Puffy eyes are no way to start the day.
When it comes to beauty, the eyes are truly the windows to the face. So when your ‘windows’ are overly puffy, or ringed in dark circles, it can be hard to let your natural beauty shine through.
I am a huge proponent of not caring what you look like in the morning (spoiler alert: we all look terrible), but I know how the way you look can affect your self esteem for the rest of the day.
The good news is that puffy eyes are treatable. Lack of sleep, allergies, or overly salty food are all causes of puffy eyes, and while there are a slew of over-the-counter beauty products to combat this phenomenon, there are natural remedies too.
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Here are five natural remedies to help fight puffy eyes.
Exercise– Of these remedies, exercise is probably the most time consuming, but its also my favorite! Puffy eyes are often caused by a buildup of lymphatic fluid, which can be massaged away, or drained by getting in some movement. So even if you just walk around the block or do 10 minutes of jumping jacks, getting a little exercise in the morning will help with both your fitness goals and your puffy eyes.
Cold compress– A cold compress to the eyes in the morning not only gets rid of puffy eyes, but also wakes you up better than a cup of coffee. You can wrap ice in a soft cloth, keep your eye mask chilled in the fridge, or even use a pack of frozen vegetables.
Chamomile tea bags– Chamomile tea has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, and the tea bags always feel like a waste to throw away. So stow your used tea bags in the freezer, and pull them out in the mornings to help you put your best face forward.
Cucumber slices– I know we have seen this a million times, but cucumber slices on the eyes work because they have powerful antioxidants and flavonoids which reduce irritation. So if you have puffy eyes, four or five minutes under a pair of cucumber slices should get you looking right.
Lifestyle changes. Alas, your puffy eyes may be caused by the way you live your life. To reduce your risk, get enough sleep at night, drink more water, exercise, eat less salty foods, and don’t drink or smoke too much.
Since a complete lifestyle change is the most difficult and time consuming of these remedies, feel free to try everything else first.