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Read more about our vetting 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.
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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:
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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.
Shadows. Puffiness. Redness. A lack of sleep takes no prisoners—and tired eyes are often the inevitable consequence.
Yet Hollywood’s biggest stars, despite early call times, long days on set, and regularly flying across time zones, always seem to look fresh and bright-eyed. While there are many factors that contribute to their glow, there’s no denying that pro makeup artists have much to offer by way of camouflaging signs of exhaustion. Here, celebrity makeup artist Gita Bass, who counts Julianne Moore and Laura Dern as clients, reveals six ways to wake up tired eyes.
“Applying firming and hydrating eye patches 15 minutes before makeup can be a huge help,” says Bass, who looks to Skyn Iceland’s Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels to “give the illusion of a few extra hours of sleep.” If time is of the essence, she suggests gently tapping on a supercharged eye serum, such as True Botanicals Deep Repair Eye Serum, to de-puff and reduce the appearance of dark circles.
As far as Bass is concerned, eye drops are “sleep in a bottle.” Soothing, lubricating, and counteracting redness for whiter, brighter eyes, she’s a fan of Lumify’s Redness Reliever Eye Drops.
If you want to double down on making the whites of the eyes pop, swipe a flesh-toned eyeliner on the waterlines to further neutralize redness.
While color correcting can be useful for dialing down darkness in some instances, Bass prefers to keep makeup “super light” under the eyes, using a light-reflecting highlighter or a concealer with yellow or orange undertones to offset blue tones. She does, however, make an exception for clients with deep blue-toned eye circles. “I find a sheer layer of a peach corrector is often the best way to disguise them, but sometimes a peach-hued lipstick is all you need under foundation,” she explains.
“I usually prefer a light, creamy concealer that dries to a light powdery finish—like a sheer cream or liquid,” explains Bass. “You want it to be creamy enough to glide over fine lines and blend well, but it needs to set so that it doesn’t move. If it’s too thick or dry, it will settle into lines and exaggerate them.
” She considers Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer the “holy grail,” ticking all of the aforementioned boxes, but gives special mention to NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for its full coverage and having “a shade for absolutely everyone,” as well as Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat High Cover Radiant Concealer, which can be worn alone or under concealer for a “touch of brightness.”
When blending, Bass uses her ring finger to “warm up the product,” then gently taps it into the delicate under-eye area. Afterward, she blends again using a soft fluffy brush or a miniature Beautyblender to “blur any lines and give a seamless finish.”
After checking to make sure nothing has settled into fine lines (and using a damp Beautyblender to blend once more if so), she adds a sheer layer of powder with light-reflecting properties, her go-to being Laura Mercier’s Brightening Powder. “It sets the concealer and prevents it from moving or settling into lines, as well as reflects light, which helps brighten the entire eye.
”
Tears are a natural emotional reaction to feelings, most often to sadness and pain. The sympathetic nervous system reacts to the release of adrenaline in the following way:
irritation of the lacrimal canals occurs;
increased heart rate;
blood rushes to the face, and it becomes red, and the eyes become swollen (by the way, in the same way, the eyes can react to improper care, to understand what you are doing right and what is not, take our test). nine0017
© Getty Images
Pass test
And even if you quickly pull yourself together, get distracted, the "mirror of the soul" will give out feelings for a long time - the redness and swelling will not go away soon. How to quickly remove unpleasant consequences?
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The first thing to do is to open the window and take 10 deep breaths.
It will get easier right away! And then wash with cold water. It will help to calm down, remove the feeling that the face is on fire. You can take a couple of ice cubes and wipe your face with them to relieve puffiness and redness. nine0005
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First aid for teary eyes - patches with caffeine or green tea extract. Soothing masks will also help - with hyaluronic acid, aloe, chamomile, coconut milk. You can try out of turn to use your usual eye cream if it has an anti-puffiness effect. The editors of Skin.ru have compiled their own rating of cosmetics that help put your eyes in order after tears.
