We know that dehydration is bad for our health, but could it also be causing those dreaded under-eye bags?
According to ClevelandClinic, dehydration can cause under-eye bags as the skin tends to hold on to water when the body is dehydrated. This also causes the skin to appear dull and saggy, which contributes to dark circles and eye bags. That said, the best way to avoid this problem is by drinking plenty of water and using hydrating eye creams.
Keep reading to find out how you can prevent dehydration and under-eye bags, as well as what you can do to get rid of them as quickly as possible!
How Can You Hydrate Under-Eye Bags?
Nobody likes under-eye bags, but the good news is that you can solve the problem by following the below steps:
Drink More Water
First things first, your eye bags won’t get any better until you nourish yourself from within. Most men need approximately 3.7 liters of water per day, while women need around 2.7 liters. That said, eating foods that have a high water content such as watermelon, cucumber, and celery is also an excellent idea.
One telltale sign that your body is dehydrated (besides under-eye bags) is the pinching skin test. If you pinch your skin and the snapback is overly delayed, then chances are you are dehydrated. Drink up!
Use Sunscreen
Investing in good-quality sunscreen is absolutely crucial in ensuring that your skin remains dewy and hydrated. Sun damage is one of the main causes of dark circles and wrinkles beneath the eyes due to its dehydrating effects. Sadly, many people forget to put sunscreen around their eyes due to sensitivity, but this is one of the most important areas!
Next time you head outside on a hot day, make sure that you gently dab some sunscreen under your eyes and rub it in thoroughly. Also, wearing sunglasses every day doesn’t hurt either!
Avoid Hot Water
While we all love a hot shower, your under-eyes may beg to differ! Hot water strips your skin of moisture and essential oils, which can leave your skin looking and feeling dry and puffy. So, even if you love your hot shower, always rinse face wash off with lukewarm to cool water to prevent dryness and inflammation.
Cucumber
Cucumber is one of the most water-dense vegetables out there, making them the perfect remedy for under-eye bags and dryness. They also have astringent properties, meaning that they help to tighten skin at the same time as hydrate—it’s a win-win!
Simply cut up a cold cucumber and place one slice beneath each eye and leave them on for 10-15 minutes. You’ll be surprised at how effective they are!
Don’t Rub
One mistake that I’ve seen many women make is rubbing their eye area vigorously when they’ve finished a shower, or especially when removing makeup. Remember, the skin beneath your eyes is incredibly thin and sensitive and if you’re too rough with it you could end up with wrinkles and inflammation.
I know personally that water-proof mascara can be a nightmare to remove without a little bit of rubbing, but the best way to deal with this is by soaking two cotton pads in good-quality makeup remover and patiently dabbing until the mascara is removed. Works like a dream!
How Can You Get Rid Of Under-Eye Bags Overnight?
If you’ve got a big date tomorrow or (even worse) you’re getting married and your under-eye bags have surpassed unsightly, then you’re going to need a quick-fix—and fast! Here’s how to zap them away:
The Teabag Trick
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book—simply because it works! Tea naturally contains tannins which help to reduce inflammation and are full of antioxidants. In order to amplify these effects, boil two tea bags and then place them in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Once cold, remove them and hold them beneath your under-eyes for 5-10 minutes. Once removed, you should notice an almost immediate change in the appearance of your dark circles and puffy eyes. Gently rinse any excess residue with warm water and, whatever you do, don’t rub!
Cold Spoon Quick-Fix
This next one is one of my personal favorites and I can vouch that it works! If you’ve had a bad night’s sleep and those under-eye bags are showing, this hack will take you fewer than 20 minutes to resolve. Simply grab two teaspoons and place them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
Once they are super cold, remove them and hold each spoon beneath your eye for about 5 minutes (yes, it’s going to be sore but beauty is a pain)! Your eyes may appear slightly red at first, but after a few minutes, you will notice your color return and the puffiness will reduce significantly. This is because the cold causes your blood vessels to constrict, making the skin appear firmer and less puffy.
Elevated Sleeping
One major cause of under-eye bags is sleeping incorrectly. I have personally made the mistake of sleeping on my side on one or two flat pillows and this is one of the biggest culprits. When you sleep like this, the fluids accumulate in your facial area and this causes you to wake up with a puffy face and under-eyes.
That said, when you sleep on two or three good-quality pillows and elevate your head while you sleep, the fluids will actually drain from your face to the rest of your body. As you can guess, this means that your face will appear much slimmer and you shouldn’t notice any severe under-eye bags.
Makeup Removal
If you have a big event in the morning it’s always vital to remove all your makeup the night before. Sleeping with makeup on is a massive no-no and wreaks havoc on your face. If you’ve ever slept with makeup on (mascara in particular) you’ll notice that your eyes tear up the entire night as a reaction and this is a massive cause of under-eye bags.
To add insult to injury, sleeping with makeup on also blocks your pores and results in blackheads and massive pimples. As tedious as it may be after a long night of working (or drinking!) your skin will most certainly thank you in the morning.
Related Questions
Does vitamin C help eye bags?
Vitamin C is a really great remedy for under-eye bags due to the fact that it contains antioxidants and has collagen-boosting properties. That said, it’s always a good idea to look for eye creams that contain vitamin C, as well as hyaluronic acid. The two combined work wonders for reducing dark circles, under-eye bags, and promoting a glowing complexion.
Which vitamins help under-eye bags?
Additional vitamins and minerals that help to reduce under-eye bags are almond oil and vitamin E oil. They have a duo effect by reducing dark circles and under-eye bags,m resulting in a significant change. Similar to vitamin C, they both contain antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
