Sleeping Beauty

One of the most common causes of eye bags is sleep deprivation. When you're tired, your eyes are put under strain, which can cause fluid build-up. If you keep using electronic devices, like your smartphone or tablet when you're tired or in the dark, you'll strain your eyes even more - which could leave your eyes puffy. Another cause is sleeping stomach-down, with your face in the pillow. Fluids will build up underneath your skin and just underneath your eyes, as this is the area of the face with enough "space" for the fluid to build up. Combat eye bags caused by sleep deprivation by - wait for it - getting enough sleep!

If you struggle with eye bags because you sleep on your stomach and keep drifting back to sleeping on your tummy despite trying to sleep on your back, sew a tennis ball into the front of your pyjamas - that way, if you roll over onto your tum, it'll be so uncomfortable that you'll roll back over onto your back.

Concealing Eye Bags with Makeup

Whether your eye bags are genetic or caused by excess pigment in the area, you can reduce and conceal them much more easily than you might think. Concealers are fantastic for reducing the appearance of eye bags and if yours are particularly prominent, you're better off choosing a creamy formula - if they're only small, you can get away with a liquid formula. Choose a formula with light-reflecting particles to blur and minimize the appearance of the bags. Gently pat the formula underneath the eyes, from the inner corners of the eyes to the outer corners of the eyes and don't rub it in, as it'll settle into any under-eye creases and will just make the bags look even worse.

Hydration

The best way to minimize under eye bags is with plenty of hydration. You don't need an expensive formula - just a regular drug-store moisturizer will do, but you do need to pat it into the under eye area very gently every night before you go to bed. Rubbing it in "drags" the skin under the eyes which can make bags look even worse, so make sure that you pat it in very gently until absorbed.

See Also: Eye Exercises for Healthy Eyes

Cucumbers, Cold Teaspoons and Tea Bags

There are a vast number of temporary quick fixes for reducing puffiness and under eye bags and it's all about finding a solution that works for you. Most of them work by constricting blood vessels and by cooling the area, which helps to reduce puffiness. Try chilling teaspoons for an hour or two before placing onto the eyes, or using a teabag to make tea and instead of throwing it away, leave it to one side to cool completely. You could also use slices of cucumber. And if using hemorrhoid cream works for you? Keep applying it - many of us swear by it!