12 Proven Ways to Get Rid of Eye Bags Naturally

Get rid of eye bags naturally
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You are simply not happy with the picture you see in the morning when you stand in front of a mirror. They are here again – the eye bags. Persistent bags that make your eyes look swollen, the under-eye area dark, and you unsatisfied. Not a great way to start off your day! Have you ever wondered how to get rid of eye bags naturally?

Here, in this article, we will talk about natural remedies that help to fight under-eye bags and dark circles.

Most of the ingredients that you need can be found in a supermarket or right there in your kitchen. You will be surprised how some home remedies can help you even minimalize those dark circles under your eyes.

But first, let’s discuss what actually causes eye bags.

Most Known Causes of Eye Bags

People always connect dark circles with a lack of sleep or tiredness. In fact, that is usually true, but sometimes there are other causes such as genetics, allergies, etc. There are no limits – women in the early ‘20s can have bags under eyes as much as women in the late ‘50s. Fortunately, there are some solutions to treat the causes.

In general, most of the eye bag courses are related to one of three groups:

  1. Tiredness (lack of sleep)
  2. Bad diet: eating fast food is comforting, but it is not the best for our bodies. There are many consequences of eating bad foods – one of them is the appearance of eye bags.
  3. Medical conditions: medical conditions like hormonal disbalances, allergies, kidney problems, and sinus infections are common causes of eye bags appearing. If you feel like something with your body is not quite right, and those eye bags are really persistent, you should seek medical help.

Let’s examine everything in detail. Here are the top 9 reasons causing eye bags.

1. Tiredness and Lack of Sleep

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Lack of sleep is one of the most common causes of eye bags reappearing every morning. Rest is essential for our whole body. It reduces stress and the level of cortisol. When you sleep at least 8 hours, your whole body will regenerate.

Our bodies can repair the skin only when we are sleeping. Only in a sleep state can blood circulation focus on our skin cells and tissues – the result is the dewy skin you see in the morning. When you are not getting enough sleep, the body is more under stress. The circulation is reduced, so the deoxygenated blood forms eye bags and dark circles.

2. Caffeine

You should drink a lot of water. Dehydration can make your eye bags look even worse. Adequate hydration improves blood circulation that helps to remove the extra fluids from your body. For the same reason, salty food is not recommended for people with dark circles and eye bags.

Beverages with a high level of caffeine might be eliminated from your diet. If you are consuming way too much coffee or tea, you may notice that your eye bags are appearing and that dark circles are more visible. That is because caffeine stimulates your hormonal glands that cause exhaustion and fatigue.

Start asking yourself if you can’t really function without that coffee in the morning? If you don’t want to cut it completely, at least reserve afternoons and evenings for decaffeinated teas and water.

3. Iron Deficiency – Anemia

Tired young woman
Photo: Aiony Haust on Unsplash

Iron deficiency causes anemia. Your body is not making enough red blood cells. Anemia is a condition that causes your skin to look pale, but the area around your eyes looks darker. You can also notice the veins that are located in your eye area become more visible.

Even if you don’t believe that a healthy diet can prevent eye bags from appearing, consider eating nutrient-rich foods. You should include many green leafy vegetables, beans, red meat, raisins, eggs, and whole-grain bread.

4. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal disbalances and changes usually occur during pregnancy, menopause, or during your regular menstrual cycle. You can notice changes in your skin (those boring acne), but you can also see that your eye bags are more visible as well. If you are feeling bad, or you see those dark circles all the time, make sure to check your hormone levels with a professional.

5. Allergies and Eczema

Some people are allergic to food or chemicals, but not all have the same symptoms. Your immune system reacts to a substance as it is an invader, so you get symptoms that can be even harmful. Histamine reactions cause your under-eye tissue to swell, circulation changes, and you get dark circles.

Itching and excessive rubbing are usually symptoms of eczema. Try not to rub your eye area too much, even if it is too itchy. You can damage the delicate circulation system that can cause the skin to go dark, temporarily, or permanently. 

