We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.
It doesn’t take much. A later than usual night out, a high pollen count, or an episode of “This Is Us” can produce that raccoon eye look or bags under your peepers.
You can certainly embrace the bags And as you follow our guide, you’ll discover some people are just naturally predisposed to this look. Word on the street: A little shadow and swell is the new sexy.
But if you do have a reason to brighten up your skin and reduce puffiness, we have some remedies for you.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on a skin care regimen to erase rings or pouches. You can find remedies in your pantry, refrigerator, and right at your fingertips.
For dark circles, the caffeine in black or green tea may help narrow blood vessels and reduce blue coloring. These caffeinated teas can also banish bloat by drawing out fluid.
But if you’re going for a more soothing effect for irritated skin, opt for rooibos (red tea) or chamomile.
Instructions:
Your cold brew might give you a refreshing jolt, but a caffeine fix for the skin can also help calm blotchiness or swelling.
Start by freezing some brewed coffee in an ice cube tray. Once the coffee ice is ready, spend a few minutes gently rubbing an ice cube:
You can also try 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. This product earns 4.5 stars from reviewers who say it can help treat crow’s feet and keep eyes moisturized.
Cucumbers are high in vitamin C and folic acid, an ingredient combo that helps stimulate cell growth and counter environmental stress. The end result? Less irritation and puffiness, as well as reduced discoloration under your eyes.
Instructions:
You can also try Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel. Reviews suggest this gel may be a bit harsh for folks with sensitive skin, but they also note it works more effectively than pricier creams.
By tapping your index and middle fingers in a gentle circle around your sockets and across your brows and cheekbones, you can enhance lymph drainage. This may help even out skin tone and reduce inflammation.
Instructions:
Do you need to spend a lot of cash on a fancy balm? For dark circles, the short answer is no.
You could, however, try more budget-friendly moisturizing salves with tea, coffee, or cucumber extract — some products might also help minimize the appearance of fine lines and creases.
One option to consider? SheaMoisture Matcha Green Tea & Probiotics Soothing Eye Cream.
Ingredients for your eyesBe sure to read labels carefully before picking up pricey jars. We asked Dr. Rebecca Marcus, a board certified dermatologist in North Dallas, TX, about her favorite ingredients for eyes.
She recommends keeping an “eye” out for the following:
- Caffeine. The benefits of caffeine are worth repeating. Caffeine, as Marcus explains, works in eye creams to combat dark circles and puffiness by temporarily reducing blood flow to the area.
- Retinol and peptides. You might already have some familiarity with these skin care ingredients. Marcus says they help stimulate collagen and thicken the skin, making underlying blood vessels less noticeable and restoring skin firmness.
- Niacinamide. A little of this skin-brightening ingredient can go a long way toward waking up tired eyes. This ingredient, a form of vitamin B-3, offers plenty of other benefits, too.
- Hyaluronic acid. Marcus notes that this moisturizing ingredient can hydrate the skin and offer pro-aging support by smoothing the look of fine lines and crepey skin.
- Vitamin K. Marcus says this antioxidant has anti-inflammatory properties and may help improve circulation.
As for products, Marcus recommends:
Explore more eye creams at varying price points here.
Under-eye patches are a newer trend for pampering the skin around your eyes. Yes, they’re cute and Instagram-friendly, but many people also find them effective, too.
Just know they offer more of a quick fix — a helping hand after a spirited night out, if you will.
Not sure how to pick your patch? Opt for eye-friendly ingredients, like retinol and hyaluronic acid. You can also check out our list of the best options to send your bags packing.
Marcus explains that concealers only help camouflage dark circles. In other words, they won’t help reduce puffiness.
That’s why she recommends using an eye cream with a concealer: Apply an eye cream to help treat the cause and the symptoms, then use concealer to address any lingering darkness.
“Concealer will apply more smoothly onto hydrated skin,” she notes. “So, applying a hydrating eye cream helps prime the skin for concealer application. ”
When you’re in a pinch, concealer alone can still make a difference. So, when that important meeting or event sneaks up on you, reach for a little color-correcting concealer.
