Dermatologist Suneel Chilukuri recommends applying cold cucumbers over the eyes for five minutes. The cucumber juice and the cold temperature act as anti-inflammatory compresses. Dr. Jeanniton adds that chilled green tea bags make a great compress as well.
Bags under eyes are caused when the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that's usually around the eye can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can gather fluid, making the area look puffy or swollen.
"Baking soda can help remove excess oil from the skin, which may contribute to prominent pores and shine," says Zeichner. "Any real benefits for undereye bags will likely be only modest."
Others swear by apple cider vinegar to help reduce eye bags? Try putting a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into half a cup of water and gently rub it onto the skin under your eyes.
The best way to reduce them long-term is to make certain lifestyle changes. Drinking more water and applying a cold compress can help shrink eye bags quickly, but these are not long-term remedies. This is especially true if your eye bags and dark circles are genetically inherited.
Bagginess under the eyes may also be due to genetics, and in these cases, are difficult to resolve and may be more permanent. They may appear almost overnight, may develop over time, and may stay for as long as the underlying cause is unresolved.
Dark circles under the eyes may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia . In those cases, an iron supplement may be helpful to normalize blood levels.
"Applying cool spoons under the eyes can help reduce puffiness [because] the cool temperature constricts blood vessels and the pressure of the spoon against the skin enhances lymphatic drainage of excess fluid," says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner.
Cold spoons
A cold spoon will help relax the blood vessels around the eyes thus reducing puffiness. All you have to do is put 2 spoons in the fridge for around half an hour, and then place their backs on the affected area for about 10 minutes.
Stress levels affect the cortisol levels which, in turn, increase the appearance and intensity of puffiness and bags under the eyes. “That is also why those with high stress levels experience acne,” Dr. Sandy notes. Meditation is one approach to reduce stress, as is exercise.
You can reduce eye puffiness by resting a cool washcloth on your eyelids for about 10 minutes. This can help drain excess fluid from under your eyes. A compress of green or black tea bags may also do the trick. The tea contains antioxidants and caffeine that can reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels.
The excess water expands the tissues, causing them to feel and appear puffy. Another common cause of dark under-eye circles is low iron and/or B12. This deficiency can result in poor oxygenation of bodily tissues and the effects of this are shown mostly under the eyes where pronounced, bluish veins are more visible.
The Accutite non-surgical blepharoplasty is a radiofrequency device which lifts sagging under eye skin, melts subcutaneous fat, and tightens tired skin.
Aging. As you age, muscles and tissues weaken, and the fat that naturally supports the eyes can sink to the area beneath your eyes, making them appear swollen. Fluids can also collect in the area.
Eye bags can make us look and feel older and fatigued even if we are awake and alert. The causes of bags under the eyes are multifactorial and are mostly due to the natural ageing process, genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors.
Whether it's alcohol, too much salt, or dehydration causing your under-eye bags, you need to restore water into your body. Simply drinking plenty of water should plump your skin back up to smooth the temporary bags (plus get rid of any of the physical unpleasantness caused by too much alcohol or not enough water).
Quite possibly, it seems. “Banana peels help to improve your blood circulation,” Dr Tahir tells us. “That, along with their high levels of antioxidants and potassium, are thought to be the reason why banana peels help lighten the sensitive area under the eyes.
Fluid retention — such as from allergies or a salty meal — can produce puffiness. Irritation from cosmetics can cause the tissue around your eyes to swell (especially if you don't wash your face before bed). Aging causes the fat pads in the face to shrink and sink, causing bags to form.
Caffeine: Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts blood vessels. Many cosmetics companies sell eye creams with caffeine to reduce under-eye puffiness. You can also try resting chilled tea bags (caffeinated black tea) on closed eyes.
Not enough sleep
A lack of sleep can weaken the muscles around your eyes. It can also lead to a loss of collagen — the elastic tissue — under the eyes. This causes fluid to collect in the area, making the area beneath your eyes to swell up. Under-eye swelling because of little sleep may last a few hours to 24 hours.