You’ve possibly heard about the use of cucumbers to relieve puffy eyes. A common complaint amongst women (and men) from every walk of life, under eye puffiness may be caused by a range of factors including:
- Allergies
- Insufficient sleep
- Dehydration
- Excessive alcohol or salt
- Underlying medical conditions.
The first step to relieving puffy eyes is prevention. If they are a result of any of the above, try to address it. Eat a well balanced and healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean protein and healthy fats. Get enough exercise and sleep and try to manage stress, which can play a big role in how skin appears. Good skin care, including the use of a well formulated, UVA/UVB blocking sunscreen as found in Anthelios sunscreens or our extensive selection of natural sunscreens is a must to ensure that you minimize the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which form the skin’s supporting network. Unprotected UV exposure can cause skin to loose its elasticity, thereby increasing the appearance of puffy eyes.
Can Cucumbers Relieve Puffy Eyes?
While cucumber slices are often advocated to help relieve the puffiness, there isn’t a magical ingredient in cucumbers that helps. Puffiness is often caused by dilated blood vessels. This can lead to swelling, resulting in puffy eyes. The application of something cool (like cucumber slices) helps to constrict blood vessels and decrease the swelling. Cool compresses with cold tea bags, wet cotton balls, apple or potato slices will have a similar effect.
Treaments For Puffy Eyes
Topical treatments, which contain the following active ingredients can help:
- Vitamin C to boost collagen production and fight free radical damage that can make the under eye area appear more youthful. Consider La Roche Posay Active C Eyes or Redermic Eyes
- Yeast cell derivative, which is a peptide that can boost collagen production has been shown to help puffy eyes. Preparation H (Canadian version).
- Hydrating ingredients such as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin as found in Hydraphase Eyes, can minimize puffiness by rehydrating and smoothing the area.
