Want to reduce bags under your eyes? We’ve put together some tips.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve had a rough night’s sleep or you’re getting older and feel you constantly have bags under your eyes; no-one wants their eyes to look puffy and tired.
Everywhere you look, it seems like there’s a new ‘miracle’ product on the market, promising to rid us of our under-eye bags and make us look like we’re sixteen again. However, with lofty price tags and no real guarantee they’ll work, opting for natural alternatives is wise.
Below, we’ve put together some natural skincare techniques that you can add to your routine to help reduce the appearance of under-eye bags and look as fresh as a daisy, every day…
Stay hydrated
One of the most common contributors to under-eye bags is dehydration, so make sure you stay hydrated and drink at least two litres of water per day. And for every diuretic you drink, such as coffee and caffeinated soft drinks, you should drink an extra glass or two of water.
Water makes up 60% of our body weight, and increasing your intake helps to deliver more vital nutrients to your skin cells, replenish skin tissue and increase skin elasticity, reducing the chances of fine lines and indeed bags under the eyes. The more you drink, the better!
If you’re not a fan of plain water, opt for a sparkling or flavoured variety, or add some fruits to your water bottle to add a natural flavour boost without relying on aspartame enhancers.
Teabags
Teabags aren’t just for sipping!
Once you’ve finished your brew and the bags have cooled off, place two of them on your eyes (in the same way you would a cucumber slice) for twenty minutes to give them a boost.
Caffeine in tea contains tonnes of antioxidants which are great for your skin, whilst green teabags contain EGCG, which shifts swelling and discolouration.
Makeup
It’s so important to wash your face before you go to bed.
We get it: it can be tempting to sleep in a full face of makeup or forget about your eyelashes after a glass or two of wine, but sleeping in your makeup can cause eye irritation, allergic reactions and even infections, which will cause even more redness and puffiness.
Research also shows that forgetting to take off your makeup on a night can cause wrinkles and long-term damage to your skin. When you sleep in your mascara and blusher, you’re exposing your face to free radicals which creates oxidative stress, prematurely ageing you.
Try Oralift
If you’ve got permanent bags under your eyes or droopy eyes, you might want to consider the Oralift facial rejuvenation device. Users around the world depend on our non-invasive DIY tool to rejuvenate their face and counteract the harmful effects of ageing.
Oralift is a mouthguard and works by separating the teeth much wider than usual to create a new freeway space. Over time, this repair process releases a Mechano Growth Factor, which triggers the body’s healing and rejuvenation process and helps you to look younger.
Oralift users have reported a whole host of benefits, not least including brighter and larger eyes with no more unwanted droopiness or bags – all without having to go under the knife.
Eye creams
If you have dark circles and dark bags under your eyes, you might want to consider using an under-eye cream. Whether your dark circles are caused by genetics, pigmentation, allergies, or thinning skin, there are thousands of eye creams on the market designed to reduce them.
Permanent dark circles and bags? Consider a skin lightening cream with an active ingredient called hydroquinone, which can even out your skin tone and make dark circles less visible.
Be careful when using hydroquinone, though – its positive benefits only work out of the sun, so such creams should be applied before bed and removed before heading out for the day.
Potatoes
If you’ve got bags under your eyes and need an instant fix before a night out or an interview, turn to potatoes. Slice a raw potato and put some over your eyes, like you would a cucumber or a teabag. Give it twenty minutes, and you’ll notice a big difference to your baggy eyes.
The enzymes and the astringent properties in potatoes can reduce inflammation and tighten your skin, and they’ll reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles in the process.
Vitamin C
Our muscles and tissues around our eyes weaken as we get older, causing our skin to sag and droop. Don’t fear: with the right diet, you can give your skin around your eyes a boost.
Vitamin C can help your body produce more collagen and absorb more hyaluronic acid, so up your intake of oranges, red peppers, strawberries, and watermelon to reverse those bags.
Sleep
Finally, a quick word on sleep.
Though a lack of sleep might not actually be the cause of your circles and bags, getting as much sleep as you can will give you the best possible chances of plump, healthy skin.
Aim for six to eight hours every night, and set a sleep schedule or routine to train your body.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and food before bedtime and turn off your TV and smartphone for an hour or two before you hit the hay, opting for a book or some relaxing music instead. And if you can’t sleep, get up and do something productive for an hour – tire out your eyes with a book or do some household chores to take your mind off things. Don’t flick through Twitter!
These techniques should help reduce bags under your eyes. Give them a go, let us know your results over on social media, and check back soon for more anti-ageing tips and tricks.