10 Home Remedies for Eye Bags That Work Like a Charm!

by Rose
(London, England)

Want to get rid of those tired looking bags under the eyes quickly & permanently without the need for cosmetic surgery? Here’s 10 natural treatments & home remedies for dark circles & puffy eyes that work a treat…

QUESTION:

I have awful looking bags under my eyes that make me look older that what I really am. I know I’m no Cameron Diaz, but it would sure be nice if I could get rid of these, or at the very least, tone them down significantly so I don’t look like such a wretched old hag! Lol. Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Rose.

ANSWER:

Bags and dark circles under the eyes are two common problems that can affect people of any age. When skin tissue below the eyes weakens and sags, fluid accumulates in these pockets causing eye bags. A lack of sleep, a heavy night on the suds, poor diet, sinus problems, allergies, hormonal changes, excessive crying, physical stress… all of these can cause dark circles and (puffy) bags under the eyes. None of these really cause any long term damage though, however, with age and hereditary related under eye bags and dark circles it's a different story. These are the ones that linger and become more and more noticeable over time.

Thankfully, getting rid of dark circles and bags under the eyes is quite easy to do. There are some terrific “tried and tested” home remedies for eye bags that give exceptional results. So before you go reaching for the phone number of your local plastic surgeon (joke of course), give a few of these excellent home treatments a go first. They work like a charm!


Natural Remedy for Eye Bags #1… Cold Tea Bags: Tea contains powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that not only help reduce the swelling and redness around the eyes, they also help calm down the irritation, which is particularly useful if your eye bags are caused by an allergy.

Steep two tea bags (either black or green tea) in a cup of boiled water for 10 minutes. Squeeze both bags just enough so they aren’t dripping then place in the fridge for 30 minutes. Lie down and apply the tea bags under your eyes. Relax and leave there for 20-30 minutes. Repeat this twice daily for best results. Oh, and don’t forget to drink the cup of tea as well for extra benefit and hydration! (See next cure).


Home Remedy for Bags Under Eyes #2… Water: Dehydration definitely contributes to bags (puffiness) and dark circles under the eyes. It's also one of the main causes of skin becoming dry and wrinkled. Think about this... around 60% of your body is made up of water. When the body is dehydrated the first place you notice this dehydration is within the skin. Staying hydrated is one of the easiest things you can do to treat and reverse eye bags and eye puffiness. You should be aiming to drink at least 2 liters or half a gallon of clean filtered water (not tap water) each day to stay hydrated and reduce the swelling of those under eye bags.

How to Remove Eye Bags Remedy #3… Cold Spoons: This remedy works a treat. Using a couple of cold spoons to reduce eye bags and eye puffiness is an old folk remedy that your grandmother would have used. Placing a cold spoon over each eye relaxes the blood vessels and reduces inflammation, along with firming the skin around and under the eyes.

All you do is leave six or eight metal spoons in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes, then take out two and hold the rounded part of the spoons over each eye. Once the spoons warm return them to the refrigerator and grab two fresh spoons and repeat. Continue to do this for as long as you like, preferably for a time frame of at least 10 to 15 minutes.


Natural Remedy for Bags Under Eyes #4… Cucumber: You’ve more than likely either seen this in the movies or had it done when you went in for a beauty/pamper treatment at some point. The astringent properties in cucumbers help reduce inflammation and puffiness, along with tightening and firming the skin. Slice up a cucumber and place the slices in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. Lie down then place a slice over each eye. Leave on for around 10 minutes then replace with two fresh new slices and continue. Do this twice daily, morning and night for best results.


Home Remedy for Puffy Bags Under Eyes #5… Cold Compress: A simple but effective remedy for eye bags and dark circles. This works basically the same as the cold spoon technique. By constricting the blood vessels around the eyes you help lessen the swelling and puffiness of eye bags. Simply take a pack of frozen veggies, or a damp washcloth packed with ice, and place this under each eye, switching and alternating every 10 minutes.


