Puffy eyes — the bane of many people’s mornings. Whether it’s due to lack of sleep, allergies, or lifestyle factors, dealing with swollen, tired eyes is not the way we want to start our day. Fortunately, there are ways to start the day feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the morning.
Stay Hydrated:
- Dehydration can exacerbate overall puffiness. Make sure you’re drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated, reduce water retention and puffiness around the eyes.
Get Sufficient Sleep:
- Lack of sleep is an obvious culprit behind puffy eyes. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to allow your body to rejuvenate properly. Establishing a consistent sleep schedule can also help regulate your body’s internal clock and prevent fluid retention around the eyes.
Elevate Your Head While Sleeping:
- Elevating your head while sleeping can prevent fluid from pooling around your eyes, thereby reducing puffiness in the morning. Use an extra pillow or invest in a wedge pillow to keep your head elevated during sleep.
Reduce Salt Intake:
- High sodium intake can lead to water retention, so be mindful of your salt consumption and try to limit processed and salty foods. Opt for home cooked meals so that you can control the amount of salt you are ingesting and include an abundance of fruits and vegetables, which are naturally low in sodium.
Apply a compress:
- Cold compresses can constrict blood vessels around the eyes, reducing swelling. When the eyes feel hot and irritated you can use chilled cucumber slices and place them over your closed eyelids for 5-10 minutes.
A warm compress placed over the eyes for 5-10 minutes, on the other hand will increase blood circulation around the area to decrease local swelling and should be used in most cases.
Use Tea Bags:
- Green tea contains anti-oxidant properties that can help reduce puffiness and can refresh tired eyes.
Whilst chamomile or chrysanthemum tea would be suitable to soothe hot and irritated eyes.
After brewing a cup of tea, wait for the teabags to cool down until they are a tolerable temperature, then place them over your closed eyelids for a refreshing eye treatment.
Massage the Eye Area:
- Gently massaging the area around your eyes can promote lymphatic drainage and reduce fluid retention. Gua Sha is fantastic for this, but if you don’t have a Gua Sha tool you can use your ring finger to apply light pressure in circular motions around the eyes, starting from the inner corners and moving outwards.
Stay Consistent with Skincare:
- Establishing a consistent skincare routine that includes gentle cleansing, moisturising, and sunscreen can help maintain the health and elasticity of the skin around your eyes, preventing puffiness and other signs of ageing.
Manage Allergies:
- Allergies can cause inflammation and puffiness around the eyes. If you suffer from allergies, it’s important to identify triggers and develop a treatment plan to manage and prevent symptoms.
Remember, consistency is key, so to achieve the best results: be patient and invest some time into not only looking better, but feeling better too.
Book in with one of our team members today to help you manage your symptoms of puffy eyes!
Liah
