How to Get Rid of Bags Under Eyes, According to a Dermatologist
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Almost everyone’s been there: You take a selfie and then can’t post any of them because suddenly there are dark circles or bags under your eyes. Though they’re not a medical problem, nobody wants to walk around with tired and puffy-looking eyes all the time.
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Even the most rigorous skin-care regimen, utilizing the best men’s skincare products, might not be sufficient when it comes to the thin skin under your eyes. Thankfully, there are many ways to get rid of bags under your eyes. Spy spoke to Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. Dr. Green offers all kinds of treatments to improve the appearance of the eyes and is an expert on all things skin.
Many factors can contribute to the appearance of dark circles and bags under the eyes, including genetics, exhaustion, dehydration, allergies, and even excessive screen time. But Dr. Green said there are two main causes for most people: aging and sun exposure, which deplete collagen and elastin, two essential components of youthful-looking skin.
What the Expert Said
“Under-eye bags typically develop as a result of the natural aging process,” Green said. “As we age, our natural collagen levels are depleted, increasing skin laxity and resulting in sagging skin as well as the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Skin also becomes thinner as collagen and elastin, which keep the skin youthful and elastic, are lost. Thin skin in the under-eye area increases the visibility of blood vessels, causing the appearance of dark circles.”
Sunlight and its harmful UV rays can exacerbate this process too, she added.
In terms of how to get rid of bags under the eyes by using products, Dr. Green said to look out for these three ingredients:
Caffeine: “Caffeine is an excellent ingredient for combating the appearance of dark under-eye circles or puffiness,” Green said. “Caffeine has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe skin and decrease puffiness. It is also a vasoconstrictor, meaning it encourages the narrowing of blood vessels. This effectively reduces the visibility of blood vessels under the eyes, ultimately diminishing the appearance of dark circles.”
Vitamin C: “Vitamin C plays a role in collagen synthesis in the skin. An increased amount of collagen can help to thicken the incredibly thin and delicate skin of the under-eye area, helping to eliminate dark circles as well as fine lines and wrinkles,” Green said. “Vitamin C is also packed with antioxidants that protect your skin and provide a brightening effect.”
Retinol: If you’ve heard of one skin-care ingredient, it’s like retinol. “Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and a powerful anti-aging skincare ingredient. Retinol stimulates new collagen production as well as increases the rate of skin cell turnover. The result is an improvement in both skin tone and texture, revealing a complexion that is firm, smooth, clear, healthy and refreshed,” Green explained.
As far as home remedies, Dr. Green recommended a solution of the same name: green tea. Green tea, as well as black tea, “can temporarily reduce under-eye darkness and puffiness,” Dr. Green said. “Black tea and green tea are the best options for this at-home treatment since the antioxidants and caffeine in these teas provide anti-inflammatory benefits and increase blood flow to the area.” She advised boiling the tea bags and letting them completely cool before resting them under your eyes.
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Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream
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Kiehl’s will never lead you astray with its skin care products and that includes the Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream. Avocado oil and shea butter help improve the hydration and suppleness of the skin and antioxidant-rich beta-carotene tones down bags and puffiness. In fact, 50 users in a clinical study found this cream helped with puffiness more than anything else.
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Lab Series Daily Rescue Energizing Eye Treatment
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The Lab Series Daily Rescue Energizing Eye Treatment will help you leave any under-eye bags and wrinkles in the past. With ginseng and caffeine, this gel cream energizes skin to reduce puffiness, darkness and wrinkles for that “I just got eight hours of sleep” look.
Just put some under your eyes before bed and as a part of your morning routine for results in no time.
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Geologie Dark & Puffy Under Eye Cream
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Geologie’s been on our radar in the last year for its excellent customized skin care lines. When it comes to puffy and dark under eyes, the Geologie Dark & Puffy Under Eye Cream has you covered.
This formula uses caffeine, kojic acid and hyaluronic acid to depuff, brighten and hydrate skin all at once. If you love it, be sure to subscribe to get it on the regular at a discounted price.
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Jack Black Protein Booster Eye Rescue
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The Jack Black Protein Booster Eye Rescue contains a bevy of bag-reducing ingredients, including caffeine, organic green tea and natural oat kernel sugars. Dark circles, bags and wrinkles won’t stand a chance.
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CeraVe remains, and likely always will remain, a drugstore product god because everything it makes is affordable and effective, including the CeraVe Eye Repair Cream. Tocopherol (vitamin E), aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and the brand’s signature ceramides all work together to depuff and brighten the under-eye area.
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The Ordinary Caffeine 5% + ECGC Depuffing Eye Serum
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream
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For sensitive bags and puffiness, turn to the Dr. Barbara Sturm Eye Cream. Natural botanicals depuff eyes and brighten dark circles while vitamin E, panthenol and glycerin gently hydrate for totally restored under-eyes.
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Disco Eye Stick
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The Disco Eye Stick is as easy to use as it is effective. Just give the stick a quick shake, pop the cap and apply the stick directly under your eye to get the benefits of the caffeine, antioxidants and niacinamide in the formula. Store it cap side down for best results.
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Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream
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The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream has a simple proposition: Retinol will promote new skin turnover, improving bags, wrinkles and fine lines, while hyaluronic acid keeps the thin skin under the eyes moisturized and supple. Yup, these two ingredients are just that magical.
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With five forms of vitamin C, eight peptides, ceramides and plenty of antioxidants, the Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream can help with bags, fine lines and dark circles. Just a week or two of this will have your eyes looking radiant.
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Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Mask
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Application time can help the skin absorb key ingredients. That’s one reason Green recommends the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Mask: “[It] contains all key ingredients like chamomile for soothing, caffeine to reduce puffiness, squalene for moisture and hyaluronic acid for hydration and plumping effect.” You get four masks in this pack, enough for a month of refreshed eyes with once-a-week applications.
DOCTOR'S REC
Mgskinlabs Intensive Eye Repair
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MGSKINLABS Intensive Eye Repair is a nourishing eye gel formulated to lessen the appearance of fine lines, puffiness and dark circles while providing suppleness and a tightening effect on the delicate skin around the eyes. The eye gel can be placed in the refrigerator prior to use for a cooling effect and can be worn under makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Rid of Bags Under Eyes
Are bags under the eyes hereditary?
Dr. Green told Spy that there are genetic and hereditary causes, such as hyperpigmentation, fat deposits under the eyes, and tear troughs, which can give the appearance of bags and dark circles.
In those cases, over-the-counter products can’t fix the underlying situation and you might wish to consult with a dermatologist for a specific treatment plan.
What’s the best home remedy for bags under the eyes?
One of the best home remedies for bags under the eyes is a cold compress.
Dr. Green told Spy that the low temperature of a cold compress can temporarily reduce puffiness and swelling. Just dampen a washcloth with cold water and apply to the under-eye area for about 20 minutes.
Tea bags also make for a great compress because of their antioxidants and caffeine. “Applying tea bags to the under-eye area can temporarily reduce under-eye darkness and puffiness,” Green said.
If a compress isn’t cutting it, turn to under-eye products. Treatments, serums, and creams will be the name of the game here, but they’ll only be as useful as their active ingredients.
What if products won’t get rid of bags under the eyes?
If home remedies and over-the-counter products won’t do the trick, the next step is an in-office treatment. Dr. Green offers many, including a special chemical peel, fillers for tear troughs, and under-eye microneedling, many of which may be available with local dermatologists.
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