How to get rid of pesky undereye bags

We’ve all been there– staring in the mirror, focusing on the bags under our eyes, and then frantically googling “how to get rid of dark circles”—on more than one occasion. From ageing to lifestyle, there are several reasons for the appearance of undereye bags. Undereye skin is generally the thinnest on the face and is known to be fragile and easily reactive. Yet the most common cause is genetics. “Studies have shown that Indians, genetically, are more susceptible to dark circles from an early age”, says Dr Madhuri Agarwal, medical director and CEO of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic. Other causes include poor and inadequate sleep, excessive rubbing of eyes, contact dermatitis, and even loss of collagen. “Certain internal medical conditions like kidney disorders, vitamin deficiency, and anaemia can also cause dark circles”, adds Dr Agarwal. 

So how exactly do you get rid of these pesky underye bags? 

Certain lifestyle changes can help significantly–ensuring adequate hydration and reducing sodium consumption are essential in reducing puffiness. Alcohol and caffeine further aggravate the problem, so it’s best to limit your consumption.

“Use cold water to wash your face and you can use ice-cold compresses too. Skin tools like the gua sha or a jade roller can be used for a quick lymphatic drainage massage to depuff your face, too”, advises Dr Agarwal. “Consider using a good moisturizing eye cream containing Vitamin C, retinoids, hyaluronic, seaweed extracts, active peptides, etc,” she adds. These ingredients reduce puffiness and dark circles. The bad news is that the results are not permanent unless lifestyle modifications are implemented alongside for long-term improvement. Vitamin K, Vitamin C, and other lightening agents such as liquorice, niacinamide, and azelaic acid can also be used to remedy dark circles. Retinol especially helps, as it stimulates collagen.

Needless to say, it's also important to use sunscreen daily, even on top of your eye cream and to re-apply it every 3-4 hours. Sun damage is one of the foremost causes of eye and under-eye ageing, so wearing protective shades with UVA & UVB protection can help prevent premature eyebags.

“Ensure a good 6-8 hours’ sleep, preferably from 11 pm to 7 am, as it balances your stress hormones, and reduces dark circles. You can also sleep with your head slightly elevated to reduce puffiness when you wake up”, recommends Dr Agarwal.

Bid adieu to your under-eye bags with these simple yet effective suggestions of some of our favourite undereye creams. After all the only bags you need are Dior and Chanel.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex, ₹5,700

Dr Sheth’s Undereye Cream with Chamomile, ₹699

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream, ₹999

Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift Cream, ₹5,300

Beauty of Joseon Revive Eye Serum, ₹1,420

Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Eye Cream, ₹5,400

Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment, ₹2,100

Laneige Water Bank Eye Cream, ₹2,900

Feature image: @AliaBhatt/Instagram

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