6. Genetics

Nice eye makeup
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Sometimes, you are simply predisposed to have dark circles. If your parents have eye bags, then it is a big possibility that you will have them, no matter what treatment you have tried to eliminate them. Melanin-rich skin types like Indian, African, Latin also have a bigger chance for dark circles.

7. Poor Blood Circulation

One of the common causes of dark circles and puffy eyes is poor blood circulation. The skin around our eyes is very delicate, thin, and weak. The darkness that appears under the eyes might actually be the blood that is low in oxygen. Veins and capillaries are located closer to the skin surface, which is why you can see their darkened appearance. 

8. Low Thyroid Condition

Without the thyroid gland, none of the other hormones in your body will work well. Anemia can appear in hyperthyroidism and affect other important parts of our bodies – liver, gastrointestinal system, and energy production. Those things cause slower toxin removals from our bodies and result in dark circles appearing under our eyes.

9. Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking restricts the blood to flow perfectly inside our bodies. Not to mention that cigarettes have many toxic chemicals that are very dangerous. Smoking can lead to a leak of sleep, which leads to black circles.

Alcohol can make your liver work more and blood oxygenation droop. After a night out, you can wake up with swollen eye bags due to open blood vessels. Drinking can also cause problems with your sleep rhythm, making you more awake at night and less asleep in the REM phase.

How to Get Rid of Eye Bags Naturally (12 Easy-To-Use Remedies)

There are excellent products that help in getting rid of eye bags and dark circles. But many women wonder if it is possible to get rid of eye bags naturally. Yes, you can use home remedies to make your dark circles smaller and your puffy eyes temporarily disappear. 

These are the things you can do while watching TV or listening to music. Create a spa treatment at home, even in those hard times.

#1 Green or Black Tea Bags

Applying warm tea bags to your under-eye area will make you feel relaxed and reduce eye bags. You can use both green and black tea since they have a high level of caffeine in them.

Get rid of eye bags naturally with a tea bag
Photo: Instagram/@zaz_upliftmyskin

The caffeine reduces the swelling that is usually caused by bad water circulation inside the body. Tannin is also an ingredient that boosts blood circulation while antioxidants prevent premature aging in the under-eye area.

Boil the water, like you usually do for your tea. Take out the teabag(s) and let them cool a bit to room temperature. Place them on closed eyes for at least 15 to 30 minutes. Do this once or twice a week to improve the look of your puffy eyes.

#2 Chamomile Tea Bags

Chamomile tea is known for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It will reduce puffiness under the eyes and make the skin look glowy and revived.

If you are having eye infections like pink eyes or conjunctivitis, you can also try putting on chamomile tea bags on your eyes. That can solve two problems at once.

#3 Egg White Mask

To get rid of eye bags naturally, you can make an egg white mask. It will tighten and tone the skin as it dries. Make sure to wash your hands after applying and to be careful not to get it in the eyes.

Whip an egg white in a bowl until it is a compact puree. Use a soft brush, a cloth, or your fingertips to apply the mask carefully. Let it dry for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse it with lukewarm water.

#4 Cool Cucumber

You see it in the movies, you see it all over Instagram – everybody loves cucumbers on their eyes! In fact, this is one of the best home remedies that can help you get rid of eye bags. Cucumbers reduce irritation, their cool skin reduces swelling and puffiness of eyes. Also, they are great in general, preventing dark circles and making your skin look dewy.

Put the cucumber in the refrigerator to cool. Slice cucumber and place it on your eyelids. Hold it for 15-30 minutes or even more if you wish. It is safe to repeat this treatment even a few times a day.

#5 Raw Potato

Get rid of eye bags naturally with a potato
Photo: Instagram/@zaz_upliftmyskin

Raw potato is also one of the popular methods of treating eye bags and erasing dark circles. Potatoes contain Vitamin C, enzymes, and astringent properties that can make your skin look nourished and reduce water in the under-eye area.

Potato stays cold longer than a cucumber. You can slice it and put it on closed eyelids. Also, you can peel, grate it, and collect it in a cotton cloth. Tie it up and put it over your closed eyes.

#6 Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is excellent for treating dark circles and eye puffiness. It has so many properties that can make your under-eye area look great again. Starting from anti-flammatory properties, lemon juice contains acids as well that help with the skin-lightening process. Vitamin C will remove toxins from your puffy eyes.

