How to Reduce Bags Under Your Eyes

Co-authored by Melissa Jannes

Last Updated: April 8, 2021 References Approved

Do you struggle to reduce the bags under your eyes? Eye bags are a common problem and many people of all ages and genders struggle with them. There are some easy to follow preventative methods to help from the inside as well as some ways to hide the appearance of bags on the outside that will improve your look in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Reducing the Appearance of Bags Under Your Eyes

1
Remove your makeup. Leaving on your makeup when you sleep can cause your eyes to water. It can also clog the pores under your eyes, increasing puffiness and the appearance of bags. Wash your face before bed, either with soap and water or makeup remover. Your face will have clean, open pores and the skin around your eyes will retain less water.^{[1]
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2
Wear sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen at the beach is a given, but it's easy to forget that your face is exposed to the sun's harmful rays on a daily basis. The rest of your skin may be covered, but your face remains exposed every day. Too much sun can cause the area around your eyes to sag and wrinkle into bags. Try wearing a moisturizer or foundation that has SPF in it. You can also wear sunglasses or hats to help keep the sun off of your eyes.^{[2]
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3
Try eye cream. There are a ton of eye creams out there that are for the reduction of eye bags. The moisturizers are specifically geared toward the sensitive skin around your eyes and have vitamins and nutrients that help reduce the bags under your eyes. They also have the added benefit of preventing wrinkles, reducing redness and puffiness, and helping with dark circles. Try out a few brands to see which one works best for your skin.
- There are some people that say using hemorrhoid cream will help prevent under eye bags by shrinking the blood vessels. Avoid this method because it can irritate the sensitive skin under your eyes. Instead, try a retinol cream. It also helps reduce eye bags without the added skin irritation.^{[3]
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4
Wear concealer. If you haven't found a way to prevent under eye bags that works for you just yet or if they are hereditary, try hiding them with concealer. Buy a brand that works with your skin and that matches your skin tone. Apply it gently under your eyes, patting it into your skin. Try not to rub it in, which can irritate the skin under your eyes.^{[4]
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- You can also buy foundation that has concealer in it. It will also help hide the appearance of under eye bags and blend the skin under your eyes in with the rest of your face.
- Make sure you don't wear a concealer that is lighter than your skin tone. This will call attention to your bags and defeat the purpose of the concealer.^{[5]
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5
Make a cold compress. Cold water can do wonders to re-hydrate your skin and help reduce the swelling of your eye bags. It can also constrict the blood vessels under your eyes, reducing puffiness. A cold compress is a great method to administer this. Wet a clean washcloth with cool or cold water. While sitting up, let the compress sit over your eyes, applying gentle pressure. You can also dab the damp rag around your eyes. Do this for 5-10 minutes.^{[6]
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- You can get a similar effect with cold spoons. Stick two spoons in the freezer for about an hour. Take them out and gently massage them under your eyes, being careful not to poke your eye. The coldness helps constrict the blood vessels under your eyes and the massaging helps reduce swelling.
6
Use cucumbers. Putting slices of cucumbers on your eyes is a time honored method of bag reduction. The cucumbers have skin-lightening qualities and contain a mild astringent, which can help reduce the appearance of bags under your eyes. The excessive amount of water in the cucumber can help hydrates the skin under your eyes and the coolness can reduce puffiness and sagging. Chill a cucumber for at least 30 minutes. Slice off two generously sized pieces. Sit or lay down, placing them over your closed eyes for 10 minutes. Remove the cucumbers and wash your eyes with water, removing the juice. Repeat twice a day for a week or more for the best results.^{[7]
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- You can also try dabbing a solution with cucumber juice under your eyes. Juice a cucumber and lemon, mixing equal parts cucumber and lemon juice. Soak a cotton ball with the juice, gently applying it under your eyes. Leave it on for 15 minutes before you wash it off. Repeat daily for a week or more.
7
Use potatoes. Much like cucumbers, you can use slices of potatoes to help reduce the appearance of bags under your eyes. They have antioxidants and nutrients that, mixed with the coldness, can help educe the puffiness and inflammation of under eye bags. Cut thin pieces of a chilled potato. Sit or lay down and place the slices of potato on your eyes for 10 minutes. Repeat daily.
- You can also use potato juice to help reduce under eye bags. Grate a potato, getting enough juice to soak two cotton balls. Place the soaked cotton balls over your closed eyes, letting them sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse your eyelids with cool water to remove the juice. Repeat once or twice daily for over a week.
8
Use old tea bags. Brewed tea bags have antioxidants and caffeine that can help reduce the swelling and shrink the blood vessels associated with bags under your eyes. The bags can also help reduce fluid retention. Take used black or green tea bags and chill them in the fridge or freezer for at least 30 minutes. Place a chilled tea bag on each eye, letting them sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash your face to remove excess tea. Repeat daily.
- Make sure you don't let stray tea get into your eyes. This could cause eye irritation and discomfort.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Addressing the Causes of Bags Under Your Eyes

