Many people wonder how to reduce under-eye bags which can affect your look and how you feel during the day. The puffiness and swelling can be more extreme on some days, it is important to understand what causes them, and what to do to reduce the appearance of swelling. It is also important to note that under-eye bags are a natural part of ageing and nothing to be ashamed of. Ageing is a privilege and we’re just here to help you feel your best!
How To Reduce Under-Eye Bags At Home
There are various habits and environmental triggers that can contribute to the appearance of the skin under the eyes. Overexposure to the sun, bad habits, and improper sleep hygiene are just a few of the things that can affect your skin. Let’s have a look at a few actions you can take to make your under-eye skin appear more radiant and youthful.
1. Improve Your Sleep Quality
You’ve probably heard this a thousand times, but getting enough sleep does make a difference. On average, an adult should get 7-9 hours of sleep. Experts also recommend elevating your head while sleeping to regulate blood flow better and avoid puffy eyes. Elevating your head prevents the accumulation of fluid in your lower eyelids that creates puffiness while you sleep. You can do that by adding an extra pillow or elevating your mattress which is better for your back and neck instead of using an extra pillow.
According to Mayo Clinic, if you’re having trouble sleeping try these tips:
- Create a sleep schedule to specify a regular bedtime and wake time.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages and foods 6 to 12 hours before bedtime.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages around bedtime.
- Finish all meals and snacks two hours before bedtime.
2. Stay Hydrated
Yes, we’re also here to remind you to drink enough water. Lack of moisture both from the inside of the body and outside can really affect the appearance of our skin. Therefore, make sure you drink at least 2 litres of water daily and moisturise your skin in the morning and evening. We specifically recommend adding Hyaluronic Acid to your skincare routine. Another way to avoid getting dehydrated is to avoid salty foods, especially before going to bed. Salt sucks the moisture out of your body, which can leave your skin more prone to dryness and puffy eyes.
3. Cultivate A Healthy Lifestyle
Constant consumption of alcohol and smoking can be detrimental to the appearance of your skin. Drinking alcohol contributes to dehydration which leads to bags and dark circles under the eyes. If you’re craving a special drink, try grabbing flavoured sparkling water or infusing regular water with fruit.
We all know that nicotine is bad for our bodies and lungs in particular. It also causes severe damage to the skin. Smoking depletes the body’s stores of Vitamin C, which is responsible for creating healthy collagen in your skin. If you smoke, you may deal with issues like wrinkles, discolouration, under-eye bags and dark circles. Therefore, if you’ve been looking for a reason to quit smoking – consider beautiful, healthy skin to be one of them.
4. Use Tea Bags
If you’re looking for easy home remedies, try putting soaked tea bags on your eyes. Green and black tea are particularly good because of the caffeine in them. Caffeine enhances blood flow under the eyes. Besides, green tea has anti-inflammatory properties, which further improve the skin under the eyes.
5. Skincare Products With Caffeine
Speaking of caffeine, you may consider purchasing under-eye skincare products that contain caffeine. This will have similar benefits as tea bags to increase blood circulation which will help with any swelling or darkness under the eyes.
6. Vitamin C and Collagen Eye Products
A couple of other skincare ingredients you may consider adding to your routine are vitamin C and collagen. Vitamin C regenerates skin cells and promotes collagen production. Another great ingredient is retinol which is related to vitamin A and comes in cream, gel or liquid form. When applied to the skin, retinol can improve collagen synthesis. You may find lower concentrations of retinol in different over-the-counter products, but stronger creams require a prescription from your dermatologist.
Retinol is generally applied to the skin once a day, after washing your face. Some under-eye skincare products already include vitamin C and retinol in them, such as these retinol under-eye patches.
Another ingredient you may consider is the epidermal growth factor. An article in JDD states that one of the most effective ways to reduce under-eye bags is to apply an Epidermal Growth Factor serum twice daily.
7. Use A Cold Compress
If you have time, try applying a cold compress to your eyes. Cooling the area can help the blood vessels constrict quickly to reduce swelling. You can do this by simply using a wet washcloth, bag of frozen veggies or cool cucumber and putting it on your eyes. For best results, we recommend doing this while sitting up.
8. Wear Sunscreen Daily
Make sure you always wear sunscreen during summer and winter. It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny or cloudy, your skin can still be damaged by UV rays. Broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays is important, so take care when choosing a formula to be SPF 30 or higher and water-resistant. It is best to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going out and to reapply every 2 hours to avoid damage. You can still apply sunscreen if you’re staying home, especially if there are large windows. This will help your skin maintain its health and moisture. Another thing to consider if you want to know how to reduce under-eye bags is wearing sunglasses and a hat. This will further protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them from damage.
9. Take Allergy Medicine
If none of the aforementioned methods works, you may have allergies. It is good to get tested and find out what you are allergic to if you don’t know already. In the meantime, you could get over-the-counter antihistamines to get rid of allergic reactions that cause swelling of the under-eye area.
10. Eat More Collagen-Rich Foods
Collagen is a protein that is abundant in the body and provides structure and support to various tissues, such as skin, bones, and tendons. While the body produces its own collagen, consuming collagen-rich foods can also help support healthy collagen production.
As you get older, the muscles and tissues that support your eyelids weaken. This means that your skin may begin to sag, including the fat that’s usually around your eyes. Reinforcing the intake of vitamin C can help your body absorb more hyaluronic acid. This essential acid is naturally found in the body, but the amount stored decreases with age. Foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can also help with collagen production by boosting your levels of hyaluronic acid which creates healthier skin. Good sources of vitamin C include oranges, red peppers, broccoli and strawberries.
Here are some foods that are rich in collagen:
- Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones such as chicken or beef for several hours. This process releases collagen and other beneficial compounds into the broth.
- Fish, especially salmon and tuna, are rich in collagen. Eating the skin and bones of fish can also provide a good source of collagen.
- Chicken is a good source of collagen, especially when consumed with the skin and bones.
- Egg whites are rich in collagen and other beneficial amino acids.
- Berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, contain high levels of vitamin C, which is essential for collagen production.
Final Thoughts
We all want healthy, youthful-looking skin. Now you know how to reduce under-eye bags. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your under-eyes, try the tips listed above. It could be as simple as applying a cold compress or tea bags on your eyes. Perhaps you need a bigger life change, which includes improving your sleep quality and giving up bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
You can read more about treating under-eye bags here, in Vogue and at Mayo Clinic.