We all get them from time to time: puffy eyes. Sometimes this can be genetically related, while other times external factors can play a role in creating swelling around or under the eye area. When those puffy eyes occur, there are a couple easy and not-so-easy ways to reduce the swelling. Let’s talk about some easy methods using items you most likely already have in the comfort of your home.

3 Ways to Reduce Puffy Eyes Using Items From Your Kitchen:

Let’s spoon: Place a metal spoon in the refrigerator for five minutes. After it is cold, place the back of the spoon on your under eye areas. The cold helps to reduce the under eye swelling. You can also use a cold spoon in a way similar to a jade roller. Apply a little pressure to emulate a lymphatic massage and drain the fluid away from your face. (Lymphatic tutorial here.)

Spill the tea: Grab two caffeinated tea bags and get them slightly wet. Place one under each eye or on upper eyelids for 10 minutes. The caffeine helps in decreasing the inflammation, so this method works best with highly caffeinated teas, like English tea.

Juice it up: One of the reasons we can get puffy eyes is from bloating in our face. There are a lot of healthy foods that are natural diuretics which will help eliminate this excess fluid retention. Blend up a juice using ingredients that are diuretics, such as cucumber, celery, watermelon, parsley, parsnips and asparagus. Use one ingredient, or a combination of several of these ingredients for a fresh drink. This recipe is good for saying adiós to puffy eyes and belly bloat!

For medicinal remedies, eye treatments with caffeine and sarsaparilla root can do the trick! Here are two favorites:

While these are ways to reduce puffy eyes, there are some easy ways to prevent getting them in the first place. Simple ways to reduce the likelihood of getting puffy eyes include: avoiding excess table salt and alcohol intake, avoiding tobacco, treating environmental allergies and catching up on a good night of sleep! I will especially agree on the last one! Sleeping on our backs, instead of our side, can also have gravity assist in prevention.

For more eye care, see this post regarding the importance of sun damage prevention.

Live your life joyfully so,

Ashley