I've had bags under my eyes for as long as I can remember, and I'm sure most of you are the same. No one likes them, and it's no fun having to cover them up with makeup all the time. I remember thinking I would never have them, but then I hit my 20s and I was sadly mistaken.
Luckily, there are a few ways to deal under-eye bags that don't involve expensive products from the drug store. In fact, most of the products are probably already in the house, specifically your kitchen!
1. Tomatoes
Did you know that tomatoes have bleaching properties in them? That makes them perfect for getting rid of those unsightly bags. Mix 1 teaspoon of tomato juice and half a teaspoon of lemon juice and apply the mixture under your eyes. Let this sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse it off with water. You'll need to do this a few times, about twice a week for four weeks, but you'll be able to see a difference.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the hottest products right now, and for good reason. Because of the vitamin E and anti-oxidants, damaged skin cells are able to repair themselves, which then makes the bags under your eyes less noticeable. All you have to do is apply extra-virgin coconut oil under your eyes before bed, then rinse it off in the morning with warm water. You'll also notice your eyes are less puffy, and you can thank the anti-inflammatory properties for that!
3. Tea Bags
Caffeinated tea is a part of many peoples' morning routines, and now it can be part of your beauty routine, as well! After you've steeped your tea, chill the tea bags for a few minutes. Place a bag on each eye and let them sit for five minutes. Remove the tea bags and rinse your eyes with cold water. You should notice a difference fairly quickly, around a week.
4. Rose Water
Rose water not only smells amazing, but it also rejuvenates your skin. Take a cotton pad and soak it in rose water for about three minutes. Close your eyes and place the pad on your eyes for about 15 minutes. If you follow this routine twice daily for two to three weeks, you'll notice the quickest results.
5. Cucumber
This one is pretty well known, but in case you forgot, cucumber slices on your eyes will help reduce the circles under your eyes thanks to the natural healing properties of the vegetable. Keep the slices on your eyes for about 10 minutes, then rinse the area with water. You should be doing this twice a day for the best results.
6. Cold Milk
The lactic acid in the milk will help reduce puffiness and discoloration under your eyes, which is the ultimate goal. Soak two cotton balls or pads in cold milk, then put them under your eyes for about five minutes. Rinse off the milk once you're done.
7. Sleep
Easier said than done, I know, but sleep is the ultimate solution to dark circles under your eyes. Not only can lack of sleep enhance the discoloration under your eyes, it can also make you look more pale, which then accentuate the problem. Getting at least seven or either hours of sleep each night is a great way to help prevent and treat the bags under your eyes.
8. Elevation
When you're sleeping, fluid can pool under your eyes, which then makes them puffy and dark in the morning. An easy fix to this is adding an extra pillow while you sleep to keep your head elevated. This will help stop the fluid from sitting under your eyes.
9. Lemon Juice
No, you don't have to rinse your eyes with lemon juice (ouch!) But adding it to the tomatoes or cucumbers you're going to use can help reduce puffiness and discoloration. You can also soak a cotton ball in lemond juice, then rub it around your eyes, making sure not to actually get any in your eyes. Leave the juice on for about 10 minutes, then rinse it with cool water. Do this once a day for a few weeks and you'll definitely notice a difference.
10. Cold Compress
I put a cold compress on my eyes when I have a migraine, but it also helps to reduce the puffiness and discoloration under your eyes! The blood vessels around the area can dilate, making the bags under your eyes look darker. By applying a cold compress for about 10 minutes a day, you'll cause the blood vessels to constrict, which in turn can makes the circles look less dark.
11. Sun Protection
When you're going outside, even in the winter, you should be protecting your face from the sun. Over-exposure to sunlight can increase the appearance of dark circles under your eyes. Try a moisturizer that has sun protection to prevent those under-eye bags.
12. Almond Oil
By using a mixture of almond oil and vitamin E before bed time, you can help reduce the dark circles under your eyes. Gently massage the mixture under your eyes right before you go to sleep, then wash it off in the morning with cold water. There's no real timeline on how long you need to do this, but just keep doing it every night until you notice the dark circles disappearing.
13. Carefully Removing Makeup
While it's extremely important to take off your makeup before bed, you should be doing it carefully. In an interview with Good Housekeeping, Paula Begoun, founder of a skincare line called Paula's Choice, cautions that harshly rubbing your makeup off can cause the dark circles under your eyes.
"That constant tugging and pulling at the delicate skin around the eye increases sagging and, as a result, can look darker than the skin around it," says Begoun. "Pulling as little as possible around the eyes can make a big difference over time."
Dark circles are something we all live with, but we don't have to!
[H/T: Good Housekeeping, The Active Times, Healthline]
