“Puffy” is a term that’s great when used to describe a puffer jacket or Diddy’s former moniker. It’s a bad term if you’re describing how your eyes look.
Unfortunately, puffy eyes happen from time to time, and nothing says, “I’m here for a nap” more than eyes that look perpetually tired and swollen.
Thankfully, the skincare experts at Disco have a few tricks up our sleeves for getting rid of puffy bags and avoiding them altogether. Let’s go over possible reasons for the puff, and how you can deflate the situation.
What’s Causing the Puff?
Puff happens, but there’s always a reason. Once you know the reason, you can find a solution.
Here are a few reasons why you might be experiencing eyes that are irritated, puffy, and tired looking.
Lack of Sleep
Three hours of sleep was all you needed to operate a few years ago, but you’re older now and that kind of sleep schedule doesn’t work like it used to. Most guys need between seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
If you’re hitting the gym hard or involved in sports, you probably need closer to nine or maybe even ten hours of sleep to allow for muscle repair.
Sleep deprivation won’t just give you puffy eyes, it takes an enormous toll on your body and negatively impacts your health. If you’re currently living on minimal sleep, go to bed earlier. Trust us, future you will thank you for it, and current you won’t wake up with puffy eyes.
Fourth (or Fifth) Meal
Your diet plays a big role in your appearance, and not just in terms of weight gain or loss. Eating too much of certain types of macronutrients can affect the way your skin looks and feels.
For instance, too much sodium can cause you to retain water, which can cause your face (and under eye area) to swell and look puffy.
Another puffy-eye offender? Caffeine. Too many caffeinated drinks can cause you to become dehydrated, which will also cause you to retain water. The same goes for booze (sorry man, just the facts). Alcohol can dehydrate you, especially if you drink too much, causing you to retain water and wake up the next morning with hungover eyes.
Hemotions
Even if you don’t have a lot of frequent crier miles, a year like 2020 can leave your emotions on a hair trigger.
Crying can make your eyes puffy and swollen. When your eyes produce a lot of tears, the system that keeps them locked inside your eyes and uses them to hydrate your eyeballs can’t keep up, tears spill out of your eyes, and that’s basically crying in a nutshell.
Tears are less concentrated than other fluids in your body. When you cry, your tears pass through porous tissues that surround your eyes and cause your eyes to appear puffy. Pressing on your eyes and rubbing them while you’re crying exacerbates the situation, and can make your eyes red and even more swollen.
Puffiness from crying can last for an entire day and can even run into the day after, especially if you’ve had a particularly good sob, and we’ll admit -- we’ve definitely had a real moment or two over the past year.
A Day at the Beach
Whether you’re at the beach, on the boat, or otherwise exposed outdoors, the sun can wreak havoc on your skin, especially if you aren’t protected against it. Getting sunburned eyelids can make your eyes look puffy, and can also be pretty dangerous.
You don’t even have to be in direct sunlight for this to happen. Any time you’re outdoors you’re exposed to UV light, which can burn the skin. Sunburns occur because your skin isn’t protected against harmful UV light rays.
Skin that is sunburned is red or pink, hot, and can even blister, peel, and swell. Your eyes can burn on the eyelids and also under the eyes. The swelling under your eyes can make them look puffy and feel uncomfortable.
Aging
Getting older changes your skin, and one of the most significant changes is the decline in your skin cell’s collagen production.
Collagen is a basic protein that makes up tissue in your body. Ligaments and tendons are made from collagen, and it’s a vital component of your skin that gives it its elasticity. This is essentially what makes your skin look full and youthful.
As you get older, your skin cell’s produce less collagen. Less collagen means looser skin, especially under your eyes. Because the skin around your eyes is super thin to begin with, it’s more susceptible to looking saggy and more noticeable if your eyes are swollen or if you’re retaining water.
How To Get Rid of Puffy Eyes
If you’re tired of puffy eyes, take a cue from Diddy and ditch the term altogether. Puffy eyes are a common problem that usually have a definable cause and easy solution.
Here’s how to deflate your puffy eyes and reinflate your ego.
Change Your Lifestyle
There are definitely some lifestyle changes that can help you eliminate the occurrence of puffy eyes.
- Go to sleep. The biggest factor is getting enough sleep. Aim for seven to nine hours a night. If you have to get up early, try to front-load your sleep by going to bed a little earlier.
- Drink your water. Getting enough water is especially important if you consume a lot of caffeine or are definitely not planning on being the designated driver this weekend. Compensate for your caffeine and alcohol consumption by downing a glass of water between drinks.
- Exercise regularly. Getting a few minutes of heart-pounding cardio can help your body dispose of toxins and excess fluid, leaving you less puffy, especially under the eyes.
Use Sunscreen
Sunscreen can cover a multitude of skincare sins. Nothing ages your skin faster than UV exposure, and it’s easily avoidable by simply using a daily sunscreen. You’ll also protect your eyes from burning and swelling.
If you know you’ll be outdoors for an extended period of time, make sure to wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eye area as much as possible, especially if you don’t have a sunscreen that can be applied near your eye area.
Invest in Good Quality Skincare
If you aren’t taking care of your skin, you’re behind the times. Proper skin care is essential in maintaining skin that is smooth, sexy, and never puffy.
Lucky for you, Disco has an entire lineup of skincare products formulated specifically to work with the pH balance of a man’s skin. We’ve spent countless hours fine-tuning our products so they work effortlessly, and the results you’ll see prove it.
Here are our picks for amping up your skin care routine:
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Disco’s Regimen Set includes everything you need to get the skin you want, without investing a ton of time or money.
This set includes a deep cleaning face cleanser stick, a grime-busting exfoliating face scrub, a repairative, restorative face mask, and a moisturizer that will keep your skin hydrated and soft all day and night.
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The Disco Repairing Eye Stick. Hands down the fastest way to de-puff your eyes. Loaded with ingredients like caffeine and antioxidants, and vitamin B3, our roll on eye stick is the perfect solution for eyes that are dark, puffy, and tired.
Simply shake the tube, roll on a thin layer under and around the eyes, and gently pat for optimal absorption. You can use the eye stick morning, evening, and anytime in between.
Your eyes will look brighter, tighter, and definitely not puffy.
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Hydrating Face Moisturizer. The same lotion that’s been under your bathroom sink for three years isn’t the best option for your face. Take care of yourself and hydrate your skin deeply with this antioxidant rich moisturizer.
Packed with wrinkle-busting macadamia nut oil, our moisturizer keeps your skin smooth, sexy, and hydrated all day. Vitamins E and C help brighten and tighten skin while protecting it against free radical damage.
Use our moisturizer every day to combat puffy eyes, boost your skin’s natural collagen production, and improve texture.
Let’s Disco
Puffy eyes aren’t sexy, so when you’re done dealing with them, grab some Disco and send the puff packing. Disco products are all natural, vegan, sustainably sourced, and formulated for men.
You can get our skin care in a convenient three-month subscription, or as a single purchase if you’re not quite down for commitment. Either way, you won’t have to take any more trips down the cosmetic aisle at the store and wonder what works and what doesn’t.
With a few lifestyle adjustments and some seriously good skincare, the power to de-puff is in your hands.
Sources:
https://www.discovery.com/science/Why-Your-Eyes-Get-Puffy-When-You-Cry
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/facts-about-tears
