Cleansing the Doors of Perception: Reducing Eye Bags and Puffiness

The eyes are said to be the window to the soul, a glimpse into who we are at our core. I also saw in my early studies of aging that if someone had open, healthy and beautiful eyes and a few wrinkles or lines around the mouth versus more signs of aging around the eyes and a smoother lower face they tend to look younger based on the skin around the eyes. Therefore, eye vitality is an important aspect of looking more youthful.  

Keeping our eyes bright and eye skin smooth starts with lifestyle. Alcohol and caffeine will pronounce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes. Heavy, fast, or fried foods, smoke, and how much we sleep will also contribute to the condition of our eyes' appearance. Also, a huge factor in eye appearance has to do with water intake. Adjusting your diet to include water, water-rich fruits and veggies and other foods that will naturally counter anything that your eyes are up against is a great way to keep your eyes shining bright.

Watermelon is 92% water, and eating watermelon is a wonderful way to get and stay hydrated. Eating watermelon can reduce puffiness under the eye.

Green Tea contains Vitamin K which helps reduce dark circles under the eyes. Used green tea bags can be refrigerated and placed under eyes for a quick 15 minute at-home spa treatment. The vitamins benefit the skin internally and externally. 

Cucumbers are also high in Vitamin K, along with so many other vitamins and minerals to support your eyes. Putting cucumbers on your eyes has many benefits: they will cool your eyes, help reduce puffiness, and get rid of dark circles. Cucumbers have natural cooling properties that soothe tired eyes.  Cucumbers are known for their astringent properties and can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Cucumber juice is the best way to get all these veggies benefits into your body, but the familiar iconic look of sliced cucumbers over eyeballs to soothe tired sore eyes will also do the trick.

Blueberries are renowned for their benefits to eye health. They’re a prime source of the antioxidants lutein and anthocyanins, which help to protect the delicate blood vessels near the eyes. Blueberries are loaded with Vitamins A, C, E and Zinc, all supporting eye health.

Celery is a great source of the electrolyte minerals sodium and potassium. These are optimal fluid regulators that can help to diminish puffiness. Celery seed extract has anti inflammatory properties that also reduce swelling.

Washing your face with cold water as opposed to hot or warm will also help reduce puffiness and swelling around the eyes. If you have an event or photoshoot and want to tone the skin around your eyes you can make an ice bath for your face and basically just cup the very cold water in your hands and splash it onto your face for 1 minute, then rest for 3 minutes, repeat the cold splash for 1 minute and again rest for 3 minutes. This will stimulate your facial lymph and is a great way to clear stagnation.  

I find that morning routines are valuable for the fluid around my eyes. Many masters say that how you start your day makes a huge difference in the whole day. I begin my day with 32 oz of water with lemon and some practices for circulation. First thing in the morning, I hang my head over the bed for 3 minutes to instigate deep circulation and blood flow which moves chi around my whole face and especially my eyes. If my shower is a morning shower then I alternate with hot and then cold water to boost lymph flow. And I massage my eye tissue really well. I actually found that when I made this a daily practice I also had more energy and more motivation for the day as well. There is definitely something to be said for how the meridians of the face support the energy and vitality of your whole body. 

I hope that if you are in the mood to brighten and tighten your eye skin these tips will support you in the holistic tips for healthy skin!

Have an organically beautiful day,

Kristin