Solving the Puffy Under Eyes Dilemma
This balancing vitamin can regulate oil, minimize pores, and more!
Eyes are the windows to the soul, and they never lie. Our under eyes give away dirty little secrets like irregular sleep cycles, bad bedtime habits, and even allergies.
Ultimately, the eyes are one of the most important features in defining how we look – especially in the era of the face mask!
Do you need help giving your eyes a glow up? Our secret is a single ingredient, hiding under many of our noses. In fact, it’s literally right under your nose with each sip of your seasonal latte.
Get ready to deep dive with us into the best natural beauty remedy for eliminating puffy under eyes once and for all: caffeine!
Discoloration and puffiness in the under eye area can happen to anyone – virtually no one is immune! Sometimes these issues pop up, seemingly without cause, and can be difficult to reverse.
Before we talk about how to get rid of dark circles and puffy under eyes, let’s talk about a few of the things that cause them.
AGING
Aging can play a huge role in affecting the appearance of the eyes. Over time, the muscles in our face grow weaker; this includes those that support our eye area. Along with subsequent migration of fatty tissue in and around the eye area, these two factors can create the appearance of puffy or swollen looking eyes.
GENETICS
In some cases, the shape of our eyes or simply our genetics can contribute to puffy under eyes. Those with genetic puffy eyes might regularly wake up with swelling around the eye area as early as the teenage years.
ALLERGIES
In the same category of causes that are out of our control, allergies can also be a major trigger of puffy eyes. You’ll also experience itchy eyes and red eyes, leading to even more inflammation. While some allergy treatments and eye drops can help, certain seasons can make this type of puffiness tough to beat.
(BAD) HABITS
For those of us who stay up late and/or get up early, that lack of sleep isn’t a friend to perky looking eyes. Those midnight romantic movie marathons – you know, the tearjerkers? – those aren’t helping either. What’s worse is that smoking, alcohol, fried and salty foods, or a generally imbalanced diet can all contribute to a puffy eye area.
These types of puffy under eyes can occur at random or with regularity depending on our habits and lifestyle. Fortunately, while all of these issues seem hard to combat, our secret ingredient doesn’t care about allergies or genetics, just results.
The term ‘self-care’ has become much more common, but the actual practice is always evolving. For us, self-care means establishing healthy habits, such as physical and mental hygiene, combined with little acts of self-kindness. This might look like a spa facial at home, an extra long nap, or even a cup of hot coffee first thing in the morning.
To battle puffy under eyes, we’re giving that cup of coffee a remix; rather than enjoying caffeine in a mug, we’re enjoying it on our mug. Topical caffeinated treatments can treat a myriad of skin issues – including puffy under eyes.
This single ingredient has so many benefits that it might be hard to list them all!
First, caffeine is naturally anti-inflammatory, which may help to fight inflammation in our eye area often caused by allergies and poor habits. This antioxidant-rich ingredient also fights UV damage and brightens the skin; suggesting that when applied topically, caffeine can provide a visible tonal and physical lift to the eye area.
Caffeine has been shown to reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels, helping to reduce the appearance of redness and puffiness with near instant results. This means it can also help to boost healthy circulation, resulting in a more radiant complexion.
Speaking of blood flow, puffy under eyes caused by fat and fluid retention don’t stand a chance against caffeine. When applied topically, caffeine can actually convert subdermal fat to fatty acids, transforming it into beneficial metabolic energy. This means that displaced fat below the eyes in the form of ‘bags’ may become less pronounced after using topical caffeine treatments.
One of the reasons that caffeine is a recurring ingredient in many of our products is because the benefits don’t just stop at the eye area. Often the efficacy of body products such as scrubs and creams are enhanced when caffeine is added to the formula, simply because of the power this ingredient holds.
With consistent daily use, caffeine can both diminish the appearance of cellulite and positively support collagen production for smoother, more supple skin.
When it comes to puffy under eyes and beyond, it should be pretty clear why we love this ingredient so much. We put together a quick list of caffeine boosted skin care, for reducing puffiness in the eyes and face.
Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
For serious under eye maintenance, try this constant bestseller and 2020 award winner on for size. Easily the best product for treating puffy under eyes, this eye cream makes us feel like we have our lives together – even after a night of little sleep.
Vegan, cruelty-free, and great for any skin type, this product was thoughtfully formulated with all eyes in mind. Vitamin C gives a brightening boost, while nourishing rosehip oil reduces redness and irritation. Green coffee and green tea extract fight swelling and puffiness in the skin.
Another caffeinated component, coffee cherry, brings smoothness to fine lines in the skin. This lightweight, restorative formula truly transforms the eye area for ageless, attention-grabbing eyes.
Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Cream
The full spectrum of skin types can enjoy this acai and olive infused face cream. First, antioxidants and polyphenols from green tea help fight free radical damage. After use you’ll notice deeply moisturized skin free from puffiness and signs of fatigue, thanks to the highly caffeinated yerba mate and green tea blended into this formula.
PRO TIP: For an extra de-puffing effect, try applying this moisturizer via facial massage.
Caffeine Mask
Face masks are basically a love language; why shouldn’t we treat ourselves with this hydrating crowd pleaser featuring our current crush, caffeine?
Our masks have an aloe base, meaning they instantly cool and soothe the skin on contact. Caffeine in this product comes from the trifecta of yerba mate, green tea, and green coffee extract. This highly powered antioxidant trio makes quick work of puffiness, working to redistribute water and fat from swelling in just minutes. Puffy under eyes won’t see this powerhouse coming!
Finally, we can’t forget our longtime love vitamin C. It makes a crucial appearance in this formula working with bearberry extract and caffeine to seriously brighten the skin for an incredible healthy glow.
PRO TIP: For an extra de-puffing effect, store this mask in the fridge for 1 hour before applying.
Bright Eyes Mask
When we don’t have time for a full-face mask and need our beauty to multitask as much as we do, we go for Bright Eyes Masks. These little slices of heaven do way more than meets the eye!
Our first order of business is eye area hydration, with our famous aloe base plus boosts from hyaluronic acid and cucumber juice. This green vegetable also does double duty working to de-puff and firm up the skin.
An energetic trio of green tea, yerba mate, and green coffee extract seal the deal. Together we see rapid reductions in eye puffiness, an instantly hydrated eye area, smoother skin and brighter eyes – all in the time it takes us to make our morning coffee.
Puristry Yerba Mate Eye Cream
Our sister brand gives us this lightweight and soothing vegan eye cream concentrated with natural caffeine. Yerba mate delivers the kiss of caffeination our eye areas need, with concentrated yerba mate water as the primary ingredient.
Moisturizing vitamin E-rich components coconut and shea make a primary appearance, to condition the skin around the delicate eye area. Anti-aging grape resveratrol helps combat fine lines, while honeysuckle and lavender work to soothe the skin.
In a pinch and out of product? We’ve been there. When looking for ways to de-puff the eyes, we turn to mother’s wisdom. Laying a cool-stored spoon or jade roller on puffy areas feels like a dip in Lake Tahoe on a hot summer day.
If there’s no time to plan ahead, slices of cucumber or a freshly used green tea bag draped under each eye area can work well for de-puffing. But for the best results, a combination of treatments (plus a regular sleep schedule and lots of water) works wonderfully.
We carefully hand-select products based on strict purity standards, and only recommend products we feel meet this criteria. 100% PURE™ may earn a small commission for products purchased through affiliate links.
The information in this article is for educational use, and not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as such.