Have you ever wondered why, exactly, you wake up with puffy eyes? Logic would dictate that after a full night’s sleep, you should roll out of bed looking wide-eyed, bright-eyed, and generally well-rested — but that’s rarely (if ever) the case, no matter how many hours of quality shut-eye you clock.
It all comes down to the lymphatic system, the body’s natural detox mechanism. Throughout the day, the lymph collects excess toxins and waste from the body neutralizes toxins by producing infection-fighting white blood cells and drains the excess via lymphatic fluid. While you sleep, this system becomes stagnant, and fluid builds up under the skin, resulting in swollen eyes.
The good news? Morning puffiness (thankfully) fades once the natural flow of lymphatic fluid is restored, typically within an hour or two of getting up and moving around. Better news? Thanks to an influx of eye masks over the past few months, it’s easier than ever to speed up the de-puffing process.
I’m a big fan of the Skin Gym Eye Workout Kit. It features two under-eye-shaped hydra-gel masks that are easy to peel off and place on the affected area. You simply leave them on for five minutes (or, really, as long as you like) and allow the combination of collagen, hyaluronic acid, amino acids, and caffeine to simultaneously calm puffiness and re-energize the area for eyes that appear wide-awake. Bonus: The kit also includes a jade roller, which can be used in tandem with the eye mask to increase circulation and decrease “baggage,” thanks to cool-to-the-touch jade stone.
Another favorite is BeautyBio’s Illuminating Colloidal Silver + Collagen Eye Patches. Full of top-notch natural ingredients, just a few minutes with these patches (either before you go to bed or early in the morning) results in brighter, wider, I-got-eight-hours-of-sleep eyes. Crushed pearl refracts light to illuminate the area; aloe vera decreases redness and swelling, and colloidal silver stimulates cell renewal.
Or, you can give yourself a spa-level mini facial with Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber De-Tox™ Hydra-Gel Eye Patches. A decidedly more luxurious experience than using actual cucumber slices, these patches utilize cucumber extract to de-puff; and elevate the experience with luxe ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and collagen to soothe inflamed skin and fill in fine lines.
Want to really treat yourself? Indulge in Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Rose Gold Eye Masks, featuring rose gold foil to lock in heat and moisture, thereby reducing swelling in the most glamorous way imaginable. These patches also include a layer of elastic, so they’re flexible enough to stay put while they wear — in other words, you can pop on an eye mask in the morning and go about making breakfast (or just scrolling through Instagram in bed), and they won’t fall off, ever.
With all of these masks delivering results in just 10 – 15 minutes, they’re soon to become a skincare staple of busy women everywhere — because really, who has time to deal with swollen eyes when there are a million other things to check off your morning to-do list?
Photo Credit: @ryanconduit
