First, some general information about the skin around the eyes……

The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and is jam-packed with blood vessels, making it a very sensitive area.  This area of skin also ages quicker than skin on other areas of the body, which translates into a direct correlation on your personal appearance.  Having "puffy eyes" or "dark circles" (two common references to reasons why people buy eye creams) can give off the notion of one leading an unhealthy lifestyle or being prone to late nights, partying, or just not taking care of themselves.  That said, it’s important to treat these signs of aging at moments notice, in order to give off a more healthy presence and avoid making a bad first impression on others. 

You are not alone – Even Stars such as Eva Mendes suffer from puffy eyes!

So, what are the direct causes of puffy eyes?

There are several causes of puffy eyes, which we’ll list in no particular order…

• Crying can cause puffy eyes, as the skin around and under the eyes swells and more blood travels through this area. 
• Stress is a MAJOR cause of puffy eyes.
• Fluid retention.
• Allergies (seasonal impact).
• Hormonal changes.  This happens in both the teenage years and after about age 30 in both men and women.
• Excessive alcohol intake

Finally, like in the case of dark under eye circles, lack of sleep is a major cause of puffy eyes.  By keeping a routine sleep schedule, and getting the proper amount of sleep each evening, you can prevent puffiness around the eyes. 

Now that you know what causes puffy eyes, we’ll add some suggestions on how you can treat puffy eyes……

1.  The best way to treat puffy eyes is to use an eye cream on a daily basis.  Eye creams, especially those with Eyeliss, (among the best clinical performers for treating puffy eyes) are the best treatment to reduce the appearance of puffy eyes. If you use an eye cream on a daily basis (or an eye serum or eye gel, as they are often marketed), you are staying ahead of the game and ensuring your skin gets the necessary nutrients to stay in tip-top shape.

2.  Drink plenty of water.  Staying hydrated helps your body in many ways, but did you know it can be a great way to keep puffy eyes at bay?  Water not only keeps skin on the entire body healthy and glowing, but it also keeps the skin directly under the eyes looking full and plump. 

3.  An eye care remedy you can use (that you will find in many spa treatments, such as facials) is to apply two cold cucumber slices on top of your eyes. 

4.  Lastly, limit your sodium intake.  Sodium is shown to dehydrate your body, which of course leads to unhealthy skin.  Easy on the salt!

People of all ages complain of dark circles under their eyes. The term ‘dark circles under the eyes’ is used to explain a variety of different conditions specific to the lower eyelids that are easy to diagnose and can be corrected with ease by modern techniques. However, a number of people who complain of dark circles under their eyes frequently have a condition more known as hollow eyes’ which is a distinct anatomical condition that is different from dark circles under the eyes. It is imperative to recognize symptoms of the hollow eye syndrome because the process frequently used to treat dark circles under the eyes does not correct the hollow eye look. This can actually make the hollow eye syndrome worse.

Puffy Lower Eyelids

As we age, we begin to notice how the lower eyelid skin becomes puffy or starts to bulge outward. This condition is often referred to as ‘bags under the eyes’. Bags under the eyes are caused from weakness of the aging tissues which leads to sagging of the lower eyelid skin. A build up of fat starts to form underneath the lower eyelid skin and below the eyeball creating puffiness. Younger and healthier skin tissues are normally taut, restraining the fat from protruding. However, the more we age, the weaker the lower eyelid skin becomes and harder it is to maintain the fat that pushes its way forward and starts protruding, almost like a hernia. The technical name for this condition other than bags under the eyes or puffy eyelids, is called fatty orbital herniation. It is a hernia of fat that is normally contained in the eye socket or orbit.