Why do our eyes get puffy?

You may notice your eyes getting all puffed up especially in the morning, when you look into the mirror and wonder what happened in your sleep. Puffy eyes are rarely a cause for concern, but here are some reasons why you may experience them.

1. Lack of proper sleep

If you ever had insufficient amounts of sleep or if you have burnt the midnight oil the night before, you might wake up with puffiness around your eyes, and perhaps experienced some difficulty in applying an even layer of makeup around that region! 

Due to a bad quality of sleep, fluid and blood retention around your eyes would increase. This retention of fluid is caused by the constant creation of tears by our body, but not being able to blink constantly while asleep means that a layer of these tears stays on the surface of your eyes, preventing it from draining through the tear ducts. This excess fluid is then being reabsorbed into the surrounding tissues, resulting in swelling and puffiness of your eyes. 

2. Dehydration 

Not drinking enough water throughout the day results in dehydration. When this happens, your body stores as much water as possible and stores it for future use. This can therefore lead to fluid retention and bloating, as well as collecting the retained fluid under your eyes, leading to puffiness.

3. Ageing 

Ageing can be a factor of puffy eyes, due to weakened muscles, tissues, and fats that support your eyelids. With age, the fat that supports your eyes might shift to the lower lids, giving a puffy appearance and also fluid accumulation. 

What can you do? 

1. Get sufficient sleep

Avoid using electronic devices at least one hour before you head to bed, and ensure that you get at least 8 hours of sleep every night! Sticking to a sleep schedule will also help you get enough sleep, and avoid taking in caffeine and exercising at hours nearing your bedtime.

2. Drink enough water

Ensure that you get a sufficient intake of fluids everyday to prevent dehydration and stockpiling of water by your body for future use. As a general guide, one should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily, including soupy meals and fruits that have high water content.

3. Use an eye cream and a cold compress

To reduce swelling and puffiness, try an eye cream that helps relieve these symptoms and reduce inflammation while tightening the skin at the same time. Using a cold compress may also help with reducing puffy eyes as it helps with constricting blood flow and fluid retention around the eyes. 

Try Gentle Gaze - Formulated with de-puffing, de-swelling, hydrating and anti-ageing properties, this eye cream works effectively in de-puffing eyes especially using a unique metal tip applicator that is uncommon in the market. It also contains ingredients like ceramides and red ginseng to help slow ageing and boost collagen. For a cool compress, chill Gentle Gaze in the fridge overnight or over a few hours to enjoy and elevate the de-puffing experience.