How to Get Rid of Puffiness in the Eyes

By Emily Weller on January 4, 2011

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Whenever you have a late night or a crying fit, you end up with puffy eyes. Your eyes may puff when you're having an allergy attack or when you haven't had enough water as well. Puffiness in the eyes makes you look tired and older. They can also make you feel much less attractive than you really are. Even if getting a full eight hours of sleep is beyond your reach, you can still take some steps to get rid of puffiness and look bright-eyed and awake.

Step 1

Place an extra pillow on your bed, underneath the one you currently use to elevate your head a few inches while you sleep. Sleeping completely flat allows fluid to build up around your eyes overnight, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Step 2

Place something cold on your eyes. Allure recommends wrapping a frozen bag of vegetables in a cloth and pressing the bag to your eyes for about 10 minutes. The cold from reduces swelling. You can also soak a washcloth in ice water, wring out and apply to your eyes. Slices of cucumber set on closed eyelids for several minutes also help reduce puffiness.

Step 3

Put used teabags over your eyes for 10 minutes to bring down the puffiness. Black tea contains tannins, astringents that can help reduce puffiness. The caffeine in the tea can also reduce puffiness by restricting the blood vessels around the eyes. Just make sure you cool the teabags in the refrigerator before using them. You don't want to burn your eyes. You may want to get in the habit of stashing tea bags in the refrigerator right after brewing a cup.

Step 4

Take allergy medicines if your puffy eyes are the result of an allergic reaction. You may also want to reevaluate any lotions or foundation you are putting on your face to make sure you are not allergic to it.

Step 5

Drink water. Dehydration leads to fluid retention, which leads to puffy eyes. Get everything flowing again by drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning after a late night or after you've had a few to drink.

About the Author

Based in Pennsylvania, Emily Weller has been writing professionally since 2007, when she started writing theater reviews for offoffonline.com and Theater Talk's New Theatre Corps Blog. Her writing covers a wide range of topics including theater, vegetarianism, travel and news. Weller has a Master of Fine Arts in dramaturgy and theater criticism from CUNY/Brooklyn College.