Bags under the eyes are not a pretty sight. They are a result of moderate swelling or puffiness that develops as you get older. The tissues surrounding your eyes, especially the muscles that support your eyelids, lose flexibility as you get older. They frequently make you appear fatigued and sleepy.
One of the most likely causes of under-eye bags is exhaustion. Other typical factors include stress and water retention. Getting rid of puffy eyes is a simple task that can be easily done at home.
Keep reading to learn about some simple and natural cures for eye bags. Scroll down!
How To Get Rid Of Eye Bags – 16 Effective Remedies
- Tea Bags
- Essential Oils
- Witch Hazel
- Coconut Oil
- Coffee Grounds
- Cold Spoon
- Baking Soda
- Cucumber
- Egg White Mask
- Aloe Vera
- Petroleum Jelly
- Potato
- Salt Water Or Saline
- Strawberry Jam
- Lemon Juice
- Vitamin K
1. Reduce Puffy Eyes With Tea Bags
(a) Warm Tea Bags
Applying tea bags can help reduce bags under the eyes. It doesn’t matter whether the tea is green or black. The caffeine in it helps reduce the swelling that is usually caused as a result of fluid accumulation in the area (1).
You Will Need
- Teabags
- Warm water
What You Have To Do
- Soak two tea bags in warm water for around 5 minutes.
- Put the warm tea bags over your eyelids.
- Cover them with a soft cloth and leave them for about half an hour.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat the process a few times a day.
(b) Green Tea Bags
Green tea contains antioxidants that rejuvenate the skin around your eyes and help decrease swelling, redness, and puffiness of the retina. It contains tannins that help reduce inflammation (2).
You Will Need
- Green tea bags
- Cold water
What You Have To Do
- Refrigerate the tea bags.
- Place the cold tea bags on your eyelids for 10-15 minutes.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat the process a few times in a day to see faster results.
2. Essential Oils For Puffy Eyes
Lavender oil has a calming and soothing effect on the skin and nerves (3). Lemon oil aids in relieving stress and also contains natural antioxidants (4), ( 5). These can make the skin under the eyes healthier and toned. Chamomile possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties (6). These properties can help relieve puffiness under the eyes.
You Will Need
- 1 drop lavender oil
- 1 drop lemon oil
- 1 drop chamomile oil
- 1 teaspoon water
What You Have To Do
- Mix the essential oils and blend them well in the water.
- Gently massage this oil under your eyes before going to bed. Leave it on overnight.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat this every night.
Caution: Be careful while massaging as the essential oils can irritate your eye if they come in contact with it.
3. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a natural astringent, and it also has a tightening effect on the skin (7). You can easily get rid of swollen eyes with this remedy.
You Will Need
- 2-3 tablespoons witch hazel
- Cotton pads
What You Have To Do
- Soak cotton pads in cold witch hazel for a minute.
- Wring out the excess and place the pads on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat this 2-3 times a day.
4. Coconut Oil
Lauric acid and other components of coconut oil possess anti-inflammatory properties (8). It also provides essential nutrients to the skin and moisturizes it (9). Regular application of coconut oil can help minimize eye bags.
You Will Need
Extra virgin coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Massage the oil around your eyes with clean fingers in a clockwise and anti-clockwise motion for a few minutes.
- Leave it on overnight.
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this every night before going to bed.
5. Coffee Grounds For Puffy Eyes
The caffeine in the coffee has anti-inflammatory effects and can reduce swelling and puffiness (1). Black pepper has antioxidant properties (10). These properties can help protect your skin from free radical damage and make the skin cells present in the under-eye area healthier. Make sure you avoid direct contact with the eyes. Coconut oil moisturizes the skin and gives it a natural glow.
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coffee beans
- A pinch of black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Cotton or face wipe
What You Have To Do
- Mix the ingredients and apply the mixture under your eyes carefully. Do not get any of it in your eyes.
- Leave it on for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Wipe away gently with wet cotton or a face wipe.
How Often You Need To Do This
You can do this a few times a week.
