Baggy eyes can be hereditary or the result of tiredness, allergies, dehydration or from crying. Technically, aging causes your skin to get thinner and breaks down the lattice underneath your skin, reducing the elasticity. Your thin skin gives off a darker tint because the blood vessels underneath the skin begin to show through. Baggy eyes make you look tired and much older than you actually are. However, there are several easy steps you can take to cover baggy eyes without spending thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery. By eating healthy, cutting out bad habits and getting extra rest, you can get rid of those pesky dark circles.
Step 1
Get more sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get at least eight hours of sleep per night. Your body goes into repair mode when you sleep, so if you don't get enough rest, you deprive your skin the chance to recover from the abuse it goes through every day. On particularly stressful days, try to take a fifteen minute nap. For a nap, rest on your back with your head elevated with a few pillows. Elevating your head prevents fluid from accumulating underneath your eyes.
Step 2
Drink water. Everyone stores excess water in different spots in the body. Some people carry the water beneath their eyes. To get rid of water retention, drink lots of water. Drink at least eight eight once glasses of water a day. Avoid caffeine, soft drinks and alcohol.
Step 3
Eat fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamin C. Grapefruit, oranges and spinach are all good options. Vitamin C encourages your cells to regenerate, which reduces inflammation and helps get rid of those dark spots underneath your eyes. Avoid foods that encourage the retention of water, like cheese, fried food, sugar and soy sauce. Most doctors will tell you not to exceed 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day.
Step 4
Quit smoking. Smoking reduces the vitamin C in your body, making your eyes watery, baggy and bloodshot.
Step 5
Wear an ice pack. Put a cold compress over your eyes for about 15-20 minutes when you wake up. The cold will reduce the swelling in your eyes, however, it only works for a few hours. If you make an ice pack part of your regular routine, you can slow down the larger bags under your eyes from developing. The cold temperature will also help reduce stress and the stretching of the skin. The Mayo Clinic recommends a cold compress to help reduce puffy eyes.
Step 6
Use tea bags. Make a cup of tea with two green tea bags. Take the tea bags out of the cup, let the water drip out, then chill. Apply the tea bags to your eyes while lying down for at least 20 minutes during a nap, or at the end of the day. Green tea may get rid of the puffiness and swelling beneath your eyes. Green tea works because of it contains the anti-inflammatory EGCG.
Tips and Warnings
- Try to avoid surgery. Surgery, especially face lifts, are very expensive. Most start at about $6,000. Like any surgery, there are risks, and the recovery can take weeks.
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