The Voice Of Hope Ministries

Beauty 101: How to reduce under-eye puffinessAre puffy eyes making you look tired? Learn how to reduce under-eye puffiness with these pro tips and tricks.

By Janine Falcon

This story was originally titled “Minimize Under-Eye Puffiness,” in the March 2008 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

1. Soothe

“If you have time, start with remedies that drain excess fluid from under the eyes before you camouflage with makeup,” says pro makeup artist Buffy Shields, who has worked with Penelope Cruz. Anything cooling helps to constrict blood vessels and reduces swelling. “Put chilled wet tea bags or cold, fresh cucumber slices or refrigerated teaspoons on your closed eyes and relax for 10 minutes,” she suggests.

2. Treat

Dab on an eye cream that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as caffeine, yeast extract or orange peel extract, which encourage fluid drainage. If you use a gel, allow it to absorb, then follow with a light moisturizer. Tip: If puffiness is chronic, keep eye creams in the fridge.

3. Disguise

• To lessen shadows or discolouration, “choose a liquid or creamy concealer that matches your general skin tone exactly,” says Shields. “If you go lighter, the bags will look worse.”
• On your upper lids only, sweep on a matte eye shadow in a skin-tone shade. If you need eyeliner to make your lashes look thicker, go for a dark brown, stay as close to the lash lines as possible and line only the top lids. Curl eyelashes to make eyes look brighter and bigger, and apply black mascara.
• The rest of your makeup plays a supporting role in keeping the focus off your under-eye bags. “Choose a soft, neutral blush,” says Shields. “Bright cheeks will attract attention too close to your eyes. Spotlight your lips instead, with a high-shine gloss.”

You can do a variety of simple things — from eating protein at every meal to taking a regular whiff of lavender — to help slow the aging process and maintain health and vitality as long as possible, says Penny Kendall-Reed, a naturopath and director of natural therapies at the Urban Wellness Clinic in Toronto.

Kendall-Reed believes that being happy and as stress-free as possible are the keys to living a longer, healthier life. And feeling healthy, energetic and stress-free translates into a more youthful appearance.

10 tips to start slowing the hands of time

Kendall-Reed offers the following

helpful hints to slow aging.

1. At every meal, eat foods high in protein, such as fish, turkey, egg whites or tofu. A gram of protein for every kilogram of body weight is a good rule of thumb. (That’s 22 grams/0.8 ounce of protein per meal for a woman weighing 65 kilograms/145 pounds. That’s equal to about 150 millilitres/two-thirds of a cup of cottage cheese, an average protein shake, three egg whites, a medium chicken or turkey breast or 125 grams/four ounces of low-fat tofu.) Kendall-Reed says you should choose protein-rich foods that are low in fat. Protein slows insulin levels, which you want to keep in balance to avoid weight gain and risk of disease. Eating protein also promotes stable blood sugar levels, which reduces stress, which in turn helps keep that pesky stress hormone, cortisol, in check.

2. Ease stress with extracts from the magnolia flower, green tea or milk peptide, all of which are available at your local health food store. Kendall-Reed says you should talk to a health-care professional before you try any of these. Massage is another way to calm stress.

3. Take 100 to 200 milligrams each of vitamins B6 and B12 daily to reduce cortisol and increase levels of serotonin, a chemical in the body that helps ease depression and anxiety.

4. Lavender, a natural relaxant, helps keep cortisol levels stable and smells terrific. Put this essential oil in the bath or rub it onto your face and body, or tuck a sachet of the dried flower under your pillow.