Try:
The biggest answer to this, especially for those of you who have tried every trick in the book, is genetics.
If you’ve always had sunken eyes or dark circles, also called periorbital hyperpigmentation, the condition could be a part of your genetics. Likewise, permanent under-eye pouches may be a facial feature you’ve inherited.
Here’s why these attributes get accentuated.
Puffy lower lids or bags happen when the tissue there fills with water. As you age, the fatty tissue held within the socket and upper lid can fall, causing even more fluid retention in that area.
Puffiness is often most prominent when taking the morning’s first look in the mirror. That’s because fluid had a chance to pool during sleep. Bags tend to diminish after you’ve been vertical for a bit.
Although dark circles can show up for many reasons, most people tend to have a slightly deeper coloring around the eyes, simply because the thinner skin there stretches over a conglomeration of purple vessels and muscle.
By isolating the cause, you can take measures to reduce the prominence of purpling and pooching.
Share on Pinterest
Cut that late-night Netflix binge short, or do whatever possible to get a few more Zzz’s. If you still notice the a.m. eye bloat or blue coloring, prop your head slightly while you sleep.
As Marcus explains, sleeping with your head slightly elevated can help prevent fluid from pooling in the periorbital area.
Remove any makeup before hitting the hay to avoid smudging it into your eyes and irritating the surrounding skin.
Marcus suggests applying a cold washcloth to your eyes to help lessen the “I just woke up” look.
She says this helps by causing vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels), which helps relieve puffiness and skin discoloration. Plus, it can have an overall soothing effect, and you don’t have to dig through your fridge for fresh cucumbers.
Pro tip: An ice pack works well, too, if you don’t want a water mess on your face. Just be sure to wrap it in a soft cloth to protect your eyes.
Eye strain can contribute to tired eyes, according to Marcus, by lowering the production of naturally lubricating tears and contributing to dry eyes.
“Taking periodic breaks from screen time and doing eye exercises may help reduce eye strain and therefore help eyes to function normally by producing lubricating tears, reducing dryness, redness, and bloodshot eyes,” she says.
Eye exercise can be pretty simple. In fact, one exercise involves just switching up your focus as you sit. Learn a few of these simple moves here.
Face yoga (yes, it’s a thing) can also help reduce eye strain.
Taking breaks from screen time to avoid eye strain can also be helpful, according to Marcus.
She adds that keeping your phone or tablet on night mode decreases exposure to blue light, which can help improve the quality of your sleep.
If night mode doesn’t do much to keep your tablet or device from shining bright like a diamond, blue light glasses may ease the strain.
Not sure which to try? Check out our guide of the 11 best options.
Excessive time staring at screens may cause eye strain, according to Marcus. This happens, in part, due to engorgement of the blood vessels surrounding your eyes, which can lead to, as you might have guessed, dark circles.
Make time for little breaks to give your eyes a much-needed vacay:
Allergy symptoms, along with illnesses like the flu and common cold, can pack a punch. Itchy lids, sneezing, sinus congestion, or postnasal drip can all lead to a tint around the eyes.
Marcus says those who live with allergies may notice the area under their eyes often appears swollen and discolored.
She explains that this happens when allergens prompt your cells to trigger a histamine release. This, in turn, causes a release of fluid, giving that swelling and tearing effect you know and love so much.
An allergist or otolaryngologist (ENT) can offer more insight into possible triggers and recommend treatments to keep sniffles and scratchy eyes under control, including:
Plus, when you’re plain old sick, eyes can also look puffy, due to sinus congestion and decreased drainage of the fluid around the eyes.
Keep in mind that makeup and skin care products could also trigger allergy flare-ups or eyelid dermatitis. It’s always best to check the ingredients and do a patch test before using a new product.
Marcus says improving air quality may lower the number of allergens or irritants that eyes come into contact with, helping eyes look less tired.
“If tired eyes are due to an irritant or allergen that was previously in the air, using a high quality air filter may be helpful,” Marcus says.