In "peacetime" these patches successfully fight bags and dark circles under the eyes, but, as personal experience shows, tearful eyes after their application are also quickly restored. The effective formula includes hyaluronic acid and orange juice. Want to get a more noticeable cooling effect? Keep patches in the refrigerator before use. And apply exactly for 15 minutes, as directed on the package.
The same hyaluronic acid saturates the skin around the eyes with moisture and smoothes it, while green tea extract perfectly tones and protects against aggressive environmental factors (especially if these factors caused tears 😊). Patches are applied for 15 minutes, bags under the eyes are reduced and dark circles under the eyes become less noticeable.
These patches are also applied for 15 minutes - you don't have to lie down, you can walk, run, jump, do household chores.
While you are doing all this, the mask works: coconut water and hyaluronic acid, along with other components, moisturize, refresh the skin, remove signs of fatigue and dark circles under the eyes. nine0005
Very gentle on dark circles and bags under the eyes. The formula with ceramides, vitamin E, glycerin and hyaluronic acid moisturizes the skin around the eyes, the skin around the eyes looks less tired.
An excellent tool if you need to quickly clean up and hide signs of fatigue or tears. Cream with proxylan, vitamin C and blueberry extract instantly transforms the skin. If you use it constantly, wrinkles become smaller, dark circles under the eyes are reduced. nine0005
The tinting effect is just what you need to quickly hide the signs of stress and also reduce bags under the eyes.
This product seems to be specially designed for Princess Nesmeyana.
The balm has a cooling effect, visually reduces dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, fights signs of fatigue. nine0005
Men cry too, and there's nothing to be ashamed of. Light gel will refresh and cool the skin, visually reduce dark circles and swelling. By the way, there are no contraindications for women either.
Instantly cools and hydrates the skin. Wrinkles, dark circles and bags under the eyes become less noticeable. nine0005
It happens that patches and creams are not at hand. In this case, you can try lotions with available funds.
With milk
It's very simple: dip two cotton pads (or wipes) in cold milk and apply to closed eyelids for 7-10 minutes. This mask will quickly relieve swelling and redness.
With olive oil and rosemary
You need a teaspoon of oil and a drop of rosemary oil.
The mixture should be applied to the eyelids and the area under the eyes, but in such a way that in no case does it get on the mucous membranes. Otherwise, the situation will get worse! After a minute, you need to remove excess oil with a napkin - puffiness is gone! nine0005
With potatoes
A small potato should be grated on a fine grater, squeezed out excess liquid and transferred to two gauze bags. Apply them to closed eyelids for 10-15 minutes, and then wash with cool water.
With cucumber
The simplest procedure to save from the effect of tearful eyes is to apply a cool circle on closed eyelids, sit, or better lie down for 10-15 minutes - well, who was crying here?
With tea
Cooled tea bags will help just as well as cucumbers. They, too, just need to be applied to closed eyelids and lie down for 10-15 minutes.
If you don't have your favorite cream at hand, you can try making lotions from cucumbers.
© Getty Images
Simple eye exercises can also help get rid of puffiness.
Lower your eyes down, run your index finger along the eyelashes from the inside of the eyelid to the outside. Then lift your eyes up and repeat the same procedure with the lower eyelid, but move in the opposite direction. You do not need to press, the movements should be light, smooth. Repeat the exercise 10-15 times. nine0005
Massage the upper eyelid and then the lower eyelid along the eyelashes with very light circular motions. Move from the inside of the eye to the outside.
Cream, corrector, gymnastics, compresses - in order to remove swelling from the eyes after tears, all means are good. © Getty Images
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Drink less water, tea, etc. before going to bed: any liquid will contribute to swelling. But the morning must definitely start with a glass of water.
You should not eat salty, smoked and sweet things at night (although there will be a great temptation to seize the problem and sad thoughts with something harmful and tasty). These foods retain water in the body.
Do not rub your eyes. Instead, it is better to rinse your face with cold water, make a compress or mask (see above), apply your favorite eye cream - but only no later than an hour and a half before bedtime. nine0005
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From All About Vision
Puffy eyes and dark circles can be caused by many factors, including hereditary facial features, allergies, stress, eye strain, and individual skin characteristics such as texture.
