Bags under eyes are caused when the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that's usually around the eye can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can gather fluid, making the area look puffy or swollen.
The verdict. “Don't use Preparation H Hemorrhoid Cream to treat your eye puffiness. It can do more harm than good. Since eye puffiness can be a sign of a health issue, like lack of sleep, allergies, or dehydration, it's important to address the root issue and not just the symptoms,” says Gantsho.
Used regularly, retinol will also firm and smooth the skin under and around your eye.
"Baking soda may give a modest improvement in the appearance of undereye skin, but you need to be careful about causing skin irritation," says Joshua Zeichner, MD. "Baking soda has an alkaline pH, while the skin's natural pH is slightly acidic, which is necessary for healthy skin-cell functioning.
So, keep your cash in your wallet and head instead for the humblest of salad ingredients, the cucumber; a spare teabag or two; or your very own soup or teaspoons. Full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, the cucumber is the ideal coolant to pop on your eyes.
Try cucumbers
To try this at home, cut a fresh cucumber into medium to thick slices, and refrigerate them for 30 minutes. Then place them on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. You can do this a few times a week. The cool cucumbers also act as a cold compress.
While it's not always possible to eliminate under-eye bags, the Mayo Clinic1 and WebMD2 have some suggestions: Sleep well—Get the proper amount of sleep for your age. Your entire body may feel better as a result. Adding an extra pillow may help fluid drain away from your eyes.
Might seem weird, but a cold spoon can work wonders for your eye bags and get rid of them in an instant. Take a metal spoon and pop it in the fridge for a while. After taking it out, place it around the affected area for a few minutes and see those eye bags vanish away.
By narrowing blood vessels and calming skin, caffeine can temporarily reduce under-eye bags. Caffeine can also wake up tired eyes by reducing the appearance of dark circles, informs Dr. Mariwalla.
If your dark circles are caused by bruising or damage to your skin, coconut oil might improve the appearance of the circles by helping your skin heal faster.
Does retinol help reduce bags under the eyes and puffiness? Absolutely. The retinol in Olay's Night Eye Cream not only makes the skin's texture appear more even, but it also makes the skin feel firmer.
Retinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid—all effective ingredients that can improve the look and feel of your complexion. But they can lead to irritation, and when used too close to your delicate eye area, that irritation can lead to bags.
Under-Eye Retinols
While dermatologists say it's safe to use retinol as an under-eye cream, the group weighed in with the recommendations they like to use on the sensitive area.
Reduces wrinkles
A review of the literature shows that honey can seal in moisture and add softness to the top layer of skin, helping reduce the signs of aging. Most chemical and even some natural anti-aging ingredients aren't safe to use in the area under and around your eyes.
Vitamin C–squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin. R. Gref , C.
Best Overall: Revision Skincare D.E.J Eye Cream
"It includes moisturizing ingredients to plump and support the skin barrier, as well as antioxidants to help protect the skin from free radicals and peptides to help stimulate collagen production," Dr. King explains.
Cold spoons
Don't underestimate the value of a cold spoon. A cold spoon will help relax the blood vessels around the eyes thus reducing puffiness. All you have to do is put 2 spoons in the fridge for around half an hour, and then place their backs on the affected area for about 10 minutes.
Drinking more water and applying a cold compress can help shrink eye bags quickly, but the only way to reduce their appearance in the long term is to make a few lifestyle changes. This is especially true if your eye bags and dark circles are genetically inherited.