Under Eye Bags Treatment #6… Lemon Juice and Milk: Lemons contain strong anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. Lemon juice also contains acids that help lighten the skin, making it a perfect remedy and treatment for dark circles. Milk is an excellent skin hydrator and nourisher. Mix a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice with a tablespoon of either full fat milk or cream. Take a cotton ball, soak it in the mixture first then gently apply to your eye bags and dark circles. Leave on for 15-20 minutes then wash off with lukewarm water. Repeat twice daily.


How to Get Rid of Eye Bags Remedy #7… Potatoes: Good old potatoes are another terrific remedy for both puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes. They contain starch, a potent anti-inflammatory and skin lightening compound. Either cut up a potato and place a slice over each eye, or grate a peeled potato and place the shavings in a thin cloth and apply this to each eye. Leave the slices on for 10-15 minutes, or with the shavings, alternate between each eye every few minutes until the swelling and puffiness goes down.


Natural Remedy for Under Eye Bags #8… Egg Whites: Yet another old folk remedy that women were using long before expensive eye creams and skin firming lotions became available. Egg whites posses strong anti-inflammatory and skin tightening properties that work a treat to reduce the puffiness of eye bags. Egg whites also help to prevent skin wrinkles and crow’s feet around the eyes due to their high vitamin and amino acid content.

Take one or two egg whites and whip thoroughly in a bowl until they become stiff. Using a soft cloth or brush, gently apply the egg whites to your eye bags and around your eyes. Leave on for at least 20-30 minutes - enough time for the egg whites to dry completely, then wash off with warm water. Apply a natural moisturizer such as organic coconut oil afterwards.


Home Remedy for Puffy Eye Bags #9… Use a Good Natural Retinol Cream: Retinol is imperative for healthy collagen production. Without enough collagen skin begins to sag, particularly under the eyes. Retinol is also very good for helping to fade dark spots on the skin, making it a handy remedy if you have dark circles under your eyes as well as puffy eyes. Find yourself a good quality eye cream (such as these ones) and use daily. If you can find one that contains hyaluronic acid, green tea extract and vitamin E, even better.


Under Eye Bags Treatment #10… Eat Collagen Rich Foods: Collagen is the protein responsible for giving the skin strength and elasticity (holding it in place basically). As we age, collagen production declines, resulting in a deficiency. This deficiency is one the main causes of age related bags under the eyes. Thankfully it can be fixed relatively easily.

Eating collagen rich foods such as chicken and beef bone broths, along with taking a good quality collagen supplement or collagen protein powder (like these) will build back up the collagen in your body, particularly in your skin, and in turn help lift the skin and put it back where it belongs. Vitamin C is also crucial for collagen production and hyaluronic acid synthesis so make sure you consume plenty of vitamin C rich foods such as oranges, red peppers, kale, strawberries, broccoli and Brussel sprouts.


Other Handy Treatments & Tips to Get Rid of Dark Circles & Bags Under the Eyes…

• Exercise: Regular moderate exercise is good for helping turn back the age clock & getting rid of dark circles and baggy eyes. 30-40 minutes a day 4-5 times a week is all you need.

• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is an excellent natural moisturizer & contains lauric acid, a potent anti-inflammatory compound. Use organic virgin coconut oil on your eye bags daily along with consuming a tablespoon of coconut oil every day for internal benefit.

• Vitamin K: A vitamin K2 deficiency can cause the eyes to swell up & exacerbate eye bags. Eat vitamin K rich foods such as green leafy vegetables & take a good quality vitamin K2 supplement.

• Aloe Vera: Also good for reducing puffiness & dark circles under the eyes. Either slice off a small piece of fresh aloe vera (if you have one growing in your garden) & apply the gel under the eyes, or failing this, use an all-natural aloe vera gel.

• Quit the Cigarettes: Smoking causes premature aging & drying & sagging of the skin, particularly around the eyes. For some handy tips (that genuinely work) on giving up smoking naturally, have a read of this recent Q&A we did… 5 Sure-Fire Remedies to Quit Smoking for Good.

• Go Easy on the Alcohol: Alcohol also dries out the skin & causes dark circles & puffiness under the eyes.

• Get Plenty of Sleep: A lack of sleep is a major cause of bags & dark circles under the eyes. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sound sleep each night.


So hopefully these tips & remedies help you out Rose!


Best regards,

Troy (Certified Holistic Health & Wellness Coach/Specialist)