This may prove particularly helpful if you’re sensitive to these factors and happen to live in an area with a high level of pollution or airborne allergens.
If you notice an uptick in that Hamburglar or puff-pastry look, maybe you’ve just faced a stressful week or a jam-packed weekend that impeded your sleep or nutrition.
Other reasons you might wake up with less than perky peepers? Loading up on salty snacks, downing too much coffee, or clinking a late-night cocktail.
Making a few changes might help rid you of the rings and bags:
Share on Pinterest
A quick recap of helpful tips and tricks for tired eyes:
If you have permanent dark sockets or puffy bags under your eyes that you can’t relieve with lifestyle changes or fast fixes, medical solutions might offer an alternate option.
Procedures for dark circles include:
If circles or bags bother you to the point that you can’t stop thinking about them or they contribute to feelings of depression or anxiety, it could be worth asking a dermatologist about other treatment options.
Just know these procedures can get fairly expensive, and they also come with some potential side effects.
One important thing to keep in mind about eye bags and rings? More than likely, you notice them more than anyone else.
Many people tend to look at themselves closely in the mirror in the morning — when they wash their face, shave, or apply products, for example. And morning just happens to be the time when circles and puff show up most clearly.
But classmates, coworkers, and the person in line next to you at the coffee shop probably won’t even notice.
They might, however, perceive a certain mysteriousness or depth they can’t quite put their finger on. Some people find that shadowed, “just woke up” look pretty alluring — so alluring, in fact, that they might go to great lengths to make dark circles stand out or mimic them with makeup.
Plus, a dark circle or an under-eye bag can amp up your authenticity, just like an eye crinkle or wrinkle. They’re natural, after all.
Adding some glimmer can help you display them with pride:
Ultimately, don’t be afraid to skip the concealer and rock your under-eyes.
Jennifer Chesak is a Nashville-based freelance book editor and writing instructor. She’s also an adventure travel, fitness, and health writer for several national publications. She earned her Master of Science in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill and is working on her first fiction novel, set in her native state of North Dakota.
As a makeup artist and skincare specialist, one thing I often hear from clients is, “What can I do about my tired-looking eyes? Help!!”
I get it completely; I do. Those eyes looking back at you from the mirror some mornings…well, it just doesn’t seem fair! What happened to that fresh-faced look you used to have?!
And don’t get me started on pictures! Have you resorted to using filters for your selfies simply to hide the undesirable appearance of eye bags, puffiness, circles, or crow’s feet?
Trust me; I’ve heard it all from friends, family, and clients, which is precisely the reason I decided to touch on this subject, offering some real tangible solutions for all the ladies out there!
Has stress taken a toll? One too many sleepless nights? Have you been burning the midnight oil? The eyes are the very first place to show signs of aging, stress, lack of sleep, and poor lifestyle habits. So, it’s highly likely one of these factors could be the root of your problem.
Whether it’s puffiness, dark circles, or fine lines creeping in, worry not, ladies, you have come to the right place for help!
Goodbye, Tired-Looking Eyes!Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links. For more info, see Disclosure Policy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
First off, if you need help with dark undereye circles, start here…Simple Ways To Hide Dark Circles. Then you can come back to this post for the remainder of our tips and fixes to help those eyes look more well-rested.
Now let’s proceed, shall we!? Today, I want to share with you lovely ladies my absolute top tips and tricks for getting rid of tired-looking eyes!
It’s time to say farewell to puffiness, undereye bags, and fine lines for good!!! Who’s with me!!??!
If you haven’t started using an eye cream, it’s time to get to it! And if you have one but you haven’t been consistent with it, this may be the source of your problem.
When it comes to skincare products, you must use them consistently over an extended period of time to see real, concrete results. It’s just like going to the gym and working out; you can’t expect to see a six-pack if you go to the gym every now and then, right??
Make a habit of using your eye cream every morning. And don’t skip nights! Nighttime, in particular, is very important because it’s the most restorative, extended period of time when our skin cells repair and regenerate. Your skin is also most receptive to skincare ingredients during this time.
