If you've been working late, sleeping poorly or even skipping sunscreen, puffy bags under your eyes will give your bad habits away. That's because the skin around your eyes is thinner than the skin on other parts of your face, making swelling and puffiness more noticeable, explains Dr. Jody A. Levine, a New York City-based dermatologist, in "Good Housekeeping" magazine. If your puffy bags are seasonal, call your doctor--if they're the result of allergies, medication may help.
Quick Fixes
Step 1
Put two metal spoons in the freezer for a few minutes to chill. Place the cold spoons directly on your eyes for about 3 minutes. The cold tightens your skin, making it look less puffy, says Kate Sommerville, a Los Angeles aesthetician, in "Real Beauty" magazine. If you don't have spoons handy, use a cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables to get the same results.
Step 2
Use your fingertips to gently massage the bones around your eyes to boost circulation and help drain away extra fluid that's puffing up your skin, recommends Levine.
Step 3
Use your smallest finger to apply an eye cream that contains caffeine around your eye area. Caffeine tightens your skin, reducing the appearance of puffiness, says Laura Hittleman, director of beauty for Canyon Ranch, in "Cosmopolitan" magazine.
Step 4
Soak two cotton pads in witch hazel until they're thoroughly saturated. Cover your closed eyes with the soaked pads for about 5 minutes. Witch hazel is a natural astringent, so it can deflate puffy skin, says makeup artist Shalini Vadhera in "Real Beauty." For the best results, chill the witch hazel in your refrigerator before soaking the pads in it.
Long-Term Solutions
Step 1
Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows so gravity doesn't cause fluids to puddle around your eyes.
Step 2
Get eight to 10 hours of sleep every night. Lack of sleep causes swelling in your arms, legs and face that is especially noticeable around your eyes, says Dr. Mehmet Oz, co-author of the book "YOU: Being Beautiful," in "O, The Oprah Magazine."
Step 3
Consume 2,300 milligrams or less of sodium a day, since high levels of salt can contribute to swelling, says Lisa Drayer, a registered dietitian and author of "The Beauty Diet," in "Cosmopolitan."
Step 4
Consider plastic surgery. If your eyes are puffy because of leaky fat stores beneath your skin--a common occurrence of aging--plastic surgery may be the only effective way to make them disappear.
Things You'll Need
- Spoons
- Cold pack
- Bag of frozen vegetables
- Eye cream with caffeine
- Cotton pads
- Witch hazel
- Two pillows
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