Puffiness and dark undereye circles can cause you to look more tired and older than you are. Dark circles are caused by a number of factors, including genetic history, allergies, what you eat or drink, sun exposure and thinning skin. Puffy eyes can be coupled with dark eyes because blood vessels underneath the skin below the eyes can become dilated, which results in a puffy undereye appearance. Fortunately, both conditions can be treated with natural remedies designed to reduce inflammation while soothing dilated blood vessels.
Step 1
Get enough sleep. The Mayo Clinic recommends getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night. If you are not reaching the seven-hour mark, you could be experiencing inflammation and blood vessel dilation due to a lack of sleep. Both of these factors can contribute to puffy, tired looking eyes. For this reason, make an effort to go to bed earlier every night until you reach at least the minimum sleep mark.
Step 2
Avoid dehydrating your skin. Alcohol, caffeine and alcohol can cause blood vessels to dilate. Each of these substances dehydrates the skin, which causes it to appear thinner. Blood vessels closer to the skin make the eyes appear darker. And any fluid present is more pronounced, making the eyes appear puffy.
Step 3
Splash cold water on your face several times in a row. According to MotherNature.com, this shock to your system encourages blood vessels to shrink while speeding up circulation. As a result, fluid trapped under your eyes can more easily escape.
Step 4
Apply a soothing cold compress to the eyes using ingredients found in your home. MotherNature.com recommends using two tea bags---green or chamomile teas are best as they will not stain your skin---dipped in cold water, then applied to the eyes. In addition to the cool temperature, the tannins found in tea help to reduce inflammation, soothing the undereye area. You can also place a washcloth over your eyes that has been dipped in cold water or milk.
Step 5
Increase your water intake. Dry or dehydrated skin is the enemy of those with dark circles or puffy eyes. Being dehydrated actually causes the body to retain fluid, increasing the likelihood you will experience puffy eyes. For this reason, increasing your fluid intake---such as one glass of water for every hour you are awake---can help to keep the skin under the eyes more moist. This also helps to increase elasticity in the skin, making the area under the eyes appear more taut.
Things You'll Need
- Tea bags
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