Tiredness is one of the most common causes of under-eye bags. Stress and water retention are other common causes. Getting rid of puffy eyes is something that you can easily do at home.
Keep reading to know about easy-to-do and natural remedies for eye bags.
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.