Pro Tip: If you have had a long day and just want to crash into bed, don’t let that be your excuse! Keep some makeup wipes and your eye cream next to your bed on the nightstand. There can be no excuse when it’s literally right there, right?!!?
No Excuses! Follow A Consistent Skincare Routine.Related: The Biggest Skin & Beauty Mistake You May Be Making With Your Face
First things first, we know your eyes look tired for one (possibly more than one) of the following reasons: puffiness, heavy eye bags, fine lines, wrinkles, and/or dark circles.
But do you know with certainty which skincare ingredients you need to help with those issues?? Go here for more info on the best skincare ingredients for dark circles…
As we age, we start to lose elasticity in our skin and begin producing less collagen. Additionally, collagen begins to break down at a faster rate, resulting in a lack of firmness, fine lines, and wrinkles in the eye area. Lack of firmness then leads to more permanent and prominent puffiness, aka MEGA eye bags.
Let me also say if you are in your mid 20’s, you are still not immune to the effects of aging skin with regards to your eye area. My best advice is to be proactive and continue to read this post for the best options to look into.
And if you are older, in your late 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and up, definitely take note of the specific ingredients (listed next) you should be looking for in an eye cream…
Together, they are the perfect duo, aka power couple! These lovelies help with dehydrated skin in the eye area.
Did you know that dehydrated skin can magnify those annoying fine lines and wrinkles? Yep sure does!
But these two ingredients provide a solution by pulling moisture from the environment into your skin and plumping up those lines.
I started using my first eye cream with hyaluronic acid in my mid 20’s. It is definitely one of my favs as far as ingredients go! Hyaluronic acid makes everything smoother, and it will help diminish that puffy “didn’t get much sleep last night” look too!
Antioxidants like Vitamins C and E protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are those “bad boys” responsible for the breakdown of your skin’s collagen and elastin (reducing firmness and leading to lines & wrinkles). Think about the environment, pollution, UV rays, etc.
The good news is antioxidants used in your skincare products can help keep you looking younger for longer by minimizing that damage. Thus, they can slow down the formation of lines, wrinkles, and saggy skin.
Pro Tip: Another antioxidant ingredient to look for…green tea!
If you wake up with puffy eyes, this is generally due to swelling of the tissue around the eyes from fluid buildup.
Start sleeping on your back with your head more elevated. Just double up on your pillows or try an elevated sleep pillow like this one. While another option for elevated support that’s a bit firmer could be this one here.
The extra elevation will help de-puff your eyes. Plus, sleeping on your back will help your skin with lines and wrinkles…here’s why…
Try Sleeping On Your Back & Elevated!I know it sounds yucky, but this remedy really works for the undereye puff! I learned this one while in makeup school. And yes, you will find this in many makeup artists’ kits on set for their actors.
Preparation H contains ingredients that reduce swelling and shrink the tissue. It makes blood vessels constrict, which helps in reducing fluid retention in the tissue.
However, a word of warning, this should not be a quick fix you resort to daily. It should be saved for rare occasions, special events, or circumstances. Also, the application needs to be done very carefully. DO NOT get any of the product in the eye. Only apply a very teeny tiny amount and blot off any excess.
Apply cool cucumber slices to swollen, puffy eyes to soothe them. Cucumbers contain caffeic acid, known for its ability to reduce water retention in swollen tissues. They also contain vitamin C, which helps with inflammation. Lastly, they contain Vitamin E and antioxidants that help with fine lines and signs of aging.
Place the cucumber slices on your lids after they have been refrigerated. Allow them to stay on the lids for 15-20 minutes.
Give Cucumbers A Try For Puffiness, Fine Lines, & More!Sometimes when you wear makeup, it can rather, unfortunately, settle into the lines under your eyes, making them more noticeable.
A quick tip to help: Try tapping the area with your finger. The warmth from your finger (body heat) can help blend the makeup a bit into your skin more, reducing the look of those bothersome fine lines.
Also, if you use a concealer near your eye area, go for the lightest formulas if fine lines and wrinkles are a concern of yours. This means sticking to pens or creams, with pens being the lightest of all. Thicker formulas will magnify those fine lines.
