Sick of eye bags? Try these expert-approved instant fixes for puffiness, dark circles & wrinkles

We take a peep at the latest ways to reduce puffiness, dark circles and fine lines to look bright-eyed and bushy tailed!

Words: Katy Sunnassee & Angela Kennedy | Images: Shutterstock & various brands

Your eyes are a major focal point of your face, so it’s only natural to want them to sparkle and shine. Eyes convey your emotions, connect you to loved ones and may even be, as the saying goes, a window to your soul. Yet perhaps when you look in the mirror, an image of tiredness is reflected back in under-eye dark shadows, fine lines, sagging skin or puffiness. Eyes can give away whether you’re run down or energised, happy or sad.

‘The eyes are the first thing you notice when you look in the mirror. If you look tired and rundown, it can really affect how you feel about yourself,’ says Dr Elizabeth Hawkes, consultant ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon (drelizabethhawkes.com). ‘The skin around your eyes is one of the first places to show signs of ageing as it is so fragile, so it needs a bit of extra TLC,’ she says, recommending you use a dedicated eye cream not just regular moisturiser. ‘My clients are increasingly coming to the clinic to address their eye concerns. Late nights, increased screen time, busy schedules and parenthood have taken their toll, and they are seeing the skin around their eyes feeling thinner, more delicate and looking tired,’ she adds.

So, skin around your eyes is thinner, but why do the dreaded puffiness and dark circles seem to strike some people more than others? ‘You might experience puffiness or dark circles because of a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors,’ says Dr Soni, plastic surgeon, founder of The Soni Clinic in Ascot (thesoniclinic.com), with a Residency at The Langham London. ‘Everybody’s collagen is arranged differently, and some people lose elasticity more quickly than others. If you have darker skin, you may experience more hyper-pigmentation under the eyes. Puffiness is often down to lifestyle factors – lack of sleep, dehydration, too much alcohol and smoking all propagate inflammation. Sun exposure can affect the elasticity of your face, as too much UV damage will always impact your skin. For some people, it is harder to clear swelling under their eyes because they have poor lymphatic flow in their face. That can be exacerbated with age too,’ he says. In fact, from the age of 20, you lose about one per cent of your collagen each year, with this decline accelerating as you get older. ‘As women reach peri-menopause, they lose another 30 per cent of their collagen within about five years. This is why women’s facial ageing is more accelerated than men’s, although eventually we catch up to each other,’ says Dr Soni.

To compound matters, the under-eye area is notoriously hard to treat due to the thin skin, but all that’s changing now. ‘Historically we didn’t have many effective products to treat under the eyes. With the introduction of collagen-stimulating injectables, we now have products that can actually improve skin health and quality,’ says Dr Soni. He uses polynucleotides in clients aged from their twenties to eighty-somethings. But he says you can get even better results by using the right skincare with the injectables. ‘While I love treating with polynucleotides, you have to combine the treatment with skincare,’ he says. ‘Having treatments and not using skincare is like going to the dentist and not brushing your teeth between appointments. You need to target your skin health at every level, from superficial to deep,’ he advises. ‘The ultimate under-eye treatment is a combination of polynucleotides with medical-grade retinol. Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is good at boosting collagen and increasing cell turnover. This makes it a great complement to a treatment like polynucleotides, which also boosts collagen. Most people are scared to use retinol because they are worried about irritation and side effects but I recommend AlumierMD Retinol Eye Gel, which has a delayed release retinol for minimal chances of irritation. I’ve never had a reaction from it, and neither have any of my patients.’

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Dark circles

Both men and women are impacted by under-eye discolouration, but women are affected at a faster rate. Dark circles are traditionally thought of as a sign of tiredness, however, this is not always the case. ‘Dark circles can be genetic or linked to vascular health. Lifestyle factors such as dehydration and smoking can play a huge part when it comes to the appearance and persistence of dark circles,’ says Dr Hawkes. Another factor is skin and structure changes as you age. You naturally lose volume in the facial area, especially under the eyes. A loss of fat and collagen, combined with the descent of the eyelid structures, can create hollows and shadows, which accentuates dark circles. Additionally, skin becomes thinner and less elastic with age, making the underlying blood vessels more visible. ‘Skincare is essential – eye creams rich in antioxiants, peptides, ceramides and other active ingredients to help promote collagen and elastin production, hydrate, prevent pigmentation and to brighten skin is essential,’ says Dr Maryam Zamani (drmaryamzamani.com). ‘The eye area is devoid of the larger glands we have elsewhere on the face and coupled with the constant movement, is the reason we see ageing happen in this area. Eye creams and serums help improve this,’ she adds.

And how you apply your skincare can also make a difference. ‘It’s good to be super careful with how you are handling the delicate eye area. I always suggest using a dedicated eye make-up remover that won’t drag the skin, which can lead to further sagging over time,’ says Dr Hawkes.

Another reason for puffiness around the eyes can be an infection. ‘Puffiness can sometimes be triggered by ocular diseases such as styes, blepharitis and conjunctivitis,’ says Dr Hawkes. Medical conditions such as thyroid dysfunction and lymphoma can cause eyelid puffiness. It can also be triggered or worsened by lack of sleep, allergies, smoking, nasal congestion, dehydration and eating too much salt. ‘Try using ice globes – especially in the morning. They give a cold shock to the skin, which results in increased blood flow to the targeted area. More blood essentially means more oxygen and a richer nutrient delivery, which in turn helps to flush away toxins and reduce water retention,’ says Dr Hawkes.

Aesthetic procedures for youthful eyes

Profhilo

This injectable treatment helps improve skin hydration and tightness around the eyes. Hyaluronic acid, the active agent in Profhilo, can hold 1,000 times its weight in water creating a significant deep moisturising activity. Profhilo remodels the skin by stimulating elastin and collagen production. ‘Using Profhilo we can help to achieve a firmer, plumper skin with a smoother texture. This can be an excellent option for the under-eye area in people who are prone to puffiness,’ says Dr Hawkes, who offers the treatment. From price requested, drelizabethhawkes.com.

Light Eyes Ultra Mesotherapy

This innovative cocktail of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and botanical extracts is formulated for the delicate upper and lower eyelid area and helps to improve microcirculation, skin elasticity and dark circles. It brightens, firms and refreshes while reducing puffiness and swelling. A brilliant option for those concerned with dark circles around the eyes. From £600, drmaryamzamani.com.

Endolift

At last, a non-invasive treatment for eye-bags! This laser technology is specifically designed to tackle skin laxity and unwanted fat in localised areas that often result from the natural ageing process. The laser generates heat beneath the skin, targeting the layer of cells where fibroblasts responsible for collagen production are located, tightening loose skin and reducing stubborn pockets of fat. Prices vary by practitioner, from £1,200, endolift.co.uk/practitioners.

Blepharoplasty surgery

If non-invasive procedures just aren’t enough, eyelid surgery is another option, which cuts away the excess skin and fat from the eyelids to improve appearance and reduce under-eye bags. Results often last for 10-15 years and results vary from person to person. From £4,600, moorfields.nhs.uk.

Wake up to brighter eyes

AlumierMD Retinol Eye Gel

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Omnilux Eye Brightener

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SEABODY Pentabrite Eye Serum

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Optase Life Sensitive Eye Makeup Remover

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Cryotherapy Ice Globes for Face and Eyes

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