1
Reduce your salt intake. Excessive sodium in your diet makes you retain water, and the area around your eyes is a great example of this. After a salt heavy dinner, you will find that your eye bags are puffier the next morning. The salt makes water pool around your eyes, increasing your bags. Try using less salt in your cooking and in your diet, using other methods such as herbs or spices to liven up your food.^{[8]
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2
Drink more water. When your body does not get adequate water, it retains the water it does have. One of the places this happens is under your eyes, causing bags. Increase your water intake every day by switching out some of your beverage choices with water instead. This will also help you to avoid excessive caffeine, especially in coffee, which also causes dehydration and water retention.^{[9]
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3
Take care of your allergies. Allergies cause eye irritation, swelling, and sinus pressure, all of which cause eye bags. Most over the counter allergies medicines that help reduce your allergy symptoms will have the added bonus of reducing the bags under your eyes. They will dry up the excess water pooled under your eyes and reduce the irritation that leads to severe eye bags.^{[10]
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- Make sure you only use this method if you have allergies. Don't take allergy medication just to reduce the bags under your eyes. This method only works if you eye bags are caused by complications due to allergies and does not work as an overall treatment method.
4
Get adequate rest. Fatigue and stress due to tiredness causes bags under your eyes. The recommended amount of sleep you should get is around 8 hours a night. You need to make sure that the sleep you get is restful. Try to go to bed at the same time every night, which will get your body into a better sleeping pattern and will help you to sleep better.^{[12]
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5
Change your sleeping position. When you sleep, gravity causes fluid to pool under your eyes, causing those unsightly bags. If you sleep on your side or your stomach, try changing your sleeping position to your back. Gravity will naturally reduce the amount of fluid retention under your eyes and help with the appearance of bags in the morning.^{[13]
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- You can also add another pillow to your bed. The increased elevation of your head will reduce the amount of fluid that pools under your eyes.^{[14]
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6
Drink less alcohol. A glass of wine is fine, but avoid consuming too much alcohol. It dehydrates you, which pulls much needed water from your skin. This causes the skin around your eyes to weaken, making the area under your eyes sag. If you do go out and drink, have plenty of water before you go to bed to re-hydrate your skin.
- Adding some moisturizer under your eyes when you drink also helps combat under-eye dehydration.^{[15]
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7
Stop smoking. If you smoke, you are causing damage to your skin. It can dry and weaken the skin around your face, causing deep bags under your eyes. Kick the habit. On top of the many health benefits, your skin will get better and the bags under your eyes should lessen.^{[16]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What causes bags under eyes and how do you get rid of them?

Melissa Jannes
Licensed Esthetician
Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. Melissa is also a National Educator for Universal Companies. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in both New York and Pennsylvania. Melissa won the "Best of Beauty" award from Allure magazine in 2012 for the quality of her bikini waxing.

Melissa Jannes

Licensed Esthetician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Blood can pool under your eyes, making your undereye bags look darker. Cold compresses can stimulate the area, which can help brighten the area a little, making you look more awake. Eye creams that contain caffeine can do the same thing, especially if you chill them in the refrigerator first, as can jade rollers.
Question

What is the best product to remove bags under eyes?

Melissa Jannes
Licensed Esthetician
Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. Melissa is also a National Educator for Universal Companies. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in both New York and Pennsylvania. Melissa won the "Best of Beauty" award from Allure magazine in 2012 for the quality of her bikini waxing.

Melissa Jannes

Licensed Esthetician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Try a color-correcting concealer. If you're using concealer to cover darkness under your eyes, try a product with a yellow hue. That will help counteract the blue and purple, and it will make the area look brighter.