I learned this from my amazing makeup instructor years ago. Instead of using an undereye concealer and attacking your issue head-on, as one does for dark circles, you want to try a slightly different method. Check out the steps to this process below!
Try This Makeup Trick To Hide Puffy Eyes!Anytime you use light colors and shades in makeup; you draw attention to whatever feature or area where it was applied. This also works vice versa. Darker colors detract.
So, to make puffy eyes less visible, you most certainly do not want to apply concealer (a lighter shade than your foundation) directly to the puffy part of the skin. That is unless you are trying to make it even more obvious. Which we are certainly not attempting to do.
You do, however, want to apply it to the shadow that the puffy bag creates (aka the depression). This will create an illusion that makes the shadow much less apparent.
And a darker shade applied to the puffy part will make that seem to recede or disappear. It’s all about the manipulation of light and dark colors.
Much like the cool cucumbers can help, another and more simple option is to use a cool compress on your lids. Try ice in a zip-lock bag wrapped in a soft cloth. Make sure that the temperature is cool, NOT cold. The coolness will force constriction of the blood vessels, which will help stop the flow of excess fluid to the area.
The best way to distract people from your tired-looking eyes (puffy eyes, bags, fine lines, and wrinkles) is to bring attention to other parts of your face or emphasize different areas of the eye instead!
Related: Learn everything every gal needs to know about mascara if she wants to improve her lash game…here!!
If you want to look less tired after a night of no sleep, these 3 quick fixes just might do the trick! The goal is to brighten up certain parts of the eye area strategically. Doing so will create a more alert look that is sure to freshen those beautiful eyes up!
And I don’t mean a double shot of espresso! 😉 For puffy eyes, applying cool tea bags to your lids for about 10-15 minutes can help!
Take two chamomile tea bags (chamomile has anti-inflammatories) and put them in the fridge. Allow them enough time to cool. Then remove them and place them on your closed eyelids. Another great type of tea to try is green tea.
Chamomile Tea Has Natural Anti-Inflammatory Benefits!A last and most obvious solution…we should all try to get more sleep. For overall health, you should be getting 7+ hours of sleep a night. Sleep allows hormones to be released for more skin elasticity…thereby aiding in preventing visible signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and lack of firmness.
What in the world is a stippling technique? Stippling is simply a way to apply your foundation for a flawless, almost airbrushed look. Don’t worry; it’s easier than it sounds…just takes a little practice. Follow these steps, Beauties!
Would You Like To Become A PRO At Eyeshadow & Skyrocket Your Eye Makeup Skills?
EYE MAKEUP MADE EASY!!!! Take Your Makeup Skills To The Next Level With The Essential Master Your Eyeshadow Guide!! 75+ Pages Packed with Exclusive Makeup Tips, Tricks, Professional Makeup Artist Secrets, & More!!
YES! TELL ME MORE!
If you’re ready to look more rested and perk up those peepers, as you can see, there are quite a few things you can try, from skincare solutions to lifestyle changes and makeup tricks!
The key is to identify whether it is puffiness, lines & wrinkles, or dark circles under the eyes contributing to your rather tired-looking appearance. And you should also consider the possibility that it might be a combination of these issues.
But once you pinpoint which one or ones are the root, you can then better decide which of these tips to try for help. Feel free to reach out if you need some additional help or have questions, ladies!
Sharing Is Caring Please Pin & Share!Have you tried any of these remedies for tired-looking eyes before? Leave a comment to share your thoughts!
Related Makeup & Skincare Articles:
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. For more info, see Disclosure Policy.
Sharing is caring!
Eye health is directly related to whether you can control the load on your eyesight and provide your eyes with sufficient rest. Experts from the Lucky Look federal network of opticians tell you how to relieve eye fatigue and reduce eye strain if you work at a computer.
