Banish Puffy Eyes

I am really a night owl, especially when I want to finish a book, or more often, when I do my bead projects. As a result, I get dark circles under my eyes the next day.

So, maybe you’ve been getting three hours of sleep a night during the past week. Maybe you’ve been crying buckets over some problems at home. Whichever it is, this is sure to take its toll on your eyes. Don’t be surprised if you start looking like an owl after a couple of sleepless nights. And some women’s eyes become so puffy after a good cry that they somewhat resemble a boxer after a boxing match. So, how does one get rid of puffy eyes?

But first, let’s find out the cause. According to a dermatologist, when you get puffy eyes, it means there’s swelling of tissues around the eyes, usually because of irritation. There’s an inflammation. And because the skin around the eyes is loose, it easily swells. Dermatologists state that the swelling is a natural consequence and cannot be prevented under such circumstances. The key, therefore, is to speed up its subsiding. How?

Cucumber slices.

Place a cold slice of cucumber over each eyelid for a few minutes. Lay back and relax. These have soothing and drying effects which can be helpful.

Herbal tea bags.

Place one over each eyelid. These contain tannic acid that come from tea leaves, which are also used on laboratory procedures.

Cold water/ice pack.

Splash cold water on eyes repeatedly, or place an ice pack over your eyes for a few minutes. Cold water or any cold compress decreases tissue swelling. But ice cubes or an ice pack may be too cold that it can burn the skin. Putting it in a towel first would help.

What about those dark circles under that eyes that you sometimes get when you haven’t been getting enough sleep? Dermatologists suggest using a moisturizer.

When you don’t get enough sleep, the skin is stressed and it darkens. A moisturizer would help, not only when you stay up late but as a normal part of your regimen.

Make-up products with less perfumes are your best bets, as there is less of a chance for possible allergic reactions. You should also use your own make-up tools as an anti-skin irritation measure. Sharing in this case is not the best route to take, so keep your shadow brushes and mascara wands to yourself!