Your eyes and skin can become puffy for all sorts of reasons, such as illness, tiredness or cold weather. For some people, puffy bags under the eyes are even a hereditary thing that seem to always be a problem!
So what causes this puffiness? It’s caused by an irregular balance of fluids between cells and this can make your skin appear dull, dehydrated and lifeless. Your dehydrated skin will cling to every last drop of moisturiser is can get, and this can lead to water retention which is what causes the puffy effect.
Luckily, whether your puffy eyes and face are caused by your genes or another factor, there are many ways to reduce puffiness. Here are my top 5 tips…
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- Use cucumbers
Everyone knows the typical photo of a woman with a face mask on and cucumber over her eyes! It’s not just random – it really works! Cucumber slices help to reduce swelling as they contain caffeic acid which assists in reducing water retention.
Cut two slices of cucumber at least 1/2cm thick and place them on your eyes. Lie back and allow them to sit for at least 10 minutes to work their magic, more if you have time.
Seeing as you’re lying back and relaxing why not do the typical thing and indulge in an anti-puff face mask at the same time? Blend together cucumber and plain yoghurt, and smother it on whilst it’s still cold from the fridge!
- Apply a cold compress to the face
Applying a cold compress to the face in the form of a damp face cloth you’ve left in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes can greatly help to reduce swelling and puffiness.
You should allow the cold compress to lie on your face for about 20 minutes, which will not only reduce swelling but also invigorate and energise the skin for a natural, healthy glow!
- Get the right amount of sleep
Sleep is a very important factor for healthy skin, even more so than your skin care routine actually, and if you don’t get enough then this can lead to puffiness of the eyes and face. Your body will not be well rested and so the face and eyes may begin to swell up with blood as your body works overtime to pump nutrients to your cells in an attempt to keep them working properly, especially if you become stressed or anxious.
Eight hours of un-interupted sleep per night is the recommended number of hours you should be getting – it will reduce puffy skin and eyes, and has a whole host of other benefits for you too such as reducing dark under-eye circles and oily skin!
- Reduce your sodium intake
Taking sodium (salt) in excess amounts can increase water retention in your body, which then shows in your face and eye area as puffiness. So if you’re suffering from particularly puffy eyes that just won’t go away, try to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet and you may find the problem clears itself up!
- Drink water
It is absolutely vital that you try to drink a lot of water each day! Eight glasses is the recommended amount on an average day – if it’s very hot or dry you need to drink more than this.
If you don’t drink enough your skin will become dehydrated, and as I described before this leads to water retention and puffiness. Well hydrated skin is also brighter, clearer and more radiant, so you really have no excuse!
If you don’t like water you can opt for any other drink such as fruit juice, milk, tea… just avoid alcohol which actually dehydrates you!
Do you have any tips I’ve missed out?
Michelle Star writes for Thea Skincare who sell only 100% natural, organic skincare products. Their soothing cucumber eye makeup remover reduces puffiness as it cleans!