Fashion

11 Unexpected Ways To Depuff Your Eyes

by Emily McClure
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Looking well rested doesn't always have to require eight hours of sleep. In fact, there are other unexpected ways to de-puff tired looking eyes and look wide awake without even hitting the pillow. Before you go and grab yet another cup of coffee, take the time to soothe your tired peepers. With these instant fixes, you can banish those zombies, and get back to looking like your beautiful, well rested self. No eye creams required.

When it comes to brightening your eyes, it's best to start with clean hands and skin. You don't want to risk adding any germs to your already puffy eyes. So, before you try out any of these hacks, be sure to wash your hands and keep your face clean. It's an easy to avoid any possible irritation. With that said, you can do these easy fixes anywhere. Whether it's a Sunday morning before brunch or a early morning at the office, these eye brightening hacks can go with you anywhere. So, don't worry about missing a few precious sleep. There are plenty of ways to mask it. Here are 11 unexpected ways to brighten your eyes without using an eye cream.

1. Grab A Cold Spoon

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Awaken tired, puffy eyes by placing a cold, clean spoon against them. Not only does the shape of the spoon fit perfectly against the eye socket, but the cold metal will feel amazing against your skin.

2. Change Out Your Face Cleanser

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According to Dr. Matthew Zirwas, director of the Contact Dermatitis Center at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center in an interview with Oprah.com, facial cleansers can leave behind a residue that can get caught in the folds of the eyelids. This residue can cause irritation that can lead to puffiness and swelling around the eyes. Lessen your chances of eye irritation by switching out your facial cleanser with a hypoallergenic option.

3. Get Caffeinated

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Uncle Lee's Organic Green Tea, $3, Amazon

Bring your eyes back to life by placing two dampened tea bags against your eyes for 20 minutes. According to Good Housekeeping, the caffeine in the tea will help to constrict the blood vessels in your eyes and reduce the look of puffy eyes.

4. Use Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera Gel, $16, Amazon

According to Brydie.com, aloe vera is a great way to soothe tired eyes. The gel contains several anti-inflammatory properties that help to calm puffy eyes. Place the aloe vera in your fridge for a cooling twist.

5. Chop Up A Cucumber

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While it may seem like a cliché, cucumbers are actually great at reducing puffiness in the eyes. According to the team at Cosmopolitan, the coolness of the cucumbers help to soothe your bags, while the vegetable's skin lightening properties work to brighten up your dark circles.

6. Or A Potato

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Much like the cucumber trick, potatoes are also excellent sources of moisturizing and brightening properties. Parade.com suggests to grate two tablespoons of raw potato, and place it in two emptied tea bags for easier cleanup.

7. Or Even An Apple

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An apple a day can keep eye bags at bay, according to The Daily Mail. Keep an apple in your fridge, and cut into slices when you need a brightening fix.

8. Start Tapping

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Now, here's a trick that is so simple anyone can do it. According to esthetician Joanna Czech in an interview with Byrdie.com, one of the best ways to loosen the fluid build up under your eyes is to simply tap it away. She suggests using your middle or ring finger to tap all around your eyes to stimulate blood flow and cause the fluids to drain.

9. Ice, Ice Baby

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If you're in a pinch, use an ice cube to help shrink swollen blood vessels. The coolness of ice will help to perk up your eyes, and leave your face looking wide awake.

10. Use Frozen Veggies

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According to cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Debra Luftman in an interview with Real Simple, one of the fastest ways to depuff your eyes is wrap a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel, and place it over your eyes for 10 minutes. The coolness of the bag will help to stimulate circulation under your eyes, and bring down the fluid buildup.

11. Use A Hemorrhoid Cream

Preparation H, $11, Amazon

While it may sound gross, many makeup artists and celebrities swear by using hemorrhoid creams to fight off eye bags. According to Cosmopolitan, the cream contains phenylephrine, which helps to constrict blood vessels and constrict under eye tissue.

So, even if you didn't get a full night of sleep, you can still fake your way to well rested perfection.

Images: Getty Images (10); Courtesy Brands