While some home remedies, such as cucumber slices, can temporarily relieve puffy eyes, a longer-term solution requires finding out the underlying cause.
nine0005
The usual swelling around the eyes indicates an excess of accumulated fluid in the surrounding skin tissues. Because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest, swelling and discoloration can be quite noticeable.
But what is the reason for the accumulation of fluid that causes swelling of the eyes?
Puffy eyes are usually due to various factors, including:
Excessive salt intake that causes fluid retention
Allergies, which can cause inflammation and edema
Problems with nasal sinuses
dehydration
Fatigue and lack of sleep
Hereditary features of the face
Although the latter reason does not seem convincing, many people do have swollen eyes due to heredity. nine0005
With age, puffy eyes can be partly caused by the fact that the fatty tissue that normally protects the eye inside the bony orbit begins to move forward and fill the space under the eye.
This is because the aging process causes thinning of the membrane or "septum" that normally holds fat in both the upper and lower eyelids. As the membrane thins, the fat bulges forward. It is then that bags or bulges begin to form under the eyes. nine0005
When we sleep, we don't blink. And this is one of the reasons why swelling of the eyes develops.
Dark circles can appear under the eyes as a result of stress or lack of sleep.
Blinking is for the eyelids like walking is for the feet. With no movement, some people develop swelling in the lower extremities, which resolves as soon as they start walking, and the leg muscles begin to "pull" the accumulated fluid (edema), releasing it back into the bloodstream. nine0005
The same thing happens with the eyelids. Closed eyelids that do not blink during sleep can swell in some people who have a tendency to this. Therefore, in the morning you can wake up with very swollen and swollen eyelids.
After you open your eyes and start blinking, some of the swelling will subside in about an hour.
When this happens unexpectedly, swelling of the eyes sometimes indicates the presence of an illness.
For example, people with thyroid problems may develop swelling of the tissues and muscles around the eyes. In addition, bulging eyes can be a symptom of a thyroid disorder known as Graves' disease. nine0005
Eye allergies associated with conditions such as hay fever can also cause eye swelling. Other types of allergies, such as reactions to certain foods or chemicals, can cause eyelid swelling.
During an allergic reaction, some cells in the body release a chemical called histamine, which has many adverse effects on body tissues, including leakage of fluid from blood vessels. These fluids linger in the surrounding tissues, causing swelling. nine0005
Swollen, swollen eyelids and dark circles under the eyes may occur with eye infections eg conjunctivitis In this case, swelling of the eyes is caused by inflammation associated with an eye infection that directly affects the eyelids.
In addition, general swelling and puffiness can cause dry eyes.
Systemic diseases, including kidney failure, also lead to generalized swelling throughout the body, including around the eyes.
To find the best solution for puffy eyes and dark circles, it is important to identify the root cause.
If your mother or father has swollen eyes, you may have inherited this trait from them. In such a case, cosmetic surgery may be considered to reduce the swelling.
Puffy eyes due to aging are also likely to require cosmetic surgery.
You may want to discuss with your optometrist or plastic surgeon some of the options available for eyelid problems. These options include chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, certain prescription skin treatments, and an eyelid surgery known as blepharoplasty. nine0005
Blepharoplasty removes excess fat and skin from the upper and lower eyelids and tightens the skin and muscles to reduce puffiness and wrinkles.
The following may temporarily help reduce swelling around the eyes:
Use eye drops for allergy irritation, if applicable
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
Cold compresses for swollen eyelids
Apply cucumber slices or chilled tea bags to closed eyes
Use creams and other products specially designed to apply the skin around the eyes
Reduce the salt content in the dimensional 9000
Eat foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, to eliminate excess fluid in the body
Splash cold water on the face and eyes
Sleep and rest as much as possible
Creams and ointments used to reduce puffy eyelids often contain phenylephrine, a drug that constricts blood vessels. It can have a double effect on swollen eyelids.
First, if dark circles are caused by a visible network of blood vessels under the thin skin of the eyelids, then vasoconstriction can reduce the darkening.
