When people look at your eyes, they should see the life and enthusiasm sparkling in them, not the eyebags underneath. Eyebags make you look old, tired, and haggard. While concealer can help hide them (try our fool-proof makeup tips), very simple habits can help you minimize puffiness even when you’ve only had a few hours of sleep.
What causes eyebags?
The skin around your eyes is very delicate. That’s why it’s the first place wrinkles appear, and why it quickly reveals any change in diet and lifestyle. Eyebags, in particular, are caused by excessive fluid retention or even extra fat. So if you’ve been eating a lot of food with salt, followed by even two days of no sleep, your eyebags will be much worse.
Eyebags can also be worsened by other health conditions: hormonal imbalances, sinuses or allergic rhinitis, iron deficiency. You may also be more prone to eyebags during your natural hormonal fluctuations, such as during pregnancy or your period.
Food that reduces eyebags
Your body actually retains more fluid when it’s dehydrated—it’s a defense mechanism! So load up on watery fruits and vegetables like watermelon, apples, asparagus, grapes, and cucumbers. Drink plenty of water, especially if you take diuretics like iced tea or coffee. And since chemicals can cause your body’s toxicity levels to rise—which also leads to fluid retention—avoid processed foods and eat organic food as much as possible.
Eat foods that are rich in potassium, like bananas and tomatoes. You also want to get a lot of vitamin A, C and E. Carrots and leafy vegetables like spinach are food sources, as well as citrus fruits and carrots. Vitamin C can also help prevent fluid retention.
Since iron deficiency can cause eyebags, get an iron supplement and eat iron-rich foods like liver, spnach, and dried fruits.
Control your salt intake. Ideally you should only be taking 2,000 milligrams of salt a day. Season food with spices instead.
Do facial acupressure
Daily facial massage can help reduce puffiness. Just gently press your index fingers on the sides of your outer nostrils. This is an acupressure point that will help remove toxins from your body. You can also try facial exercises to tighten the muscles in your face.
Use eye compresses
At the end of the day, place cold cucumber slices on your eyes and rest for thirty minutes.
Photo from fashionbombdaily.com