Home Remedies to Soothe Puffy Tired Eyes

Everyone occasionally loses sleep, and those who are lacking sleep sometimes have puffy, tired looking eyes. Sleep is of course the best home remedy to soothe tired, puffy eyes, but if you don't have time to sleep, there are a number of home remedies to soothe tired eyes and reduce puffiness until you can catch up on your z's.

Although puffiness under the eyes is sometimes caused by lack of sleep, this isn't always the case. Puffiness beneath the eyes can also be caused by dehydration, sinus problems, allergies, heredity, medication, hormonal fluctuations, and a host of other reasons. Home remedies can help reduce puffiness beneath tired eyes, but if a lack of sleep isn't the cause, it's necessary to find the cause and take the necessary steps to correct the problem.

Home Remedy Precautions

Although the following home remedies are natural, exercise caution when using home remedies near or around the eyes. If skin is particularly sensitive, preform a skin test before trying these home remedies. Simply test the skin by placing a small amount of a questionable ingredient on the wrist or forearm, and if irritation or redness develops, wash the area and consider a different option.

Cool as a Cucumber

Cucumbers are a well-known remedy for puffy eyes, and this home remedy is still considered one of the most effective ways to make tired eyes appear awake and bright. Cucumbers have a high water content, and an ice-cold cucumber can greatly reduce under eye swelling. Cut cold cucumbers into thick slices. Find a place to relax, put your head back, and unwind with a slice over each eye for about ten minutes, or until the cucumber becomes warm.

Strawberry Cooler

There's nothing quite like a cool strawberry right from the fridge on a warm summer day. If you have puffy, tired looking eyes, next time you reach for a cold strawberry, grab a couple of extra strawberries for your eyes.

Besides doing a great job of reducing swelling, strawberries naturally contain alpha-hydroxy, and this naturally occurring ingredient is great for making skin smoother and younger looking. Alpha-hydroxy is found in many expensive facial creams, but you can get the benefits without the expense by using this home remedy for reducing under eye puffiness.

To reduce under eye puffiness and make tired eyes appear brighter, remove the tops from large, fresh, refrigerated strawberries, and slice them about 1/8 of an inch thick. While relaxing with your head back, place the cold strawberry slices under your eyes, and allow them to remain there for several minutes. After removing the strawberries, wash and moisturize your face as usual.

Olive Oil Tea Bag Soother

Simply place wet tea bags in the freezer to chill, and while the tea bags are chilling, apply olive oil to your eyelids with cotton balls. After the tea bags are sufficiently chilled, remove them from the freezer, and find a place to relax. Put your head back, and place the tea bags on your eyelids. After about ten minutes, remove the tea bags and wash, dry, and moisturize your face as usual.

Milk Soother

Cold milk tastes great with a big slice of rich chocolate cake, but cold milk is also great for tired, puffy eyes. If you're looking exceptionally tired these days, try a milk treatment that will soothe and relax your eyes.

Pour ice cold milk into a shallow bowl, and toss in a couple of large cotton balls. Find a place to lie down, place a towel beneath your head, and with eyes tightly closed, place milk-soaked cotton balls over your eyes. After ten or fifteen minutes, wash, dry, and moisturize your face as usual.

Stay Hydrated

Eyes can become puffy if your body isn't properly hydrated. If the body is lacking water, it holds onto any water it receives, thus causing water retention and swelling. Be sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and if you don't particularly like plain water, consider drinking one of the many varieties of flavored water. Keeping the body hydrated will help the eyes appear bright and awake, and also help reduce under eye puffiness.

Storing and Applying Facial Creams

Cold reduces swelling, so instead of storing facial products and creams under the sink, consider storing them in the refrigerator. Cold facial products will instantly help reduce puffiness and under eye swelling upon application. Read product labeling for any warnings regarding product storage and temperature.