6 Tips for Naturally Reducing Under Eye Puffiness

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Okay, full disclosure. I just woke up from a nine hour, nap? How’d that happen? It was nighttime when I went to sleep, and now it’s nearing high noon. And before the sleep police come after me waving their pitchforks spiked with espresso, here’s the one downside – I now have puffy eyes that look like I stuffed my face in a basket full of pollen-dipped cats. But there must be a way to get much-deserved (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it) sleep without looking like an inflated version of yourself. And there must be a way to do it naturally, right?

Puffy eyes are caused by a myriad of issues. Hormones can cause water retention – yes, even around your eyes. At the same time, dehydration can also puff out your eyes, be it from a hangover or just too little liquid. Medication, heredity, and allergies are also culprits. One beauty expert advises that you should treat your eyes like you would the skin of the newborn baby. Since most of my friends have puffy eyes from lack of sleep due to a newborn baby – see how it’s all cyclical? – it won’t be hard to make this connection.

The solution?

Awhile back, I wrote about some eco-friendly and/or natural products for your eyes. Click here to peruse what’s new on the natural cosmetics market. Or check out these natural tips for deflating your eyes from fatty to fab.

  1. Some suggest gently (may we emphasize the gently) tapping your eyes where the fluid seems to be. This can encourage fluid to disperse and drain more easily.
  2. Drink as much water as possible. Yes, it seems counter-intuitive when you are retaining water, but hydrating will reduce puffiness. So down a glass of H2O next time your notice your eyes making like a mask.
  3. Get enough sleep. (Done and done!) Too little sleep will cause puffy eyes. But too much may as well. Walk the line.
  4. Use an ice pack over your eyes for as long as you can stand it. This will lessen the look of fatigue and puffiness. Chilled cucumbers may achieve the same result.
  5. Create a potato eye mask. Peel one small potato. Shred it, and then place it in clean gauze. Cover your eyes for ten minutes. Rinse off with water of cold chamomile tea.
  6. And for the truly creative or just fall-festive – peel and seed a slice of pumpkin. Cook it in two cups of water until it is soft, and then mush it with a teaspoon of honey. Please inside clean gauze and cover your eyes for ten minutes. Go the extra green mile and make your ingredients all organic.

Image: kaleid

Katherine Butler

Katherine Butler is the Beauty Editor of EcoSalon and currently resides in Los Angeles, California.