Eyes are often the first feature we notice about a person. They can convey beauty, expression, and human connection. But, dark circles, bags, and puffy eyes are a problem that many people face and can happen for several reasons. They are a genetic or anatomic issue that would need surgical treatments to be improved. Seasonal allergies can also make eyes puffy and watery – usually, these can be improved to some degree with an over-the-counter allergy pill that contains an antihistamine such as Claritin or Zyrtec.Finally, as we age, stress, sun damage and loss of collagen and elasticity can make our eyes appear, puffy, dull and tired.

If your eyes are lackluster due to aging, there are a few options that can help! The age-old remedy of applying cold cucumbers to your eyes can definitely soothe and de-puff eyes temporarily and makes for a great Instagram photo, but if you want to know how to get rid of bags under your eyes, you may find the solution in some of our favorite skin care products and makeup.

Eye cream:

How do you choose from the hundreds of eye creams available? The key is in the ingredients! The formula of an eye cream is critical, needing ingredients that are active yet gentle, especially in the sensitive area around the eyes. For an instant result, look for ingredients like caffeine or light diffusers. Also look for Vitamin K, as this repairs capillaries to further reduce dark circles under eyes. Here are a few of our favorites:

Try: LovelySkin LUXE Brightening Eye Cream

This pick is a LovelySkin staff favorite! This formula brightens the eyes with Persian silk tree and horse chestnut extract to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness, while hyaluronic acid hydrates to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles that can appear around the eyes. This eye cream also has self-adaptive optical technology, diffusing light so your skin looks soft and positively glowing!

Try: Teamine Eye Complex by Revision

Caffeine is not just for coffee! It’s also excellent for diminishing dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. This nourishing eye cream fights signs of aging with a number of important ingredients, including caffeine. An added benefit is antioxidant protection from grape seed oil, green tea extract (more caffeine!), and vitamin C. While many other creams moisturize with oil, this formula instead uses sodium hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, to get the job done. This clinically proven formula firms and tightens skin, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and uses light-diffusing technology to brighten your eyes.

Try: Replenix Enriched Eye Repair Cream

If you have sensitive skin, try this gentle, yet effective eye cream. Vitamin K, caffeine, and arnica work together to fight puffy eyes and work to lighten dark circles. Green tea polyphenols soothe sensitive or damaged skin and further protects it from free radical damage. Hyaluronic acid provides nourishing moisture, while essential ceramides and a peptide complex tightens, firms, and strengthens the skin to target fine lines, bags, and discoloration.

Makeup:

If you want to get rid of puffy eyes, consider how you apply your makeup. For an instant pop, focus on items that open the eye and conceal darkness. Here are three of our favorites with some application tips:

Try: theBalm Mad Lash Black Mascara

Start with mascara! Mascara opens the eye area and is an instant brightener. If you are getting ready quickly and are only going to wear one thing, you can easily refresh the eyes, and your whole appearance, by applying some mascara to the top and bottom lashes Not only does this have an opening effect, it also lengthens and emboldens the lashes so you appear alert and bright. theBalm Mad Lash Black Mascara is perfect for adding intense volume and definition to your lashes. This mascara is smudge-proof, water resistant, cruelty-free, talc-free, and paraben-free. This formula and the injection-molded wand will take your eyes and lashes to new heights.

Try: blinc Eyeliner Pencil

Tired? No problem, you can fake awake with this trick! Use the blinc Eyeliner Pencil to line the inner lower lash line and tear duct area. This will bring in light to create the look of wider, more awake eyes. For a more dramatic widening, choose white; and for a natural yet brighter look, choose nude. This trick is so effective you’ll be sharing it with all your friends!

Try: Glo Skin Beauty Liquid Bright Concealer in Sunburst

Apply a complimentary shade on the color wheel beneath the eyes to disguise under eye circles. Available in three colors, we love Glo Skin Beauty’s Liquid Bright Concealer in Sunburst for hiding dark circles. Also available in Brighten and High Beam!

Tools:

Try: NuFACE Trinity Facial Trainer with ELE Attachment

This award-winning and clinically tested tool improves facial contour and skin tone, while reducing wrinkles. Not just for the eyes, you can also target eyebrow furrows, crow’s feet and smile lines with the NuFACE Trinity ELE, a targeted microcurrent treatment attachment.

So how does it work? Microcurrent treatment wands stimulate the skin by mimicking our body’s natural current, which slows down with age. When the body current slows down (much like our metabolism), this can cause sagging skin, lost contour, and wrinkles—and nobody wants those. Go beyond skin-deep with this powerful tool that will help you to tone facial muscles, improve contour and skin tone, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. By targeting the area around the eyes in as little as 5 minutes a day, you’ll notice an immediate difference in the tone and small wrinkles around the eyes that will only improve with time!

Try: FOREO IRIS Anti-Aging Eye Massager

This eye massager can visibly reduce signs of crow’s feet, dark circles, and bags under your eyes with Alternating T-Sonic technology. Additionally, IRIS will dramatically help you to improve the efficacy and absorption of eye creams!

IRIS works in two modes: Spa Mode and Pure Mode. Spa Mode is helpful for skin that is showing more pronounced signs of aging, and it combines tapping movement with delicate pulsations to reproduce a professional spa treatment.

The second mode, Pure Mode, is inspired by manual eye massage. Utilizing tapping movement alone, this mode is very gentle on the eye contour, and perfect for someone who is just beginning to show minimal signs of aging.

Choose from three colors—magenta, mint, and petal pink.

Tell us what you think about these tips and eye brightening products in a comment below!