Home Remedies: Puffy Eyes

Chances are, you’ve woken up at some point with puffy or “tired” eyes, which is a fast-track way to make you look worse than you feel. The good news is there are some things you can do at home to get rid of them. Here are a few tips for soothing away your puffy eyes before your next early morning meeting.

Everyday Treatments
There are several at-home remedies that can help dissipate those puffy eye problems without having to resort to a visit to the doctor. These include:

• A chilled tea bag – The cold and ingredients in the tea will help reduce swelling and help you look more awake.
• Egg whites – Whip an egg white or two until they’re stiff, then brush it under your eyes. This will help tighten your skin.
• Cold cucumber slices – Not just for the movies, these slices help the puffiness fade.
• Cold strawberries – Avoid this treatment if you’re allergic to strawberries. Otherwise these fruit slices can help relieve swelling.
• Cotton balls soaked in cold milk – A few minutes with these on each eye will work wonders for that tired look.
• Chilled spoons – If you prefer to avoid turning your face into a salad bar, a couple of spoons chilled in the refrigerator and allowed to rest on each eye work just as well.
• Splashes of cool water – If you’re in a rush, a few splashes of cold water to your face can help. The cold blast will help reduce swelling as well as provide a chilly wake up call!

Long-Term Changes

If puffy eyes are a persistent problem, long-term changes may be necessary. Consider the following:

• Sleep – It isn’t called “beauty sleep” without good reason! If you aren’t sleeping enough or you’re getting poor quality sleep, it’s going to show. Strive to get eight hours of good quality, uninterrupted sleep to help keep puffy eyes at bay.
• Elevate your head while sleeping – Try keeping an extra pillow under your head to keep it elevated while you sleep. Just like an injury, keeping your head elevated will help keep down any swelling.
• Reduce your sodium intake – As you’ve likely heard from numerous doctors, consuming too much salt can lead to a number of health issues. Overconsumption will make you retain water, even in your face, leading to those puffy eyes.
• Drink more water – By drinking more water, your body will stop retaining water, and you should feel better by flushing all the other toxins from your body. Drink 64 ounces per day to make puffiness no more!
• Take a break from the screen – It’s highly likely that you work and/or play with a computer, tablet, smart phone or other device for hours each day. This can contribute to puffy eyes, not to mention eye fatigue. For every hour you are on a computer, take a five to 10 minute break and rest your eyes, or even get up and walk around for a minute. Your eyes and body will thank you for it.

Have questions about puffy eyes not answered in this post? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll answer them there!