Banish Under-Eye Bags For Good Using These At-Home Remedies

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If you struggle with under-eye bags and darkness—whether it be due to genetics or other factors like poor sleep, allergies, aging, or chronic sun exposure—just know you’re so far from alone. Under-eye bags are extremely common, but the good news is there’s a laundry list of ways to treat them, many of which can be very effective and done easily at home.

To find out which remedies are worth trying, we tapped a slew of experts for their expert tips and tricks for reducing dark and puffy under-eyes, and boy did they deliver. Curious to know what they came up with? Keep reading for the best advice on how to alleviate under-eye bags like a pro.

Meet the experts: Marisa Garshick, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Despina Daniilidis is an aesthetician and founder and CEO of PEAU’ésie. Chanel Temple is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles. Joyce Park, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington and the founder of Skin Refinery. Elisa Flowers is a makeup artist and beauty expert.

1. Try microneedling

According to Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, microneedling can be a beneficial way to help reduce under-eye bags by creating micro-injuries in the skin that spur collagen production. “Microneedling can help to improve the texture of the skin in the under-eye area and may also help to tighten the skin which can improve the appearance of under-eye bags,” she says.

Dr. Garshick recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist for this to be sure it’s done safely and correctly for best results.

2. Use an eye cream with caffeine

“Caffeine as an ingredient works by constricting the blood vessels, which helps to reduce under-eye puffiness and brighten up the skin,” explains Dr. Garshick. “Some examples of caffeine-containing eye creams I recommend are TruSkin’s Depuffing Longevity Eye Cream and CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Eye Cream.”

3. Try cold or lukewarm tea bags

One of Despina Daniilidis’s favorite DIY ways to reduce under-eye bags is applying cold or lukewarm tea bags to the area and letting them sit for 15 to 20 minutes. The Montreal-based aesthetician recommends chamomile for its naturally soothing qualities.

Dr. Garshick also recommends this method, however, she prefers caffeine-spiked tea bags. “The caffeine in black or green tea bags shrinks blood vessels, reducing both redness and puffiness in addition to antioxidants that help brighten the under-eye skin,” she says.

4. Keep your skincare products cool

“Keeping skincare products in the refrigerator can offer an additional cooling benefit to the skin which can help with depuffing,” says Dr. Garshick. This goes for any products you apply to the eye area, including serums and your all-over moisturizer. Consider investing in a skincare fridge if you find this method helps.

5. Avoid excess alcohol and salt

As Dr. Garshick explains, making certain lifestyle changes—like improving your sleep habits and steering clear of too much sugar and sodium—can aid in reducing under-eye bags, too. “Try to avoid alcohol and salt intake to minimize facial puffiness, as these can be dehydrating and contribute to puffiness,” she says. Consuming too much of one or both of these things can cause your body to retain water, making you appear swollen and/or puffy. Even if you can simply cut down your intake, it will make a positive difference in the level of puffiness you experience.

6. Use a cold facial roller or ice on the area

“Chilled facial rollers can temporarily reduce puffiness by improving circulation and soothing the area,” says Dr. Garshick. Also an advocate for this method is Los Angeles-based makeup artist Chanel Temple, who swears by the power of cold but prefers to use ice instead. “This has been one of the biggest game changers in my routine, and I encourage my clients to practice it at home,” she says. “Grab an ice cube and apply it all over the face and under the eye to take away any puffiness and increase blood flow.”

7. Use an eye mask

“My tip for under-eye bags? Apply a cold eye mask with anti-inflammatory properties like green tea or centella, and store it in the fridge so it’s nice and cold and can help with depuffing,” says Joyce Park, MD—aka @teawithmd on Instagram. DRMTLGY’S Brightening Eye Masks contain caffeine along with niacinamide, as well as other hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe leaf extract, and licorice extract.

8. Try an eye cream or serum that uses a cool metal applicator

Eye creams and serums with metal applicators are a great option not only because they feel amazingly luxurious, but because they’re effective at depuffing, too. Check out some of Dr. Garshick’s recommendations below.

