially anti-inflammatory effects.
How To Prepare Tea Bags for Your Eyes
Steep the tea bags in hot water for at least 3 minutes.
Let the tea bags chill for at least 20 minutes in the refrigerator.
When cool, wring out the tea bags and place on under eye bags or dark circles for at least 10 minutes.
Cold Compress: Applying something cold to the eye area may help find temporary relief by quickly constricting the blood vessels. Remember to use a clean cloth between your skin and the compress to avoid your skin getting too cold.
Don’t have a cold compress, try using some items you may have at home already such as; cool cucumbers (did someone say spa day), frozen peas, frozen spoons, ice globes.
- If you’re looking for a fix that you don’t necessarily have to prep yourself there are several products that can help reduce the appearance of under eye bags and dark circles. Whether it’s a serum, eye cream or gel it is important to focus on the ingredients when choosing the right product for you. Retinols can help as they aid in collagen production much like vitamin A. Just like with the tea bags look for a product that contains caffeine to help boost blood flow or even green tea to help with inflammation.
- In some cases under eye bags can be treated with medical treatments or procedures. If you believe that your under eye bags are caused by seasonal allergies, your doctor may recommend or prescribe an allergy treatment to reduce the symptoms. Remember to consult with your health care provider before taking any new medications. For more permanent solutions some people may turn to chemical peels, fillers and laser resurfacing. Some chemical peels and lasers may cause discoloration of the skin, speak with your health care professional to see which treatment may be best for you.
All in all keep in mind that under eye bags and dark circles are normal and we all get them. There is no need to stress we’ve all been there and we get it. The good news though is that there are both ways to prevent them and ways to treat or reduce the appearance just in case they do sneak up on you.
