If life wasn’t giving you enough emotional and mental baggage already, the baggage under your eyes is the last thing you probably want to deal with. However, that puffiness or under eye bags are one of the grooming problems that many of us have to struggle with on a regular basis. Especially now that most of our daily routine involves binge-watching movies and shows for unlimited hours, not getting enough sleep, not staying hydrated and basically making poor lifestyle choices.

Ageing is another factor for puffy eyes and dark circles, but we can’t really do anything about growing old. As we age, our skin tends to lose collagen and elasticity over time. This becomes particularly visible in the area around the eyes, between the tissues and muscles that support our eyelids, where the skin is especially thin and delicate. A pouch of fluid can also accumulate in the space under your eyes, making them swell. In the morning, this puffiness is even more pronounced, as the pouches have had all night to settle and expand.

Eye bags shouldn’t be confused with dark circles under eyes, which produce a blue-like ring under your peepers, giving you a ‘panda eye’ effect. Caused by a breakage of fragile blood vessels that result in this colour, dark circles under eyes are often accompanied by eye bags, too.

However, what you can do is improve your lifestyle, invest a little more to take care of the most sensitive area of your skin, make some changes in your grooming regime and you will have one less baggage to deal with. We’re sure you’ve probably heard umpteen times by now about drinking enough water, have low sodium food, get enough sleep and more. So, let’s talk about the grooming tips and tricks that can help you get rid of those bags under your eyes.

The tips to reduce bags under the eyes and rejuvenate in a flash

Sleep 7-8 hours every night and prop up your pillow

Sleeping with your head slightly elevated can help prevent fluid from building up around your eyes while you sleep.

Do some eye gymnastics

 Try out these easy-peasy eye exercises to pamper your overworked peepers.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol

Dehydration can make the skin around your peepers saggy and sad. Make sure to drink plenty of water. And avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can be dehydrating.

Apply tea bags on your eyelids

After boiling the tea bags in hot water, allow them to cool down in the fridge, and place them over your eyes – caffeine has handy antioxidant properties that boost blood circulation.

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Put cucumber slices on your eyelids

You can’t beat the refreshing, and super-soothing effect of a chilled cucumber slice on your eyelid – potatoes can also be used as an alternative.

Rest cold spoons on your eyelids

Put some spoons in the fridge, before placing on your eyelids.

Drink plenty of water

Yup – you should be drinking 2 litres of water every day.

Embrace a healthy diet

Incorporate foods for eye health into your diet that are high in omega-3 fatty acids and nutrients. Fresh fish, nuts, seeds, and oranges, berries and kale are all bursting with antioxidants.

Quit smoking

Apart from being a general health tip, smoking does weaken the skin under your eyes – just another reason to kick this habit to the curb.

Invest in a good eye cream

As the skin around our eyes is ultra-fragile and thin – we need to look after it. Adding a high-quality cream from a trusted brand to your eye care routine can help hydrate, nourish and protect the area. To pamper the skin around the eyes, consider these skin-soothing ingredients: retinol, caffeine, vitamin C, antioxidants.

Is eye bag surgery a thing?

For a longer-lasting fix, plastic surgery is also an option. In a blepharoplasty procedure, plastic surgeons redistribute fat around the eyes and remove extra skin to banish bags for good.

The right solution for eye bags depends on your budget, your anatomy and how much the bags are bugging you.

If at-home tools aren’t doing the trick, these medical treatment and in-office procedures can help treat under-eye bags:

Laser resurfacing can tighten skin and improve its texture.

Botox injections can relax some muscles around the eyes. Botox can also lift the brow, which can help people who have a bulgy or droopy upper eyelid.

Fillers can plump up hollows beneath the eyes, and can help lift the cheek and make a smooth, continuous curve from the lower eyelid to the upper cheek, instead of a hollow spot.

Whatever you choose, it’s nice to know there are ways to shed your excess baggage.