“Puff, Puff, Away!”

Stress, fluid retention, allergies, hormone changes, and too much sodium in the diet are all factors that can lead to the condition of puffy eyes. The skin around your eyes is very thin and full of blood vessels, making this area very sensitive. You want to take good care and be gentle with your eyes to reduce the puffiness and those dark circles.

There are two main reasons for dark circles; either inherited or life-style related. Inherited factors include allergies and pigmentation, which leads to dark discoloration of skin. Some people may just have very thin skin underneath the eyes, making blood vessels show more clearly.  Another inherited factor could be simply having deeply set eyes, which in turn leads to shadows underneath the eyes that appear to be dark circles. Lifestyle factors include lack of sleep and damage caused by sun exposure.
No matter what factors are causing your dark circles and puffy eyes, there are ways to conceal them.
Here are some tips to try to remove the puff:

Caffeine
When caffeine is applied topically, it tightens up the skin. Place cool, moist black tea bags on your eyes for 5 minutes or you can simply use an eye cream that contains caffeine.

Change in Diet
Salty foods can lead to swelling anywhere and everywhere. Watch your sodium intake, limiting it 2,300 milligrams a day with even less being better. Also, enrich your body with vitamin B-rich foods, like spinach, which may reduce bloating, according to registered dietician Lisa Drayer, author of The Beauty Diet.

Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a natural astringent; Makeup Pro Shalini Vadhera says “soak a pad in witch hazel and place it on your eyes for 5 minutes.”3 This might be a stretch, but it works!

Hemmorhoid Cream
Yep, I said it. It sounds distasteful and nasty, but its main ingredient – phenylephrine – constricts blood vessels and shrinks under eye tissue, says Audrey Kunin, founder of Dermadoctor. Apply a little bit to the puffy area, but be careful not to get it in the eyes.

Cold Spoons
Place cold metal spoons on your eyes for a few minutes to tighten up the skin before you apply makeup, says Kate Somerville, aesthetician in LA. You can also use a bag of frozen peas; this will contour to the shape of your face.

Don’t forget to hydrate
Alcohol can contribute to swelling and puffiness, even under your eyes. Drink water before going out, try to stick to one cocktail, and drink water after a night out to minimize the visible damage, as well as save yourself from a severe hangover.

Secret Makeup Tip!
A great solution to hide the puffiness is to draw attention away from your under-eye area. Define your upper lids with liner, and then apply several coats of mascara. One of my favorites: Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express® Mascara and be sure to prime the lids beforehand for a longer look.