Simple Home Remedies To Reduce Your Under-eye Bags

Home remedies are cheap and straightforward methods to reduce the size of your dark circles and under-eye bags.

Although numerous products on the market claim to help you minimize the puffiness and darkness of your eyes, they often don’t always work.

Keeping yourself hydrated and applying a cold compress can help you shrink your eye bags quickly. However, the only way to reduce the appearance of your eye bags is to make several lifestyle changes and stick to them, mainly when your condition is genetically acquired or inherited.

Here are some of the ways to reduce your eye bags:

1. Apply tea bags

Tea is a trendy beverage. But, it isn’t just for sipping. You can use tea bags that are caffeinated under your eyes to help with your eye bags and dark circles.

The caffeine which your tea contains has powerful antioxidants and may help increase blood flow to your skin. It is also touted that it can help protect against UV rays and can potentially slow down the aging process.

Green tea is the type of tea that researchers favor the most due to its anti-inflammatory effects, as shown in one study.

2. Use a cold compress

Thermal therapy is a great and affordable alternative to those pricey creams. Relief from dark circles may be as simple as using a cold compress using the materials that you already have at your disposal, like using a chilled teaspoon. Applying cold to the area can help your blood vessels constrict quickly to provide temporary relief.

Before applying your cold compress, wrap it up with a soft cloth to protect your skin from getting too cold. You only need to use it for a few minutes to see the results.

3. Clear out your sinuses with a neti pot

Though this is uncommon, some people swear that using a neti pot can help remove your dark circles and under-eye bags. A neti pot is a device that you fill with normal saline solution. You place the spout in your nose and then irrigate your sinuses, thus removing mucus and other gunk present in your sinuses.

4. Stay hydrated

Our bodies are mostly made up of water. Water makes up about 60 percent of our body weight. Given this, it is not surprising that getting dehydrated can contribute to under-eye bags. Thus, increasing your water intake should help in keeping those bags at bay.

Experts agree that drinking around 13 cups of fluids a day for men and about 9 cups of fluids a day for women is sufficient. However, if your physician has ordered you to limit your water intake, especially if you have conditions like kidney disease or heart failure, it is best to listen to your physician’s advice.

If you don’t like water, the good news is all fluids count! That even includes carbonated beverages. However, water is still the best option. You can try drinking sparkling waters, flavored waters, or even waters infused with fruit. Hot or cold decaffeinated tea is also the right choice.

5. Take an antihistamine

Having an allergic reaction can cause dark circles under your eyes and make them puffy. You may also have red, watery, and itchy eyes. It is a natural response of your immune system to something that it deems foreign or irritates it.

If you think that allergies cause your dark puffy eyes, ask your doctor if you could take OTC allergy medications like Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Claritin.

Despite having antihistamines at our disposal, it is still best to avoid your potential allergens whenever possible.

Certain personal skincare products may cause allergies. These include soaps, makeups, and some hair dyes. If you think your allergies are a chronic problem, it is best to seek the advice of an allergologist to have allergy testing.

6. Add retinol cream to your routine

Being keen on the specific ingredients of your creams is essential to understanding how it works. Retinol creams have been used for a wide range of skin issues like acne, psoriasis, aging, and certain cancers. It is related to vitamin A, and it comes in cream, gel, or liquid form.

Retinol improves collagen deficiency when applied to the skin. Retinol can be found in lower concentrations, especially in OTC products. However, prescription products may have higher levels of retinol.

The way you use retinol is that you apply it to your skin once a day, about half an hour after washing your face. If you’re pregnant, it is best not to use retinol.

7. Use lightening products

Hydroquinone is the active ingredient found in many skin lightening creams. It interferes with melanin production in your skin. It helps reduce the appearance of dark bags or under-eye circles.

Most creams, lotions, and gels that are available over the counter contain about 2 percent of hydroquinone. To get higher concentrations, you first need to get a prescription from a dermatologist. It is essential to use these products regularly to see lasting results.

While there are many positive effects of hydroquinone, all of these can be reversed if you are exposed to sunlight. Dermatologists agree that you should only apply this at night. It can be fixed and prevented by wearing sunscreen.

8. Wear sunscreen every day

Having adequate sun protection can prevent dermatological issues like premature aging, discoloration, and skin cancer. Therefore, wearing sunscreen can tremendously help with your under-eye bags and dark circles.

Dermatologists suggest that all people wear sunscreen. Always choose a sunscreen that has broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. Also, opt for a formula that is SPF 30 or higher and is water-resistant. Always reapply as necessary or as directed in the formula’s package instructions. If possible, choose a daily face moisturizer that’s also SPF 30 or higher. All these could help minimize your under-eye bags and dark circles.

9. Take your makeup off before bed

Developing a hygienic night-time routine can also help you avoid bags under your eyes. One important thing to do is to wash your face before bed each night.

10. Get at least eight hours of sleep

Both how much you sleep and how beyond you sleep is also a factor. A lack of sleep may not cause your dark under-eye circles; getting limited sleep can make your complexion look paler. Thus, any shadows or dark circles will become more evident as a result. You should aim to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

11. Eat more collagen-rich foods

As you age, the muscles and tissues that support your eyelids weaken because of collagen deterioration. It means that your skin may begin to sag, which includes the fat that’s usually around your eyes.

Increasing your intake of vitamin C may help your body absorb more hyaluronic acid. It is a natural essential acid that could be found in the body, but the amount stored decreases with age.

Vitamin C-rich foods and amino acid-rich foods help with collagen production by stimulating the production of hyaluronic acid, thus creating healthier and firmer skin.

12. Eat more iron-rich foods

The condition in which the blood lacks red blood cells due to a lack of iron is called iron deficiency anemia. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues in the body. Having iron deficiency may cause dark circles under your eyes to form and can cause pale skin. Extreme fatigue, cold hands and feet, and brittle nails are common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.

If you think that you might be anemic, visit your doctor. Your doctor may request a simple blood test, and he or she might prescribe iron supplements.

13. Cut back on salt

Overeating salt in your diet could cause fluid retention in the bags of your eyes. It can also lead to other health issues like heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association recommends only consuming 2.3 grams of salt or less per day. The trick to this is to avoid processed foods at all costs!

14. Cut back on alcohol

Drinking alcohol can lead to more dehydration. The more dehydrated you are, the more evident your dark circles and eye bags are. If you are looking for a special drink, try grabbing flavored sparkling water or fruit-infused water.

15. Quit smoking

We all know that smoking is altogether bad for our health. The consensus is already there, and despite several rebuttals from big tobacco, smoking causes a slew of health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic lung disease.

Smoking also depletes your natural collagen stores in the body, contributing to wrinkles, discoloration, and under-eye bags.