The Best Products To Help Combat Under-Eye Puffiness
For most people, under-eye puffiness is a temporary condition most often triggered by circumstances such as allergies, salty foods, and/or lack of sleep. But usually after a few hours, the problematic symptoms go away.
For me, however, under-eye puffiness is chronic. It's a condition that I wake up with everyday. I've declared the condition permanent because no matter what I do to alleviate it, the puffiness never subsides entirely. So basically it's in my DNA and I have to manage it on a daily basis if I want to look presentable. It's a lot of work but it's also necessary if I want to look and feel my best.
I have to admit, it's frustrating hearing people ask me, "Are you okay? You look tired," or "Are you sure you're eating properly? You should refrain from consuming salty foods" because I do both! I manage my diet and eat well, and I definitely make sure I get my sleep. I love sleep. I treasure my physical and emotional wellness with every ounce of my being. But yet, the question I keep having to ask myself is, "What am I doing wrong?"
For years I've tried everything I could think of to help alleviate my chronic under-eye puffiness. In high school, I started experimenting with various products that claim to combat the exact issues that I was insecure about. And still am. I tried every pharmacy brand, every spa cream people would recommend for me. If you think about it, that's a lot of money invested in the hopes that one day I'll find something that really works. I even considered cosmetic surgery... But, has anyone seen what eyelid blepharoplasty looks like?? Look it up [cringe]. I'd rather not deal with the pain and inconvenience of that procedure.
Now at age 26 I think I actually might have some answers! I'm definitely not 100% cured as I still go through some on and off days. But my discoveries definitely have led me towards visible relief. Because of that, I feel that it's my duty to share these revelations. I hope that by sharing what I use, it will help any of you who can relate to this or know of anyone who suffers from chronic under-eye puffiness.
Swelling under the eyes is seriously dreadful. Especially when you feel totally fine, but what you see in the mirror suggests otherwise. So here's what I've learned:
1). Hydration: There are some key ingredients you should incorporate into your daily de-puff regimen. Skin needs to breathe. When you hydrate the skin, it performs and looks better. That's why it is so important to moisturize in order to keep your skin resilient as you age. Since the area is extremely sensitive around the eyes, you want to use products with ingredients that are good for you. I try to stick with all natural and gentle products that I can trust, such as:
- Valentia
These brands do a great job of making me feel great, and most of them provide a complete line of skincare products. My favorite eye creams are Eminence Cucumber Eye Gel and Mario Badescu's Hyaluronic Eye Cream. Both of these creams do a fantastic job of locking in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. They also work well under make-up and can be applied on the affected area of the skin as much as needed. Of course, drink lots of water too. If you make hydration a consistent part of your beauty routine, I promise that you will be one step closer to visible relief.
2). Circulation: Ever heard of facial exercises? Squint your eyes. Open your mouth. Tense up your face. You may feel super silly doing this (like I look here) but doing so has helped me so much. These routines can be done in the privacy of your bedroom or bathroom in the morning right before you get up, and/or at night right before bed. Grab a little mirror (if you need) and for just five-ten minutes, move your facial muscles around. Move your eyebrows up and down, turn you lips side to side, open and close your eyes. The point of these random movements is to exercise your facial muscles. You'll begin to notice the increase in circulation.
Over time, this increase in circulation will help fight inflammation. Since joining the gym almost 90 days ago, I noticed working out has really helped me fight bloating. In addition, moving around a lot flushes your body of any retained water. Most importantly, I saw how working out benefited me particularly around my eyes. I couldn't believe it! It's like the skin around my eyes found a way to tighten back into place, and drain itself of excess fluids.
If you're not too keen on facial exercises, you can try massaging the puffiness out of your eyes. I stumbled upon this Fashionista article that walks you through the process of doing so. I tried it myself. They have some great tutorials. I highly recommend it. It was extremely helpful.
3). Greens: Last but not the least. Eat your veggies. Vegetables have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. I take herbal supplements for leafy greens and one specifically with spirulina, which is nutrient-dense and protein-rich, that helps reduce inflammation in the sinuses. I am confident these supplements have helped me combat my under-eye puffiness, plus I can feel good about taking them too because they're healthy.
Even if you're not someone suffering from chronic under-eye puffiness, you can incorporate hydration, circulation, and greens into your routine. I also discovered some fun DIY ways to combat puffiness right in the comforts of your home. By no means are any of these cures, but they do offer relief and are perfect for spa days at home.
1). Coffee grounds: When I heard all the hype around coffee grounds, I was all ears. I love coffee. Initially though I was under the impression that coffee is dehydrating, and I was confused how it would help. But that's only when you drink it (which is why it's important to avoid drinking too much, and always make sure to drink plenty of water). However, when you apply freshly brewed coffee grounds topically, the coffee actually acts as an antioxidant.
Mix some coffee grounds with equal parts coconut oil, and you have yourself a natural way of removing puffiness and dark circles from under the eyes! Or so they say. Check out one of my favorite brands, Frank Body. You'll definitely see they're up to something. I mean, coffee body scrubs? Amen!
2). Green tea & cucumber: Placing brewed green tea bags on the eyes helps reduce swelling by tightening the skin around the eyes. The caffeine reduces the puffiness by shrinking the blood vessels. Also, placing cold cucumber slices afterwards brings great relaxation and relief.
If you try any of these remedies, I would love to know how they worked out for you. Or even better, if you have a remedy for under-eye puffiness that I didn't mention here, please share. I'm always learning and would love to know about other possibilities worth exploring. That's all for now!
