The struggle is real when it comes to dealing with puffy eyes in the morning. Especially as I get older, I have to watch every little thing I eat or do because it will show on my face the next morning. Ha! But puffy eyes are a common issue and rarely a cause of concern. It’s more of a nuisance and bother than a true health concern because they can make you look more tired that you actually feel. If you struggle with this (honestly, who doesn’t?!!), I’m sharing a guide on how to effectively depuff eyes in the morning and make them look more refreshed and awake without extra effort.
How to Depuff Eyes in the Morning
Puffy eyes are one of the most common skincare concerns and often happen overnight while we sleep. Any swelling on the face or around the eyes is usually temporary and easy to reduce with the right techniques and products. It’s important to pay attention to how your body responds to sleep and be aware of your sleep habits. In addition to adequate sleep, getting proper hydration every single day is one of the main ways you can help to reduce facial swelling. But even if we aren’t getting enough sleep or enough water, there are skincare products that can make a noticeable difference in how your eyes look and feel each day.
What Causes Puffy Eyes in the Morning?
Fluid retention from lying flat while sleeping
Since we are laying flat all night long with little to no movement, it’s quite normal to have slight fluid retention around the face upon waking. Sometimes sleeping with an elevated pillow can help reduce this slightly.
High sodium foods causing water retention
This one we all know and can be an easy one to change immediately. Limiting salt especially in the hours before bedtime can definitely help to reduce any puffiness in the morning.
Dehydration leading to swelling
Not drinking enough water will definitely cause swelling or puffiness.
Lack of sleep slowing circulation
There are so many lifestyle factors that can disrupt sleep. But it’s definitely a huge factor behind puffy eyes in the morning. Getting deep, quality sleep each night is one of the best way to combat any swelling or puffiness when you wake up.
Allergies causing inflammation
Allergies are one of the biggest culprits for any facial swelling or inflammation especially around the eyes.
Alcohol causing dehydration and rebound swelling
Even just a small amount of alcohol can contribute to dehydration and puffiness in the morning.
How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes in the Morning
Step 1: Apply something cold
- Cold spoons, an ice roller or a chilled eye mask can all help to soothe and depuff in the morning. I currently swear by this facial roller each morning for helping to reduce puffiness all over my face. I also love that it has two different sides to it – one to help depuff and the other to help sculpt.
- Any cold compress will help to reduce swelling by constricting the blood vessels.
Step 2: Gently massage the under-eye area
- Use light pressure when gently massaging the area around and under the eyes.
- Move from inner corner outward to encourage drainage. Some eye creams actually have applicators that help to facilitate this massage. This is my TirTir Collagen Lifting Eye Cream review. It has one of those applicators that I love to use in the mornings to depuff.
Step 3: Apply an eye cream
Step 4: Hydrate
- Drink enough water daily to balance fluid levels. Dehydration is one of the biggest contributing factors to puffiness.
Step 5: Optional quick fixes
- Under-eye patches are one of my favorite ways to immediately soothe and depuff my eyes every morning. I will apply them shortly after I get out of bed and wear them as I make breakfast and get my son ready for school. It’s one of my favorite ways to wake up every morning. These reusable eye masks are a great option to use with your favorite eye cream. For a traditional under-eye patch, I love these that I buy on Amazon and these from YSE Beauty (use code: MAREE30 to save).
- Light concealer to brighten. Here is my recent blog post on how to effectively conceal darkness under the eyes with all my favorite concealer recommendations.
Best Ingredients For Eye Puffiness
Caffeine to reduce swelling
Caffeine is one of the best ingredients to look for in an eye cream if you really want to reduce puffiness.
Hyaluronic acid to hydrate
Hyaluronic acid still remains a key ingredient in most skincare products that help to add moisture and hydrate the skin.
Niacinamide to calm skin
Another great ingredient to look for in a morning eye cream is niacinamide. It helps to calm and strengthen the skin barrier.
Aloe vera for soothing
Another long time favorite ingredient that so many people use for multiple purposes – aloe vera is wonderful for helping to soothe any skin that is swollen.
Peptides for skin support
Peptides are relatively new in the skincare world but proving to be incredibly effective for helping to firm and support the skin barrier.
How To Avoid Puffy Eyes In The Morning
Sleep with your head slightly elevated
Elevating your head at night is a great way to help reduce puffiness. You can do this by simply adding an extra pillow under your head or buying a designated pillow that helps to create elevation when you sleep.
Reduce salt intake at night
In the final few hours before sleep, it’s best to try and reduce your sodium and salt intake as much as possible. If this isn’t possible, drinking extra water before bed could help.
Stay hydrated throughout the day
This is a daily struggle for me but one that I have to actively remember to do. I do notice a huge difference in my skin on the days that I get enough water versus the days that I don’t.
Remove makeup before bed
Because I LOVE my skincare routine so much, this is the one suggestion that I am really great at doing. LOL Makeup on the face and especially around the eye area will definitely contribute to puffiness and overall irritation. Even though I am not a fan of makeup wipes, it is better to remove your makeup in any capacity than leaving it on.
Avoid alcohol before sleep
Alcohol is one of the worst dehydrators for the skin so try to avoid before bed. Or if you do have some, try to drink as much water after to rehydrate your body and skin.
Get consistent, quality sleep
Famous last words, right? As I am now in perimenopause, I fully understand the struggle to get quality sleep each night. I have to actively work at it because it really will help my overall health. But for the sake of this post, it definitely will reduce puffiness and swelling in the morning. If you need some suggestions on products that can help you get better sleep, I did an entire blog post on all my sleep essentials. While it’s not perfect, all of these things have made a drastic difference in my sleep quality over the past two years.
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