Perhaps you didn't sleep as well as you thought you had, you realize as your puffy-eyed reflection stares back at you in the mirror. Bags under your eyes can be an unsightly distraction from your actual appearance that can cause a little embarrassment. These bags are often the result of poor sleep or alcohol intake but can come from crying as well. No matter how you got them, they can easily be removed with a few simple remedies.
Step 1
Apply cold to suppress the swelling. Place slices of cucumbers over your eyes and leave them there for 15 minutes. Placing spoons in the freezer and holding them on your eyes can produce the same effect to quickly help reduce the swelling.
Step 2
Apply witch hazel to cotton balls and place them on your eyes. Lie down and leave the cotton balls in place for at least 15 minutes to help shrink the eye bags.
Step 3
Place used herbal tea bags over your eyes for at least five minutes. The tannin in the tea will help to shrink the eye bags. Be sure to squeeze as much of the excess liquid out of the teabags as possible before using them on your eyes to avoid a mess.
Step 4
Make some changes to your diet. Drink plenty of water--six to eight glasses daily--and avoid things that may dehydrate you further such as caffeine and alcohol. Scale back your salt intake because salt causes water retention and makes the eye bags worse. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to increase your intake of vitamin K and B1-12.
Step 5
Take preventive measures the night before if you suspect you may have bags under your eyes in the morning. Sleep with a cool cloth over your eyes and place an extra pillow under your head to keep your head elevated and reduce the chance of swelling.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are prone to bags under your eyes, talk to your doctor about possible causes and potential treatments.
Things You'll Need
- Cold compress
- Cucumber slices
- Spoons
- Witch hazel
- Cotton balls
- Herbal tea bags
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