Tired Eyes

I haven't really had a consistent, good sleeping schedule for a year and am in desperate need for some sort of product that will help reduce the bags/dark circles under my eyes -- not cosmetics or coverup but something actually that would reduce the bags. I've never been a particularly girly girl so I'm not even sure that this sort of thing actually exists (or rather, if it actually works). Any suggestions about a good product to try?

Comments

[Graham]

Nothing better than more sleep and drinking more water, but if those aren't possible or aren't helping, Aveda has a bunch of products. I'm genetically baggy, so I can't do much about it myself. A cold washcloth on your eyes in the morning will also tighten up the skin and constrict the vessels in your eye bags, too. Looks like potato slices worked for this lady.

[Caron]

It sounds funny, but preparation H works like a charm!

Some will tell you that this was a hoax started long ago, and it may not work for all, but I dab a TINY bit under my eyes and it works for me like miracle cream.

Just remember, get the cream, not the gel.

Good luck.
-C.

p.s. Clinique also makes three products that work as well, but they are much price-ier:
- Advanced Stop Signs
- Total Turnaround
- Anti-Gravity Firming Lift Lotion

[Guy K. Haas]

What about allergy?

Experiment. Cut down on dairy products and see. If that's not it, resume dairy and try other foods.

I assume you have used google to see what might be out there.

[dj blurb]

I can't recommend Unisom enough. According to several doctors, it's safe to use a lot (every night) and the tablets are conveniently scored so that if a whole pill is too much, you can take a half. If you take the pill about 1.5 - 2 hours before you actually want to go to sleep, you'll pass out and have some of the best sleep ever.

Not sure if the actual sleeping is what you asked for as a solution, but since starting my regimen of a half-tablet a night, I've started to dream again. And I feel 50k times better during the day. I like to think that I look better as well, but that could very well be the giant insect overlords talking again.

[Booga]

I wish I could offer a real medical suggestion. But I guess it's not about medical preparation - it's about being more busy than bugs bunny... so why not eat a carrot? ;)
Honestly, let it breathe. I wish you all the best.

[Kitta]

I agree with Caron, preparation H cream is great.

[denise]

oh, man! do NOT use preparation H. it doesn't work for everyone and in fact can burst the capillaries of your eyes. a makeup artist used it on my sister-in-law once and her eyes turned into big balls of blood. they had to stop shooting for weeks until they healed.

as someone who has trouble sleeping and sleeping deeply, i can't recommend ambien enough. it is hands down the best sleep product. it can be addictive, but used sparingly a few nights here and there, it can be wonderfully restorative.

[Shannon]

I use this stuff from St. Ives, and it works like a charm. You can pick it up at the grocery store for like five bucks, and I know that seems too easy and cheap, but I swear by it. And I'm a chronic insomniac.

Hey, look -- it's 7:45 in the morning here! ;)

[gina]

I went on Sephora.com, a really really nice makeup and skincare store, and here's what I found...

- Fresh Lotus Eye Gel: "alleviates puffiness, dark circles, and signs of fatigue" $45
- Blisslabs All-Around Eye Cream: "depuffs, highly-hydrates, protects and lessens the appearance of fine lines" $26

- DuWop Eye Gels: "Blue refresh tired eyes with lavender, chamomile, and yarrow root. Purple smoothes fine lines with vitamin C and plant collagen. Orange brightens darkness with arnica and vitamin K." $20 each

These are just a couple of the ones I found. Of course, there are more expensive and less expensive options, but these were the least expensive I found. This site might be your best bet. I definitely wouldn't use Preperation H, though... I've heard scary things.

Ganbatte (Good Luck/Work hard) Mena!

[gina]

Oh... I just found this one that's even better. Ignore what I said before. This is the perfect thing for you.

DDF- All That Glitters Set: $35

"When late nights are followed by early mornings, your complexion is sure to need some perking up. This bag full of face-savers is sure to get you glowing.

Set includes a 1.67 oz Luminous Moisture Shelter, 1.7 oz Pick-Me-Up Pink Grapefruit Foaming Cleanser, .25 oz Nourishing Eye Cream, and a .25 oz Glossy Lip Therapy."

[Charles]

My sister-in-law (who's a TV actress) swears by the Preperation H thing.

[Michelle]

Mena,
I don't know if you're still looking here for answers to your dark circles/puffiness or not, but something that a friend of mine always has always suggested when I get swollen eyes from crying or whatever is camomile tea bags. Just wet them in some warm water, then lie down and let them rest over your eyes like cucumber slices. I have always been amazed at how much better this makes me feel and look. And unless you have an allergy to teabags or what's in them, you don't run the Prep.H risk cited above. Good luck!

[Sean]

My wife and I have a young son, and we can both get bags under our eyes now and then. In my experience, nothing works better then Adobe Photoshop. ;-)

[denise]

obviously, charles must tune megyn out when she talks about work.

[helenjane]

I use Lorac cover up--the stuff works great and lasts and lasts and lasts and lasts--if you get a salesperson from Sephora to help you, you'll get the perfect shade and look utterly bag-free!

[Michael]

My father-in-law is a professor that has done extensive work with yeast, the main ingredient in Preperation H.

The old formulation showed dramatic effect in reducing puffiness. The new formulation has slightly different ingredients and is less effective.

Supposedly the European version still includes the active ingredient "LYCD" [live yeast cell derivative].

If you can get something with LYCD, it WILL work very well to reduce the inflamation.

[Maggie]

Teabags work, but I don't know that the chammomile would work. It's supposed to be the tannic acid in black tea that tightens things up. I've used it and it works well, plus has the added benefit of making you feel well rested. Steep them in hot water and stick them in the fridge so they don't burn the sensitive skin around your eyes. When they're cool, lay back and rest them on your eyes for five minutes or so. Effective and inexpensive.

[Sian]

A few slices of cucumber and failing that some hemeroid cream. I also recommend having a look at http://www.lush.com/ I'm not a girly girl either but the products I've tried so far have worked instantly and they also have a forum (at least they do on the UK site) so you can post up your question and get a response.

[The Taipei Kid]

Sian is right. Lush rocks. Do they have that in the States yet? BTW, Mena, pls. check your e-mail.

[Carl Z]

A short nap after lunch (20-30 min) revitalizes you and dampens stress.

Take a Yoga class. You can actually learn to relax body and mind.

Tha problems with pills is that after a while you can´t do without them.

[Judson]

with the preparation H thing it really is important to get the right kind, one has menthol and other things that will burn your eyeballs :)

[Ben Pei]

Sleep schedule maybe, but are you getting your moneys worth when you do actually sleep. Bags under eyes can be due to a poor quality of sleep. For some it is not the number of hours. Do you have a blocked up nose? Do you sneeze for no apparent reason. Poor nasal health due to a mild allergy can also affect breathing causing poor quality sleep. Both poor sleep quality and nasal problems may give bags under eyes. I suggest you go and say hi to your doctor and let him/her have a look inside your mouth and up your nose. Cheers,

[denise]

happy holidays to you and ben!

[Gambit]

This best way to get rid of bags is to get sleep. The best way to get sleep is to get tired. The trick is to not sleep during the day, despite your tiredness. Resist the urge especially now during the holidays. Come doo doo time, you’ll have no choice but to have a good nights sleep. Hope it works.