6. Cold Spoon
Cold steel teaspoons help to relax the blood vessels and reduce swelling (11). This can help in reducing the puffiness in the under-eye area.
You Will Need
4-5 steel teaspoons
What You Have To Do
- Place the teaspoons in the refrigerator for half an hour.
- Place the spoon on your eyes with the curved side facing downwards. Hold this position for about 15 to 20 minutes.
When You Need To Do This
Use this cold compress method 2 times a day.
7. Baking Soda
Baking soda promotes blood flow and reduces eye bags. Its grainy texture acts as a natural exfoliant that sloughs off the dead skin cells from the under-eye.
Caution: If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test before proceeding with this remedy.
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup hot water
- Cotton pads
What You Have To Do
- Mix the baking soda well in water and soak the cotton pads in it.
- Remove the excess water and place the pads on your eyes. Leave them on for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the pads and rinse your face with cold water.
- Pat dry and moisturize.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat this 1-2 times a day.
8. Cucumber
Chilled cucumbers are one of the best home remedies to get rid of eye bags. Cucumbers reduce irritation, while the cooling effect reduces swelling (12). This remedy does not only help to treat eye bags but also helps to get rid of dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes.
You Will Need
Cucumber slices
What You Have To Do
- Place the slices in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove them from the refrigerator and place the cold slices over your eyelids.
- Leave them on for 10 to 15 minutes.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat it several times a day.
9. Egg White Mask For Puffy Eyes
Egg white stiffens when applied on the skin. This helps tighten the skin and banish under-eye bags and wrinkles. However, there is insufficient research to prove the effect of egg white on puffy eyes.
You Will Need
- 1 egg white
- A soft brush or a cloth
What You Have To Do
- Whip the egg white in a bowl thoroughly until it becomes stiff.
- Using a soft brush or a cloth, apply the egg white under your eyes and let it dry for some time.
- Wash it off using lukewarm water after 15 minutes.
How Often You Need To Do This
Once a day.
10. Aloe Vera For Puffy Eyes
Aloe vera contains essential vitamins and antioxidants (13). It not only reduces puffiness under the eyes but also tones the skin and has anti-aging effects.
You Will Need
Fresh aloe vera gel
What You Have To Do
- Apply the gel under your eyes and let it dry for 8-10 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water.
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this 2 times a day.
11. Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly repairs, heals, and moisturizes the skin (14). It can also reduce inflammation, irritation, and soreness. However, there are insufficient scientific studies to prove the effect of petroleum jelly in reducing under-eye bags.
You Will Need
Petroleum jelly
What You Have To Do
Massage petroleum jelly under and around your eyes for a few minutes before going to bed.
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this every night.
12. Potato
This is a popular remedy for under-eye bags and dark circles. Potatoes contain enzymes and vitamin C that nourish the skin and make it younger-looking (15). They can also help relieve tiredness.
You Will Need
- 1 potato
- A soft cloth
What You Have To Do
- Peel a medium-sized potato and grate it.
- Collect the shavings in a cotton cloth and tie it up.
- Place this cloth over your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes.
How Often You Need To Do This
Use this remedy 2-3 times a day.
13. Salt Water Or Saline
Saltwater reduces inflammation (16). However, stay away from food containing a high concentration of salt as salt-intense foods can cause puffy eyes.
You Will Need
- 1-quart warm water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Eye pads or cotton balls
What You Have To Do
- Mix the salt with the warm water in a bowl.
- Soak eye pads (or you can even use cotton balls) in this warm saline water and place them over your eyelids. Keep them on for some time.
- Make sure that the cloth is a clean one. Otherwise, it will do more harm than good.
How Often You Need To Do This
Follow this procedure every night before sleeping.
14. Strawberry Jam
Strawberries contain polysaccharides that possess anti-inflammatory properties (17). Daily application of strawberries can help you get rid of puffy eyes.
You Will Need
Organic strawberry jam
What You Have To Do
- Apply the jam carefully under your eyes and leave it on for 10 to 12 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water.
How Often You Need To Do This
Repeat this once every day.
