Ask the Experts: How to Ban Puffy Eyes for Good

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Late nights and early mornings are often associated with the daily grind but also with the unsexy aftereffect of tired, puffy eyes. But if you think lack of sleep is the only culprit, think again. “With aging, a piece of tissue located under the eyes called the septum becomes thin. Normal fat pads located beneath the septum can then herniate (break through), causing a bulge under the eyes,” explains consulting dermatologist for Clark’s Botanicals Dr. Donna Bilu Martin.

Diet can also become a key player in bags under eyes and excessive puffiness. Avoiding salty foods or checking the labels on certain processed foods may save you grief later. If you end up overdoing it with seasoning (or even alcohol), rehydrating with water before bed can help. Plus, let’s not forget the thin, delicate skin area can also be damaged over time by sun exposure and environmental toxins (like smoking), which lead to excess sagging and wrinkling.

“Eye puffiness is the result of an excessive amount of fluid retention in the connective tissue surrounding the eyes,” explains dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler. “We most commonly deal with the weakened ligaments that hold the fat back and eventually let the fat fall forward and bulge. The bags under eyes become more prominent when circulation is stagnant while sleeping and become fluid overloaded.”

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The first reflex may be to simply reach for an eye cream, but finding products that actually stimulate collagen (the plumping factor) and incorporating a daily sunscreen are key. Board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Dr. Ashley Magovern is a fan of products that contain vitamin C (like tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate), niacinamide (vitamin B3) and peptides.

[ Before You Buy: We Rank the Best and Worst Eye Creams ]

“As your undereye area gets stronger, if you can add in a product that contains a retinoid, that’s ideal,” adds Magovern. “Ceramides are one of the best ways to maintain your skin barrier and using a ceramide-dominant moisturizing product is great (can use all over your face, but include the eye area). This will help prevent any inflammation and irritation and allow you to be more successful in using the more active ingredients, which can sometimes cause some inflammation.”

How much sleep you actually need varies from person to person. But if you aren’t catching enough, you may notice that your eyes look dull, red and unavoidably puffy. “Healthy sleep habits can go a long way when it comes to both undereye puffiness and dark circles,” adds Magovern, “This will work better than any eye cream.” Try propping an extra pillow (or two) under your head — this can prevent the liquid from storing up overnight and cause fluid to drain downward.

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“If you have dark undereye circles and/or are hollow, you can use light-reflecting makeup and highlighters underneath your eyes,” advises Dr. Jason B. Diamond, a facial plastic surgeon. First, using eye drops can help whiten your eyes, which reads as healthy and bright. Next, an all-power concealer can help disguise dark circles plus new color-correcting formulas can be custom blended to disguise imperfections. Final touches, like hints of highlights (on the brow bone) and lush curled lashes, will really make your eyes pop.

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Don’t underestimate at-home hacks, such as the tried-and-true cucumber slices and caffeinated tea bags. “It is absolutely helpful to use [these] DIY remedies,” explains Wexler. “Both decrease fluid within the fat, green tea [bags] can also decrease inflammation.” 

[ Beauty DIY: Cucumber Green Tea Eye Pads ]

For those seeking a more permanent solution for how to get rid of bags under eyes, there are a few things to actually consider. Make sure you choose a surgeon who is board certified and fellowship trained in the surgery that will be performed. “It can be confusing, as there as some physicians performing cosmetic surgeries who may not have the same training and certifications as others,” explains Magovern. “It’s always a good idea to get a few consultations.”

According to Diamond, “Different surgical procedures address each problem and it is important to have a thorough understanding of which problem one has so that the most appropriate and effective method can be performed. If not, the problems can worsen.”