How to de-puff tired eyes this winter

It’s always trickier to wake up and feel rested during winter mornings. The shorter days and early rises mean our skin isn’t able to naturally adjust to sunlight – leaving our eyes still looking half asleep by lunch time.

Stress can also worsen under-eye bags – with disrupted sleep cycles and bouts of crying contributing to swollen eyes.

If you’re looking to dial back under-eye puffiness and redness in the morning, dermatologists and skincare experts reveal the ultimate rescue plan for the season – and no, cucumber slices don’t cut it.

Why do we get puffy eyes?

Puffy eyes are driven by the anatomy of our face and how it changes with age. “The eyeball is in a bony socket called the orbit, which is cushioned in fat,” explains dermatologist and co-founder of London’s Ardour Clinic, Dr Paris Acharya.

Puffy eyes can also be caused by allergies, smoking, dehydration and lack of sleep, as this triggers a build-up of fluid around the eyes. “The accumulation of fluid in the under-eye area can also occur as lymphatic drainage slowly decreases, this is part of the ageing process as the skin’s elasticity reduces,” explains says skincare specialist and dermatologist, Dr Leah Totton.

How to treat puffy eyes

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on our face. “It also holds lymph (excess fluid from our cells) in the most delicate web-like vessels that can easily be damaged,” explains holistic wellness and skin specialist, Marie Reynolds.

Because of this, our ordinary face moisturiser isn’t designed for that area. “It’s not just about the correct ingredients to work their magic around your eyes,” says beauty therapist and co-founder of Katherine Daniels, Donna Tait, “It’s about the product’s molecular weight. Heavy face creams and oils may make your eyes more puffy than usual.”

Therefore, it’s important to use active eye creams in the morning to rejuvenate the blood vessels. “Products containing caffeine can help to de-puff the eye area,” says regenerative doctor, Dr Miriam Adebibe, “It works to revive and brighten the delicate skin around the eyes for a noticeably luminous appearance.

“Not only a pick-me-up come morning, caffeine works wonders due to its vasoconstrictive properties, meaning it reduces swelling and prevents fluid from stagnating around the eyes. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties,” Aebibe explains.

Alongside caffeine, ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, peptides, vitamin K, and retinol can improve hydration, encourage circulation and help tighten the skin giving an instant de-puffing effect.

Cold compresses also work to de-puff eyes if you’re in a time crunch. “Ice globes serve to minimise inflammation and puffiness,” says Optase Life’s oculoplastic surgeon, Dr Elizabeth Hawkes. “They improve sinus pressure, reduce redness and kickstart the circulation to give a radiant glow to the skin – not unlike a cold shower for the face!

“But these should be used sparingly,” Dr Hawkes advises, “for no more than five minutes each morning, to avoid any damage from over-exposure to a cold surface.”

The Independent