15. Lemon Juice
The vitamin C in the lemon juice removes toxins from your tired and puffy eyes. Lemon also possesses anti-inflammatory properties (18). This remedy can also help you get rid of dark circles under your eyes as lemon juice contains acids that have skin-lightening properties (19). Animal studies showed that cow milk has significant beneficial effects on the skin. It decreased inflammation and increased collagen production in the affected area (20).
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon full-fat milk or cream
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Mix the lemon juice with milk or cream.
- Soak the cotton ball in this mixture and apply it gently under the eyes.
- Let it air dry. Rinse with cool water.
How Often You Need To Do This
Do this 2 times a day.
16. Vitamin K For Puffy Eyes
The deficiency of vitamin K in the body can cause your eyes to swell up and form eye bags. It is essential to have a healthy diet that includes vitamin K-rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, sprouts, carrots, strawberries, and liver. Vitamin K has wound-healing activities and promotes the formation of collagen (21). This can help in making the skin under your eyes firmer and smoother.
Apart from these remedies, here are some medical treatment options for under-eye bags.
Medical Treatment For Bags Under Eyes
1. Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Blepharoplasty surgery may involve removing excess muscle, fat, or skin to fix droopy eyelids (22). Stretched or saggy eyelids can weaken the muscles supporting them. As a result, excess fat gets accumulated above or below the eyelids. This surgery targets these fats to remove the bags.
2. Microneedling
Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed by dermatologists to treat different skin conditions. The process involves the insertion of fine needles into the skin, which rebuilds the derma. It helps improve the production of collagen and firms saggy and stretchy skin.
3. Medications
Consult your doctor about over-the-counter medications. If the puffiness is caused by an allergy, anti-allergy medicines can help.
Here are some preventive tips you should keep in mind to avoid the formation of bags under the eyes.
Prevention Tips
- Reduce salt in your diet.
- Get enough sleep.
- Remove makeup before going to bed.
- Exercise regularly.
- Do not consume alcohol regularly.
- Exfoliate your skin regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of tea bag is good for puffy eyes?
You can use a regular tea bag or a green tea bag to get rid of puffy eyes. Both work well in reducing puffiness and baggy skin.
What causes a puffy eye?
We all have fat in our body that is held in place by muscles and ligaments. But, as we get older, the muscles start weakening, and everything starts to sag, making the fats more visible. This happens to our faces as well. The collagen levels decline with age, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and sag. One of the major reasons people get eye bags is because they are hereditary. Some of the most common causes of puffy eyes are listed below:
- Lack of sleep and fatigue
- Stress
- Aging
- Salty food
- Lack of exercise
- Dermatitis
- Sinus infections
- Fluid (water) retention
Why are my eyes so puffy in the morning?
We do not realize this, but blinking is an essential exercise for the muscles around our eyes. While we sleep, we do not blink, and this can result in fluid retention in the under-eye area. This causes swelling or edema. This puffiness in your eyes usually goes away once you open your eyes and start blinking.
How to get rid of puffy eyes from crying?
We have listed many home remedies that you can use to get rid of puffy eyes. If crying is the reason for the puffiness, we recommend using cooling and soothing remedies that will also ease the burning sensation and irritation that has resulted from crying. Some of the remedies that you can use are tea bags, cold spoon, cucumber, and aloe vera.
How long does it take to recover from eye bags?
The exact duration of recovery from eye bags is hard to determine and depends on several factors, including the individual’s health and skin type. However, if you have undergone surgery to remove your eye bags, recovery from the associated redness and swelling can take anywhere between 7 to 14 days.
Can thyroid issues cause bags under your eyes?
Yes, Graves’ disease is a thyroid condition that results in the excess production of thyroid hormones. These elevated hormone levels can lead to inflammation and swelling around the eyes (23).
Can low iron levels cause bags under your eyes?
No, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that low iron levels can cause bags under your eyes. However, low levels of iron may lead to dark circles under the eyes (24).
Does B12 deficiency cause bags under your eyes?
No, there are no studies indicating that a vitamin B12 deficiency causes under-eye bags. However, studies suggest that vitamin B12 deficiency may result in increased pigmentation under the eyes (24).
