There are occasions when I wake up in the morning and take one look in the mirror and wonder if my eyes were going on vacation without me. They had already packed the bags and were puffier than a fresh marshmallow.

For some women under eye bags and puffiness is hereditary; unfortunately there is not much you can do when you’ve inherited grandma’s luggage.

Other causes of Eye bags and Puffiness

Changes in your body’s fluid balance. This could be due to stress, your monthly cycle, being pregnant among other things.

Allergy problems can also cause your eyes to swell and puff up. Make sure you get tested to rule this possibility out.

Not getting enough sleep and sleeping on your face can contribute to eye puffiness as well.

Home Remedies

• Keep your eye cream in the refrigerator. Not only will this prolong the shelf life but the coolness of the cream will help to bring down the swelling of your eyes.
  
• Don’t just drink your tea, put it on your face. The caffeine in tea helps constrict your blood vessels and help bring relief to your puffy eyes. Using herbal teas will help sooth tired eyes. You can use the tea bags cold or warm. Use them warm for soothing relief and cold for refreshing relief. Just don’t apply directly to your skin because the tannins contained in black and green tea can stain your skin.
  
• Cucumbers an age old remedy. It works as an astringent, tightening your skin and soothing your eyes. Cut two slices and place on your eyes for 5-10 minutes.
  
• Potatoes are another great remedy. The starch is an anti-inflammatory. Grate a potato or cut in slices place in a cloth and put in on your eyes for 10-15 minutes.
• When you’re short on time make sure you keep a few teaspoons in the refrigerator for this purpose only. Place the rounded area of the spoon over your eyes and it will quickly reduce the puffiness.

Long-Term Solutions

• Sleep with your head elevated to prevent fluid retention. Use 2-3 pillows if necessary.
• Decrease your salt intake. Excess salt makes the body retain water. Check your ingredients; it’s commonly listed on food products as Sodium.
• If your puffiness doesn’t start until the middle of your day, it could be allergies or even your beauty products such as the moisturizer you use. If this is the case, eliminate one product at a time to see which product is causing the reaction and make an appointment with an allergist to find what else could be causing the allergy.