If there’s one aesthetic concern most of us can say we’ve experienced in our lives, it’s puffy eyes. We're no stranger to waking up with a face plagued with under-eye bags more times than we can count. And as we age, it seems that the puffiness gets harder and harder to get rid of.
Luckily, there are a ton of products on the market that can speed up the process of reducing puffiness. But before we list our top recommendations, it’s important to understand exactly what causes puffy eyes in the first place. Shop TODAY consulted board-certified dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo and medical esthetician Victoria Waked to find out more.
Best for on-the-go application$12.89$15.79
Best eye mask$undefined$36.00
What causes puffy eyes?
“While this is a problem that worsens with age, it is usually caused by fluid accumulation in delicate, thin eye skin,” says Ciraldo. “Since eye skin is some of the thinnest on our body, the loss of elasticity in both the skin itself and the vessels causes more leakage of fluid out of delicate and aging vessels, and the skin doesn't have the elasticity to resist puffiness from increased fluid caused by vessel leakage.”
Another cause of puffy eyes is the sagging of fat pads around the eyes, which are a genetic issue and often a result of aging. Allergies, lack of sleep and a high-salt diet — which causes fluid retention in the eye area — are also common causes of under-eye bags.
How do you reduce eye puffiness?
There are a ton of products available to help with puffy eyes (more on that later!), but there are also lifestyle changes that can help minimize bags as well. “Sleep on a couple of pillows to promote drainage [from the under eyes],” Ciraldo suggests. “Also, try to follow a low-salt diet for a week to see if this improves puffiness, and massage away excess fluid with a roller.”
Finally, it’s important to ensure your bedroom is free of any potential allergens — especially your bed. “Wash your pillowcase at least every three days and steam your pillow about every two weeks to minimize dust mite accumulation,” says Ciraldo. Dust, a common allergen, can lead to puffiness under the eyes.
Waked adds that adequate sleep, managing stress, staying hydrated and using a cooling eye cream or gel with ingredients like cucumber and aloe vera are all ways to reduce puffiness.
Ingredients to look for in products to reduce eye puffiness
In addition to the cucumber and aloe vera mentioned above, Waked says, "Efficient products for puffy eyes should contain ingredients like caffeine, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to reduce swelling and improve skin elasticity."
She also calls out peptides as an effective ingredient.
Best products for puffy eyes, according to experts and editors
Affordable, yet "effective": Sierra Hoeger, an associate editor at Shop TODAY, recommends this reusable ice mold that's designed to help calm and de-puff sin. She says, "I got this to try during last year’s Beauty Awards and recently started using it again! It’s helped the puffiness underneath my eyes immensely, and helps give me a good boost in the morning when I need a little help waking up."
“Caffeine in skin care will produce some constriction of blood vessels for a temporary improvement in eye puffiness,” says Ciraldo. “This option features caffeine from coffee and green tea mixed with vitamins C and E.”
Senior editor Jess Bender says she never had to deal with eye puffiness or dark circles until last year and, while she was on the hunt for a solution, knew she didn’t want to add yet another cream to her morning skin care routine.
“I’ve heard many people sing the praises of caffeine for the eye region, so this easy-to-navigate gel roller from Korres (a brand that I’ve loved for a long while) spoke to me and my lazy girl beauty routine. The instant massage the applicator provides does wonders for whatever puffiness I may be feeling in the morning. Plus, I’ve seen a bit of reduction in my under-eye darkness over the span of the last month.”
Hoeger says she fell in love with Florence by Mills when she was in college and needed depuffing and brightening products the most. "Since then I’ve continued to buy these eye masks that truly reduce puffiness and awaken the eyes, thanks to the caffeine. I also appreciate the clean ingredients and the fun shapes the patches come in."
Associate editor Lauren Witonsky has tried this viral eye cream and says it "really does have an instant tightening effect that you can feel seconds after you apply."
She notes that it only took a small amount to see a difference and warns against using too much because it can be irritating.
"A little goes a long way!" says Witonsky about this product. "I’ve been on the fence about whether eye creams were worth up until I tried this one. I can’t speak to the long-term benefits since I just started using it this week, but I swear after the first application my under eye area looked brighter and more lifted."
Witonsky continues, "The metal applicator feels soothing to apply during my nighttime routine, and I use my ring finger to dab any excess product over my eyelids."
Hoeger is also a fan of this serum from Drunk Elephant (despite saying she feels like a 12-year-old whenever she's in that section of Sephora; IYKYK). "This is the only eye cream I’ve found that works to reduce bags and puffiness for me. It truly does last a long time (I’m still on my first bottle from three months ago!) and it has a light texture that doesn’t leave any sort of residue."
Annie Shigo, an editorial assistant at Shop TODAY, recommends this collagen-boosting complex by Clinical Skin. She tells us, "I use this in the morning right when I wake up and it provides instant moisture and really wakes up my skin."
This is a personal favorite of mine [Stewart]. I've been using it for years and I can never sing its praises loud enough. The serum is light but effective and the metal applicator provides a cooling boost to start your day.
More products for puffy eyes
“Eye masks and eye patches can help depuff,” notes Ciraldo. Infused with vitamin E, jojoba and cucumber, this cream instantly soothes stressed-out eyes. Simply dab this on after your normal morning skin care routine and your eyes will slowly depuff before you head out the door.
This affordable option is perfect for depuffing on-the-go — simply toss it in your bag and apply it whenever you need a quick refresh. Not only does the formula contain caffeine for tightening, but the rollerball within the packaging helps to drain fluid from under your eye as it’s rolled across your skin.
Retinol is one of those skin care ingredients people can’t stop talking about. Its anti-aging properties are designed to help reduce dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness around the eyes.
Under-eye masks are an easy and low-maintenance way to take care of your eyes, especially if you’re traveling. Dieux describes this eye mask as “the last eye mask you’ll ever need” since it’s completely reusable and beloved by shoppers everywhere. The eye masks are made from non-porous silicone and are easy to use. Simply apply your favorite eye product and place the eye masks over the product. You can even put them in the fridge or freezer for an added cooling effect!
If you’re a fan of rollerball products but have more mature skin, this option is ideal. Antioxidants, caffeine and soothing botanicals tackle both puffiness and fine lines along the eye area. Skin is visibly smoothed after every use. Pro tip: Toss this product in the fridge for an extra cooling effect when using.
According to the brand, this bestselling eye cream by StriVectin works to achieve younger-looking eyes in just five days. Horse chestnut flower extract hydrates the under eyes, while micro-algae extract diminishes the look of puffiness.
Frequently asked questions
Waked says you should keep your eye masks on for 15-20 minutes to allow active ingredients to penetrate, but try to avoid leaving them on for too long because it can cause irritation or dehydration.
To get the most out of your eye patches, she recommends layering them over a serum for even more results.
The truth is: both are right, depending on the goal you're trying to achieve.
"Applying eye patches with the tail inward targets under-eye puffiness, while outward placement focuses on addressing crow's feet and fine lines," Waked explains. "Tail-inward placement is ideal for a more immediate de-puffing effect."
"It's recommended to start using under-eye products in the late teens to early twenties as a preventive measure against signs of aging," says Waked.
How we chose
While finding the best products to get rid of puffy eyes, we at Shop TODAY spoke with two medical experts (a board-certified dermatologist and a medical esthetician) about what usually causes puffiness and how to treat it. We included a few of their go-to products, as well as favorites from the editors on our team. We even added multiple items for puffy eyes that are popular amongst shoppers.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist that has been practicing for over 40 years.
- Victoria Waked is an advanced medical esthetician and the U.S. head of training at Dr. med. Christine Schrammek.
