How To Get Rid Of Puffy Eyes

If you eat right, reduce your salt intake, drink plenty of water, exercise, and get a full eight hours of sleep every night, it’s likely your mornings won’t involve waking up with puffy eyes.

Congratulations if I just described you!

For the rest of us, who don’t wake up looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, there is help for dealing with swollen, puffy eyes.

5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes

1 • Elevate Your Head

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Let’s start by identifying one of the main causes of puffy eyes: water retention. Eyes can look puffier in the morning for the simple reason that you haven’t moved around for hours. You haven’t even blinked! This creates the perfect opportunity for fluids to gather and “pool up” around your eyes, making them look puffy.

One preventative strategy is to stack up some pillows and elevate your head when you sleep.

This will encourage any water retained in your face to drain downward instead of pooling up. If you’re regularly waking up with puffy eyes, making this small change can help.

If you’re not into piling up the pillows, try a comfortable bed wedge like the one shown above.

2 • Caffeinate

Everyone knows a cup of coffee in the morning can help you wake up, but did you know that applying caffeine under your eyes can help you look awake, too?

Caffeine helps to reduce swelling under eyes by constricting blood vessels under the skin.

There are many eye creams that contain caffeine for just this reason. Some even have cooling metal applicators to help massage or roll away the puffiness. Like this one…

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No caffeinated eye cream around? No problem! Let a couple teabags steep in hot water for a few minutes, then let them cool in the refrigerator. Try the freezer for faster cooling, but don’t let them freeze. Place the tea bags over your puffy eyes and they become a cold compress with the added benefit of caffeine.

3 • Facial Massage With A Jade Roller

Before you roll your eyes at the jade roller, hear me out. You may or may not believe in all the anti-aging powers of the jade roller, but one of its claims is true: It can help to reduce puffy eyes from water retention.

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By rolling over your problem puffs, you encourage drainage of the fluid under the skin that’s causing the problem. You could also use your fingertips and moisturizer to massage your face and encourage drainage, but a jade roller is gentler on your skin, as there’s less pulling and tugging. Plus, a cold stone feels cool and refreshing.

4 • Apply A Cold Compress

Apply a cold compress to shrink that swelling!

Applying ice and frozen spoons are common recommendations, but these methods can be a little harsh if you have thin, fragile skin around your eyes like I do. (Plus I worry about the “tongue frozen to the pole” effect. Ouch!)

Instead, cold eye gel patches are fantastic for de-puffing eyes. Keep them in the fridge for cool refreshment for tired eyes. Plus you get added benefits from the serum they are soaking in!

For example, these reusable gel patches from Frownies contain antioxidants including cactus collagen, Vitamins C, B3 and E. In addition to helping de-puff, these provide hydration and brighten the eye area.

Since you’re not covering your eyes, you can still do other things in the morning like pick out an outfit or brush your teeth if you’re pressed for time.

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Keep a cooling mask in your refrigerator for those days when you have time to sit down and relax with your eyes closed.

Buy Yourself A Cooling Mask (Can Also Be Heated For Sinus Issues) On Amazon

5 • Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is known for helping to heal skin, that’s why we slather it on to treat a sunburn. It’s a powerful hydrator packed with vitamins and amino acids. Aloe is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, so it’s great for de-puffing swollen eyes. Choose an eye cream or serum that contains aloe.