Eyebags most notoriously develop as a result of lack of sleep. While this can cause both dark discoloration and puffiness, there are several additional reasons that bags can form below your eyes.
For example, fluid retention can trigger puffiness, and dehydration can cause a reduction in elasticity. These two effects open several doors for eyebags to appear. Age, allergies, heredity, iron deficiencies, sinus infections, and poor diet trigger eye bags.
While extremely common, it is perfectly natural for any man struggling with eye bags to want to get rid of them. No one wants to make a wrong first impression, and eye bags can cause you to appear aged, tired, and weathered.
We at MadeMan have compiled a simple guide on how to get rid of eye bags for men using easy and effective methods.
Moisturize
Consistently using a moisturizer that hydrates the skin can help to support the appearance of the skin surrounding your eyes. The right moisturizer will be able to help your skin to look tighter and can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
We recommend MadeMan’s The Refresher as found in The Re(Set) Collection.
The Refresher is an all-in-one moisturizer designed to provide men with a healthy glow while protecting the skin against ultraviolet rays and pollution. This moisturizer can restore and repair the bags below your eyes by providing your skin with the complex nutrients it craves.
Our product contains an antioxidant blend that promotes the natural repair process, fixes fine lines, and boosts natural collagen production. The Refresher is water-based and uses all-natural ingredients like chicory root, castor seed oil, and vitamin C that fights dark spots, uneven skin texture, and signs of aging.
Tea Bags
Although caffeine is a known trigger for dark bags below the eyes, caffeinated tea bags can do your eye bags some good. The caffeine found in tea contains antioxidants that can help increase blood flow, protect against ultraviolet rays, and resist premature aging.
While you can have your choice at tea bags, green and herbal teas are beneficial for their anti-inflammatory effects.
Select two tea bags, steep them in boiling water for about four minutes and then allow them to chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Then you can squeeze out any additional liquid to apply beneath your eyes.
Finally, you can leave the tea bags placed on your under-eye area for 15 to 30 minutes.
Natural Oils
There are several natural oils that you can use to treat your eye bags.
Almond Oil
Almond oil can be used to get rid of puffy eyes and to treat any discoloration below the eyes by lightening one’s skin tone. Almond oil can nourish the skin because it consists of oleic acid, protein, fiber, iron, and essential vitamins.
Apply the almond oil below your eyes, massage it in, and then let it sit overnight until rinsing it off the following day.
Argan Oil
Argan oil can rejuvenate the skin and reduce puffiness because of its antioxidant, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.
To apply the argan oil, massage it below your eyes and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then you can use your cleanser to wash the oil off of your face.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil helps reduce the redness and swelling that can maximize the appearance of unhealthy under the eyes. It is capable of keeping the eyes healthy because of its antiseptic and antioxidant qualities.
Before applying lavender oil to your skin, mix it with water. Place the mixture below your eyes, and then leave it on overnight until you wash it off the following day with your cleanser.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is another useful oil for hydrating and moisturizing the skin and reducing puffiness. The oil can reduce eye bags because it is rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help protect against free radicals.
Apply olive oil below your eyes at night. After cleansing your face, take the oil and massage a thin layer into your skin on the targeted area.
Diet
Adjusting your diet can be one of the best ways to get rid of your eye bags. The skin surrounding your eyes is amongst the thinnest and most vulnerable. When your body is struggling internally, it will often become reflected physically below your eyes.
Water
One of the simplest ways to improve your diet and, in turn, your body’s health and appearance is to drink more water. As previously mentioned, dehydration is one of the most common causes of bags below the eyes.
Increasing your water intake is the best and most direct way to treat your dehydration. It is generally recommended that men consume on average 15.5 cups of fluids a day. If drinking more water is not the right option for you, you can also try eating foods with high water content.
Some examples of water-rich foods are watermelon (water content of 92 percent), cucumbers (water content of 95 percent), strawberries (water content of 91 percent), and lettuce (water content of 96 percent).
To improve your hydration levels, you can also try to reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol is a diuretic and a major cause of dehydration.
Vitamins
Increasing your vitamin intake can help with treating the bags below your eyes. With time, your eyelids will weaken as the muscles, and tissues surrounding your eyes lose strength. This will contribute to the lack of elasticity that causes your eye bags to sag.
By consuming supplements or foods rich in vitamins like vitamin C or vitamin E, you can increase your hyaluronic acid levels and support your skin’s collagen production.
Foods rich in vitamin C include oranges, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, kale, and red peppers. Foods rich in vitamin E include almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach, pumpkin, and peanuts.
Minerals
Mineral deficiencies may be a cause of bags developing below your eyes. Increasing your intake of necessary minerals can help you to resolve this issue. In particular, iron deficiencies are known to contribute to causing dark circles under the eyes.
Anemia is a condition that involves one’s blood lacking in red blood cells, which are the cells that carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body. If you notice that you are feeling fatigued in addition to your eye bags, your nails have become brittle, and your hands and feet are colder than usual, you may be anemic.
If the cause of your eye bags is a mild iron deficiency, implementing more iron-rich foods into your diet may be the solution. These foods include red meat, beans, spinach, raisins, and seafood.
Rest
Rest is perhaps the simplest solution for bags under your eyes. It is not just about how much you rest but also how you do it.
Lacking a sufficient amount of sleep can cause your complexion to become paler, which, in turn, may exacerbate the appearance of dark circles below your eyes. Though the right amount of sleep varies for everyone, it is recommended that adults get between seven to eight hours of sleep every night.
To avoid interrupting your rest, try scheduling your sleep, avoid caffeine in the hours leading up to rest, and turn off your electronics prior to lying down. When you are sleeping, you can try elevating your head with additional pillows to avoid fluid from pooling in your lower eyelids and creating a puffy appearance.
You can also apply cold compresses under the eyes to provide your blood vessels with some relief for additional support.
You can even make the cold compress yourself using items you already have at home. A wet washcloth or chilled slices of vegetables would be more than sufficient. You are welcome to apply your compress for as long as you wish, though only a few minutes are necessary.
Microneedling
When it comes to treating the bags under your eyes, there are several treatments that you can discuss with your dermatologist. One of which is microneedling.
Microneedling is a treatment in which needles puncture your skin with sterilized needles. The procedure is meant to support collagen production, which can reduce wrinkles, scarring, dark circles, and bags below the eyes.
Microneedling is effective but does require multiple sessions performed about a month apart from each other. We advise you to consult with your dermatologist to ensure that this is the right treatment option for you.
Conclusion
Eyebags can be embarrassing, but they don’t have to be permanent. There are several different triggers for bags developing below the eyes, making them extremely common. Thankfully, the solutions are simple.
We recommend trying whatever is easiest for you and going from there. Moisturize every morning and night, improve your diet, get enough rest, and try things like natural oils, cold compresses, and tea bags to support the skin surrounding your eyes.
In more severe cases, consider consulting with your dermatologist to discuss various treatment options that can help you get rid of your eye bags.
Sources:
[Skin hydration and hydrating products] | PubMed
Microneedling for the Treatment of Scars: An Update for Clinicians | PubMed
