This morning I woke up like I do most mornings, with puffy eyes. Because of my allergies, poor sleep habits, stress, and other contributing factors, this is a very common occurance for me, as it is for most moms.
In fact, most of us rarely get the sleep we need because we are worrying about our kids well-being, bills that need to be paid, errands that need to be run, etc. I usually have so many thoughts running through my head on any given night that I lay there for awhile, tossing and turning, waiting for my brain to stop buzzing and for sleep to claim me. It very rarely happens within minutes.
Since I know I’m not alone when it comes to red and/or puffy eyes, I thought I’d share some tips on how to combat both of them with frugal ways that won’t put you in the poor house. Most of the items and/or steps you use will not cost you any extra money.
- Cold water: As soon as you get out of bed, splash your face with cold water. Not only does it help you to wake up, it also helps reduce the swelling around your eyes.
- Cucumber slices : The reason they help reduce the swelling is because they have a mild anti-inflammatory agent in them. It also helps to make sure you use cucumbers that are fresh from the fridge because they are cold and that helps the puffiness reduce further.
- Green tea compress: Soak a cotton ball in some green tea, wring out the excess tea and then gently dab it around the puffy areas of your eyes to tighten the skin.
- Tea bags: This is similar to the above tip except you use tea bags.
- Egg Whites: Rub egg whites around the puffy area. Once the whites begin to dry, you will feel your skin begin to tighten. Once a few minutes have passed, you can rinse off the egg whites with cool water.
- A mixture of salt and hot water: Combine a 1/2 tsp. of salt with one cup of hot water. Soak cotton pads in the mixture and then apply them to your eyes in much the same way you do the cucumber slices. In about 15 minutes you will notice a reduction in swelling.
- Frozen spoons: Yes, I said frozen spoons. You only need to leave them in your freezer for five minutes before rolling the rounded side along the puffy area of your eyes until the spoons begin to return to their normal temperature. One thing you want to make sure of before using this technique, though, is that your face is dry. Trust me, you DO NOT want your wet face coming into contact with a frozen spoon. Think about those kids who think it’s a good idea to lick a steel pole in the winter. OUCHIE!
- Reduce your sodium intake: If you have issues with retaining water, you should reduce the amount of sodium you consume because it can contribute puffiness by making your body retain excess water.
Do you have any other frugal ways to treat puffy eyes? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
*Photo courtesy of shcherbak.