You can soak cotton balls or pads in lemon juice or mix it with milk or cream for even better results.

#7 Milk

Milk is a great ingredient for homemade recipes. It contains lactic acid, perfect for skin firmness, Vitamin A, which contains retinoids for keeping the skin look young and bright. You can use any kind of milk – cow or whole. Also, if you don’t have milk in your kitchen at the moment, try cream – the effects will be almost the same.

Simply dip cotton balls into cold milk or cream and put them over your eyes. You will feel immediate satisfaction. Rinse with warm water after at least 15 minutes.

#8 Essential Oils

Many different essential oils have anti-inflammatory features, as well as natural antioxidants that help with stress. You can make your own mix of essential oils and keep it close whenever you notice your under-eye area is looking puffy.

Mix chamomile, lavender, lemon oil with water and apply it to your under-eye area. You can leave it on overnight.

Please be careful not to get the mixture anywhere near the lash line or corners of your eyes. Otherwise, it can make things even worse and irritate your eyes.

#9 Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene, a substance that secures good vision, overall health, and skin appearance. This substance is perfect for reducing dark circles under the eyes.

Make a mixture of tomato and lemon juice. Dip cotton balls in it and apply them on closed eyelids. Let is sit for at least 10 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

#10 Coconut Oil

If you are using coconut oil for cooking, make sure to save some for treating your under-eye area as well. Coconut oil is a great, natural anti-inflammatory method of reducing and lightening dark circles. It also moisturizes your skin thanks to the nutrients it has.

Apply coconut oil to your fingertips and gently massage it under your eyes. You can leave it on overnight and apply it daily for the best effects.

#11 Coffee? Yes, Please

As it was said, drinking too much coffee is not suitable for your eye bags, but using it as a mask or in the cream can actually help. Caffeine has anti-inflammatory features. It can act as a diuretic and reduce swelling.

You can make different mixtures with coffee grounds. Mix it with egg whites or coconut oil. Apply under the eyes and leave it on overnight.

#12 Aloe Vera

Aloe vera contains numerous antioxidants, antifungal, antibacterial, and other excellent properties not only for burns but for skin in general. It can reduce puffiness under the eyes but also make the skin look fresh, toned, and helps with anti-aging.

It would be best if you can use fresh aloe gel. Apply it with your fingertips under the eyes and leave it for about 10 minutes. Rinse with cold water.


Q&A

Quite many different questions pop up online about how to get rid of eye bags naturally. We have answered some of them for you.

Which is better – potato or cucumber for dark circles?

Since potatoes will stay cold for a longer time, we can say it is a better solution if your eyes are really puffy and you want to cool them down. However, when it comes to effects, both cucumber and potato will leave you satisfied with the results.

Does drinking water reduce dark circles?

Yes! Drinking more water or other fluids can actually help you get rid of dark circles.

If your body needs more water than you provide, it holds on to the storage it already has and sends it to places with poor circulation. By drinking more water, you are also boosting the elimination of toxins from your body.

Can I use cold tea bags for reducing eye bags?

You can use a teabag as a cold compress. That is how you can get two-in-one. You will cool your puffy eyes while the tea properties will soothe the capillaries in your under-eye area.

How many times a day should I apply a moisturizer?

Applying moisturizer twice a day is a must! Even when treating your under-eye area with natural remedies, you shouldn’t forget the moisturizer in the end. Use the one with SPF for the day and the heavier one for the night.

Is it possible to get rid of eye bags and dark circles quickly?

As you can see, there isn’t any magical solution that can make your eye bags disappear. There are good products to get rid of eye bags, as well as natural remedies and overall healthy habits.

Starting with a healthy diet and boosting water intake, you can take small but significant steps to get rid of your eye bags. If at-home treatments were not enough for you, talk with your doctor or dermatologist about other medical solutions. As you can see, there are plenty of them that can help.

Otherwise, you can always go for natural ways of trying to minimize dark circles – cold compresses, massage, and, most of all, an 8-hour sleep.

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