I prefer bags under my arm, preferably a Chloe Nile Bracelet bag. But seriously, the one thing that never concerned me when I was younger were eye bags, but with each passing year, I notice myself and friends my age with growing bags…and not the ones from Whole Foods either! So, I decided to do something about it before they explode.
Under eye puffiness isn’t usually a problem that requires medical attention, but let’s face it, nobody wants to see bags under their eyes, as they simply make you look older! Is there anything you can do to help reduce the appearance of bags and dark circles under the eyes? – Yes, there is!
I want to take a look at some of the most effective ways to combat the swelling that occurs under your eyes, including some simply awesome skin care products that really work, but first, we first need to understand the causes of these unsightly bags in the first place.
- Your sleeping position can play an important role in the development of under eye puffiness. Sleeping on your back causes fluid to collect under your eyes. (Darn it! That would be me.) Try switching your sleeping position, or add another pillow to raise your head higher. Of course, a lack of sleep is another cause of those pesky dark circles – prevention can be even more useful than a cure, so make sure you’re getting enough sleep! Read through this article quickly and then go to bed.
- Another condition that can cause problems for certain people is an allergic reaction, especially to specific types of food and seasonal changes. The dark circles under the eyes appear because the skin has become inflamed and touching or rubbing it can make the circles worse
- Your genes can also play a significant role in whether you are more liable to develop dark circles under your eyes. Most doctors and skin specialists agree that it’s one of the more undesirable hereditary traits we inherit!
- Self-inflicted unhealthy behavior is another slippery slope to bags under the eyes and puffiness! Smoking dries out your skin and causes irritation around the eyes, leading to dark circles and wrinkled, droopy skin. Alcohol dehydrates your body and the delicate area around your eyes appears dark and pouch-like. Another reason to give up booze.
Hey! – If you want your eyes to look and feel amazing, as well as having your skin simply GLOW with natural health, read my article about what you should be drinking!
Unfortunately, bags under the eyes, as well as mild swelling and puffiness are common problems that increase with age. Basically, the tissue and muscles supporting your eyes can weaken over time, allowing the movement of fat into the lower eyelids. Fluid may also build up, adding to the swelling.
The good news is that by identifying particular lifestyle and diet changes, practicing certain facial massage techniques, pinching methods and using effective skin care products, you can begin to combat this puffy-problem and reduce one of the most obvious signs of aging!
As I mentioned above, reducing your alcohol intake and stopping smoking (like… IMMEDIATELY!) are instant ways to reduce eye bag issues, but what else works? – Let me share my favorite ways for dealing with dark circles and bothersome bags:
1. Go Easy With the Salt
The health risks of too much salt are well documented, but while most people realize the potential connection to problems like high blood pressure, over-doing it with the sodium can cause fluid retention that leads to puffiness around the eyes as well as other parts of the body. No, thank you.
Avoid salty foods, and instead, load up on fresh vegetables. Celery, in particular, has a natural salty flavor without the negative effects of eating too much salt. And it also contains potassium, which helps manage high blood pressure – BOOM! A double-whammy of health benefits! If you have a salt addiction, work on slowly decreasing your salt intake in half and then half again, until you don’t need salt at all or the bare minimum.
2. Apply Acupressure
Also known as shiatsu, acupressure techniques involve applying pressure on the correct spots around the eyes to improve blood circulation, as well as restore balance, strengthen energy flow and relieve puffiness around the eyes. Try pressing gently on the meridian points of the eye area. I do this in the shower every day as I let me conditioner set five minutes.
If you want to learn another fantastic and simple way to reduce puffiness, bags and smooth out wrinkles, as well as even more wonderful skin care tips, check out my revealing article on French beauty secrets
3. Cool Things Down
What’s the classic home remedy for tired and puffed-up eyes? Applying chilled used tea bags! Whether it’s caffeine from the tea constricting the blood vessels to reduce puffiness, or the tannins stopping swelling and discoloration, you should try fighting bags with bags! – Simply pop two used tea bags in the fridge for an hour and then leave them on your closed eyes for 10 minutes. This is a great time to practice meditation or simply relax as you lay back with your eyes closed.
Other cool methods for fighting eye bags include chilled spoons, cold cucumber slices or even a cold compress – whatever you decide to try, make sure it’s nice and cool because it’s the cold temperature that’s doing all the work. Lying there with something cold on your eyelids is also very relaxing, which encourages a more youthful appearance.
4. Use the Right Skin Care Product
Stores are jam-packed with jars and tempting tubes of face creams and serums that promise to diminish dark circles and banish your bags. When you’re researching what will work best for your skin issues, it’s easy to get lost in a world of anti-inflammation, de-puffing and eye-reviving. To make things easier, I thought I’d share my three favorite skin care products for puffed-up eyes!
- Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream – I know it’s a mouthful, but it works. It left my eyes and mouth smooth, moisturized and flawless as well as got rid of dark circles. It’s a bit pricey, but a little goes a long way. Use soft massaging motions to get the most out of this cream
- Nu Skin’s Tru Face Ideal Eyes – I love the science behind this product, which seeks to get to the root of the problem, rather than just covering up a symptom. The anti-aging formula of this silky cream is perfect for my age (nearly 50!) and offers both immediate and long-term benefits. I get a smooth, refreshed look as dark circles retreat and eye puffiness is reduced long term. Try using it morning and night after cleansing and toning
- Helena Rubinstein Magic Concealer – Kill two, even three, birds with one stone with another fab product that quickly conceals bags, dark circles and refreshes the eyes. Just remember to apply minimal amounts in a gentle patting motion, otherwise you may get the opposite effect
Let me know what your favorite products are and if you try any of the ones I use in the comments below. We all learn from the feedback and your experiences.
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