Puffy, tired, and dark eyes? You’ve probably searched up “how to get rid of eye bags” or “how to get rid of dark circles” more than once. Especially on your big day, you don’t want to wake up with puffy dark circles! There are many ways you can try to minimize them, so before you run out to get an expensive beauty treatment, try these affordable and easy tips first.

Use a retinoid

Retinol stimulates collagen production and restores the volume and firmness of the skin. If you have dark circles due to thin skin, repeated use of retinol creams can help improve dark circles and make the skin less thin. Makari’s Retinol Control Line Smoothing Eye Cream will be your new best friend as it helps boost collagen production and keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. Retinol is one of the best things for your skin, as it will firm the delicate skin around your eyes, reduce puffiness, and fight signs of ageing.

Use an extra pillow

Keep your head elevated to help prevent fluid build-up around your eyes when you sleep. Use an extra pillow for elevation and a protective cover to protect from allergens. Sleeping on your back also helps prevent fluids from collecting under your eyes, compared to sleeping on your side or your stomach. It’s also important to get seven to eight hours of sleep a day to reduce the appearance of undereye bags.

Try tea bags

A trick for reducing under-eye puffiness is using caffeinated tea, which contains natural tannins. Soak two tea bags in warm water, then chill the bags for a few minutes in the refrigerator. Place one tea bag on each eye for five minutes, and your eyes will feel fresh and look brighter. The caffeine and antioxidants help with blood circulation and reduce liquid retention under your eyes.

Use brightening products and sunscreen

Ingredients like vitamin C and liquorice extract help decrease skin pigmentation over time, resulting in dark circles becoming lighter. Try liquorice extract in Makari’s Extreme Argan & Carrot Oil Tone Boosting Cream, a natural skin-brightening ingredient that clarifies discolouration and even tones the skin. To experience the brightening properties of vitamin C, grab Makari’s Intense Extreme Glow Rejuvenating Complexion Soap, helping to fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots. To avoid hyperpigmentation daily sunscreen is essential, preferably a broad-spectrum physical sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to protect your skin from the sun, such as Makari’s Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 50. Shake the sunscreen well before use. Apply liberally to your face and body 15 minutes before sun exposure. Ensure to reapply after swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, at least every 2 hours.

Be gentle with your makeup remover

Under-eye skin is delicate, so treat it with care, even if you don’t have sensitive skin. When removing makeup use gentle strokes in a single direction rather than rubbing back and forth to reduce irritation and inflammation of the skin.

Reap the benefits of ice

When it comes to fighting puffiness and dark circles, the solutions are ice cold! Use ice globes or chilled metal spoons to run over your skin to de-puff and oxygenate while brightening dark circles. You can also dampen a washcloth with cold water and apply it to the skin under your eyes for 15-20 minutes for the same effect.