Here are our top picks from the L’Oréal line of skin care products for your eye contour, covering everything from puffy eyes to dark circles.
How to De-Puff Your Eyes and Face in the Morning
Because mine is a chronic problem of morning puffiness, I’ve become an expert in depuffing techniques-read: gua sha, icing, and facial massage. But even though the tools in my arsenal reduce my swollen appearance in the AM, I’m still wondering one thing: why, oh why, does my face puff up in the first place?. Curious to learn what goes down once my head hits the pillow, and how I can avoid the whole ordeal, I got in touch with Dr. Hadley King, board-certified dermatologist, and Patricia Giles, licensed esthetician and beauty director at Skinney Medspa.
What Makes Your Face Puffy and Swollen?
How You Sleep
When you lie down to sleep, fluid gets redistributed and pools in the face, bringing on a puffy appearance. Normally this type of puffiness reduces somewhat as the morning wears on, but if you’re determined to prevent it from happening in the first place, try sleeping with your head propped up on an extra pillow.
Fluid Retention
According to the AAO, another major cause for noticeable under-eye bags is water retention. Water retention is more noticeable in the mornings, which may explain why if you had a high-salt dinner, it may be worst the following morning.
Seasonal Allergies
Another less-than-desirable side effect of seasonal allergies, aside from red, itchy eyes, is the swelling and puffiness that can accompany them. “Chronic rubbing” of the under-eye area due to seasonal allergies can cause or exacerbate puffiness around the eyes, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick previously told Skincare.com. Speak with your doctor about a way to address your seasonal allergies-they may recommend topical creams, eye drops or oral antihistamines to help stifle your symptoms.
Genetics
If one of your parents or a relation has puffy or baggy under-eyes, there is a higher chance you may inherit it too,” says the AAO. These types of puffy eyes are often harder to reach with topical eye cream or serum treatments, but, as Dr. Garshick has shared previously with Makeup.com, there are a slew of various treatments “such as lasers, microneedling or radiofrequency devices…as well as surgical treatments” that can help make under-eye bags less noticeable.
Lack of Sleep
While sleeping positions can cause puffiness of the face in the morning, lack of sleep is also the culprit, according to AAO.
Smoking
Smoking may lead to faster collagen loss, which AAO said can leave the skin underneath your eyes to become thinner and make the blood vessels also appear more noticeable in that delicate area.
Why Is My Face Puffy in the Morning?
Here’s the bad news for you side sleepers: it seems that sleeping position is likely to blame for your puffy face and eyes come morning. “Being horizontal while we sleep allows fluid to redistribute and settle in dependent areas due to gravitational force and pressure,” says Dr. King. “For example, if you sleep on one side, then it’s likely that the side of your face on your pillow will be puffier than the other.”
As for why my eyes are typically the area on my face to swell the most? Giles explains it’s due to the area’s delicate nature. The physiology of the eye contour area is unique from the rest of the face – it shows most the signs of fatigue because it’s the most strained and fragile area,” she says. “We blink approximately 10,000 times a day to keep our eyes hydrated and functioning well, but in this span of time overnight the lymph, which is responsible for carrying waste products from the blood, can accumulate.” As a result of this fluid retention, it presents itself in the form of swelling in the lower eyelid. And although it typically settles during the course of the morning, the puffiness may remain depending on the circulation. How to Reduce Face Puffiness and Swelling
Sleep With Your Head Propped Up
As mentioned above, sleeping with your head propped up on an extra pillow can serve to help prevent excess fluid from building up in and around your face, creating the illusion of puffiness. It could take a bit of time getting used to such a kind of sleeping position, but if using a firm pillow, you just may awaken rested and a little less puffy.
Get Enough Sleep
Again, sleep is important, relates to puffiness. According to the AAO, most experts say one should get seven to nine hours of rest a night.
Address Seasonal Allergies
If seasonal allergies are the culprit behind your puffy eyes, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss different options you can take. Whether you go with eye drops or start taking oral antihistamines, your doctor can work with you to come up with a plan that may help alleviate your allergy symptoms.
Try a Depuffing Eye Cream or Serum
And, of course, a caffeine-infused eye cream is also a best friend in offsetting any puffiness. One product recommended by Dr. King for this is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution. Another favorite is this lightweight serum from Youth to the People supercharged with caffeine, brightening vitamin C, peptides, and antioxidant-rich extracts that combat puffiness with dark circles, eye bags, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Another option to give a shot is the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 1% Caffeine Eye Serum, featuring a triple rollerball applicator that gently massages the under-eye area, cooling and soothing as you apply.