Cryo-Recovery Depuffing Eye Serum

Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy

SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller

Targeted Eye Depuffer

9. Take an antihistamine

“For someone who is prone to seasonal allergies, some under-eye puffiness may be related to the histamine, so doing a trial with an antihistamine may be helpful,” suggests Dr. Garshick. Talk to your doctor to determine if your under-eye bags are allergy-related, and from there they can either prescribe you prescription-strength allergy medication or recommend over-the-counter options such as Zyrtec or Claritan. Also worth noting: If possible, do your best to minimize exposure to allergens that you know worsen your symptoms.

10. Consider laser resurfacing

Laser resurfacing can help to tighten the skin in the under-eye area and build collagen, explains Dr. Garshick, which in turn can improve the overall appearance of the eye area—including puffiness and bags. Fractional CO2, Nd:YAG, and Erbium are three different types of common lasers available for treating under-eye bags, however, you should talk to your dermatologist to decipher which one will be best for your skin type and needs.

11. Consider filler injections

“In the right candidate, filler can help to improve the appearance of under-eye bags by reducing the appearance of volume loss,” says Dr. Garshick. Of course, this option won’t be suitable for everyone, but if you have mature skin and have lost volume and thickness in the area, it could be a beneficial solution to consider. Always talk to your dermatologist or a plastic surgeon to see if you’re a good candidate.

12. Neurotoxin may help

“For some individuals who experience increased puffiness in the lower eyelid with smiling, injecting a neuromodulator like Botox into the muscle, referred to as the ‘jelly roll,’ can soften the appearance of under-eye bags,” explains Dr. Garshick. Talk to your dermatologist or a facial plastic surgeon to see if this option could be right for you.

13. Look for eye creams containing niacinamide

Niacinamide is one of those do-it-all ingredients that helps with everything from redness to hyperpigmentation — and lo behold, it aids in reducing under-eye puffiness, too. “Especially good for those with sensitive skin, niacinamide can help to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation and also brighten the skin,” says Dr. Garshick. As a result, under-eyes appear brighter and smoother.

14. Use a peach color corrector

Makeup artist Elisa Flowers recommends using a peach, salmon, or orange-toned color corrector to help neutralize darkness and improve the appearance of under-eye puffiness. You don’t want to use an illuminating concealer in this area as this will highlight puffiness, but a corrector with a matte or satin finish will aid in minimizing the look of bags.

Camo Color Corrector

#FAUXFILTER Under Eye Color Corrector

Magic Vanish Color Corrector

15. Use a cold compress

In addition to tea bags, Daniilidis recommends a tried-and-true cold compress using either a chilled wash cloth or an ice pack. The cold helps with constricting blood vessels, as well as calming the area, which can make the area look healthier and less puffy. Allow the compress to work its magic for at least 10 minutes, and then follow up with a caffeinated eye cream, such as one of Flowers' favorites: MAC’s First Response Eye Cream.

16. Drink more water

Not-so-fun fact: dehydration can also be a contributing factor to under-eye bags. So aim to consume around eight to ten glasses of water a day, if not more. To help you remember to drink up, consider getting a motivational water bottle with time stamps.

17. Dunk your face in ice cold water

Similar to using cold products on your face and applying cool compresses, submerging your entire face in a bath of ice water can help to quickly reduce facial puffiness, including swelling under the eyes. Upon waking, simply grab a bowl big enough to fit your face and fill it with ice water—then dunk your face in it for 10 to 30 seconds at a time. Repeat as needed until you see a difference.

18. Use minimal concealer

Applying too much concealer to the under-eyes can actually make the appearance of puffiness worse, so Temple recommends starting off low and slow. “Less is more,” she says. “Start by only using a dot of concealer in the inner corner and outer corner of the eye, focusing where we tend to have the most discoloration as this will prevent you from over-applying product which can look cakey and make the situation worse.”

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