The only bags I want come with a designer label. All kidding aside, undereye bags are anything but glamorous. The puffiness, sagging, discoloration, and so forth put a damper on my look and have me hiding under dark sunglasses.

If you’re anything like me, you don’t want your eye bags front and center, drawing attention away from your otherwise fabulous face. They make us appear worn out, weary, and older than we feel. So, what to do?

Luckily, there are ways to prevent and get rid of those annoying bags and look refreshed and rejuvenated. Thank goodness for these gems, otherwise, I would be hiding under a wide-brimmed hat half the time!

 

Catch Some Zzzs

Lack of sleep is one of the most common causes of eye bags. When you are overtired and out of whack, it shows up uninvited on your face. Since the skin underneath the eyes is so thin, signs of sleepiness come through easily.

Just like pesky dark undereye circles, eye bags are exasperating, telling the world you’ve been awake ‘till two in the morning. Those puffy pouches are longing for pillows! Get around seven to eight hours of sleep per night, and those bags won’t bother you before breakfast.

 

Skip the Salt

Too much salt in your diet can cause water retention, leading to allover bloating, even on your face. The undereye region is delicate, and the excess fluid can gather there too.

Check nutrition labels for sodium and choose foods that are within the daily recommended allowance for salt intake. Refrain from adding table salt to your meals as a matter of habit or preference. Instead, choose herbs and spices to liven up your dishes. They’ll be healthier and taste even better. Be sure to stay well-hydrated too, allowing your system to function at its peak, flushing out excess salt in the process.

 

Chill Out and Cover Up

If you wake up with bags the size of balloons, you can count on a cold compress to help them simmer down. Use a cold damp washcloth, refrigerated wet tea bags, specifically lavender, fennel, rooibos, or chamomile, which have anti-inflammatory properties, chilled teaspoons, or slices of cool cucumber over your closed eyes for some relief, and after about 10-15 minutes, you should see some noticeable improvement.

While this method may not make the bags completely disappear, they won’t be nearly as obvious. You can camouflage what’s left with some undereye concealer, preferably in a shade lighter than your skin tone. Dab lightly, as too much makeup could draw attention to the bags.

Think about using a de-puffing cream as well, which can be useful as part of your beauty routine. Olay makes an amazing eye cream designed to reduce puffy eyes, dark circles, and wrinkles. It contains vitamins and peptides, so it nourishes at it works wonders.

See Your Doctor

Your eye bags could be a sign of allergies. Get yourself checked out to rule this out or to get the needed treatment. A dermatologist may also offer more extreme methods to eliminate the eye bags, including laser therapy. If your eye bag issue is a matter of genetics or aging, something along these lines may be worth looking into.

Bye, bye bags. Pack up and go away!