Sign up for a free vision test
Contents
Any visual discomfort indicates that it is time to take a break from work and give the eyes a chance to rest. Experts identify the main symptoms that indicate an overstrain of the visual system:
Be careful, these symptoms can also signal the presence of serious visual impairment! To rule out negative scenarios, you need visit an ophthalmologist.
Increased visual fatigue can indicate serious disorders, so do not put off a visit to the ophthalmologist
Why does vision deteriorate? The main causes of this phenomenon are distinguished:
High eye strain. This is often faced by schoolchildren and students who are forced to read and write a lot, as well as office workers whose activities involve continuous sitting at a computer or reading documents.
Also, if you are fond of computer games, like to watch TV shows on your mobile gadgets - smartphones or tablets - or spend all your free time with a book, your eyes are also exposed to a high load.
In order to minimize problems with this lifestyle, it is necessary to take breaks as often as possible and give the eyes regular rest.
Computer vision syndrome. This is a whole complex of symptoms, which is caused by overexertion of the visual system due to prolonged use of the computer. The reason for the development of the symptom is not so much the need to look at the monitor for a long time, but the functional change in your posture, eyes, neck. For example, the constant sliding of the gaze from the keyboard to the monitor and back leads to accommodative asthenopia, which is manifested by discomfort, eye fatigue, pain, pain in the superciliary region, blurred vision of the object of fixation.
Subsequently, this can cause problems such as myopia (nearsightedness), accommodation spasm (inability to focus on small objects and details) and dry eye syndrome.
Properly organized workplace and touch typing skills will help to minimize the harm from constant work at the computer.
Dry eye syndrome. Often appears on the basis of computer vision syndrome, develops due to insufficient moistening of vision: with concentrated work at a computer, a person blinks less often, as a result of which the tear film dries up. Plus - the air near the computer heats up and also becomes dry.
Organize your workplace and use special glasses for working at the computer
In the summer season, when air conditioners are in operation, the pathological effect of dry air on the eyes only intensifies. And if you use contact lenses, the syndrome develops even faster.
To reduce the negative impact of external factors and provide more comfortable conditions for the eyes, place a humidifier near your workplace. Also buy moisturizing drops (choose them with the help of an ophthalmologist) and use them several times a day. Try to blink as often as possible.
During a break, do light eye exercises:
To maintain the effect, apply moisturizing drops selected by an ophthalmologist to your eyes. Do not self-medicate, be sure to seek help from a specialist - moisturizing drops come in different viscosities, they can have a healing effect, or they can simply moisten the surface of the eye. Only an ophthalmologist will determine what exactly your vision needs and select the necessary remedy.
Sign up for a free vision test
By the way, gymnastics also requires prior consultation with a doctor. Make sure you have no contraindications. Also, the ophthalmologist can advise other types of gymnastics.
There are several rules that must be observed in everyday life. Thanks to this, you can significantly reduce the load on your eyesight, and your eyes will get tired much less.
If you work at a computer, the first thing you need to do is to properly organize your workplace.
The health of your eyes depends on your daily habits. Hygiene of vision allows you to maintain good health and reduces eye fatigue, even under conditions of increased stress.
Sign up for a free vision test
Simple exercises that should be done regularly throughout the day will help to quickly relieve fatigue from the eyes. But this is not enough! To make your eyes less strained and tired, it is important to provide the right conditions:
Remember that you need to consult an ophthalmologist before doing gymnastics! Moisturizing drops should also be selected by a specialist.
Working hours
from 10:00 to 20:30
Ophthalmological center
Optical salon
home
Eye health
Instructions for eliminating eye fatigue when working with gadgets
When working at a computer, the eyes experience a high load - because of this, they get tired faster, the mucous membrane of the eye is not sufficiently moistened, the eyes experience discomfort, and a headache appears. To reduce eye fatigue and avoid headaches and high fatigue, follow the tips below.
And, of course, if you notice strange symptoms - persistent dry eyes, blurred vision, "flies" or bright spots in the eyes when working at a computer, as well as regular headaches and sleep disturbances - immediately consult a doctor!
Your ophthalmologist will tell you how you can protect your eyes from fatigue and prevent discomfort and loss of vision.