PROVEN Team
PROVEN Team includes Stanford scientists and dermatologists who combine their expertise with cutting-edge technology to bring you the best for your skin.
Puffy Eyes: A Science Backed Approach
A little bit of eye puffiness can be expected as we get older -- but apart from the passing of time and a genetic predisposition, there are some lifestyle factors that often contribute to puffy eyes.
Resource by: PROVEN Team
Puffy Eyes
A little bit of eye puffiness can be expected as we get older -- but apart from the passing of time and a genetic predisposition, there are some lifestyle factors that often contribute to puffy eyes. The skin around the eyes is very delicate and thinner than surrounding tissue, which means that any inflammation or fluid retention is much more visible. When you’ve tried multiple variations of puffy eyes cream to no avail, it’s time to get to the root of the issue.
What Causes Puffy Eyes?
Why do some people experience eye puffiness more than others? According to dermatologists, it is caused by a buildup of fluid (known as edema) in the underlying tissue. But why does fluid accumulate around the eyes in the first place, and not always after a sleepless night? In general, puffy eyes can stem from several different factors:
The fat pads beneath the eyes naturally protrude more with age, giving the appearance of puffy, tired-looking eyes
The shape of the bony orbital rim may allow greater tissue projection
They can increase the body’s tendency to retain water
It is often caused by inactivity, dehydration, and an unhealthy diet
Overconsumption of salt and alcohol, which leads to water retention
Allergies and sinus problems that cause inflammation in the skin
Lack of sleep triggers the body to release cortisol, which upsets the sodium balance in the body
Crying can cause puffy eyes as the tears run down the face and get reabsorbed into the thin skin around the eyes -- making it red, puffy, and swollen
Are Your Puffy Eyes Caused by Allergies or an Eye Condition?
Sometimes, puffy eyes may be a sign of something that requires legitimate medical treatment. So how can you tell the difference between puffy eyes that are caused by lifestyle factors versus puffy eyes that are caused by an eye condition or allergies that need to be managed by a medical professional?
The first sign that your puffy eyes may be caused by something more serious is that they are long-lasting. Everyone deals with puffy eyes every now and again, but if this is becoming a consistent issue, it may be a good idea to bring this issue up to your doctor.
The second sign is that they are causing pain, irritation, or severe swelling around your eye area. As a result, if your eyes are painful, overly red, and extremely swollen to the point that you have trouble opening them, you should seek medical treatment.
The third sign is that you’re experiencing symptoms in addition to your puffy eyes in areas other than your eyes.
Here are some potential causes of puffy eyes that require diagnosis and treatment by a medical professional:
- Conjunctivitis, or pink eye
- Blepharititis, or eyelid inflammation
- Ptosis, or drooping eyelids
- Cellulitis
- Dermatitis
- Thyroid eye disease
- Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as seasonal allergies, is a common cause of a runny nose puffy eyes that may also cause symptoms including puffy eyes, sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, sore throat, stuffy nose, fatigue, and headache. It can be difficult to figure out the cause of your allergies without testing, so your doctor may order skin testing to determine the exact trigger of your allergies and puffy eyes. From there, you can effectively manage this condition and feel better no matter what the pollen count is.
Effective Remedies for Eye Puffiness
Whether you had a few sleepless nights or are naturally predisposed to having puffy eyes, here are some tips to help re-energize them and lessen the appearance of puffiness.
- Incorporate more potassium-rich foods -- such as spinach, broccoli, bananas, and cantaloupe -- into your diet to help reduce water retention
- Cut down your sodium intake to reduce excess fluid in the body
- Cut down on your alcohol consumption as alcohol is a diuretic that dehydrates the body and can leave you with puffy eyes
- If you’re a side or stomach sleeper, try sleeping propped up on your back and be sure to get around seven to nine hours of sleep on a regular basis
- Make sure to remove your makeup before you go to bed to avoid watering eyes that can easily escalate into puffiness around the eyes
- Take an antihistamine if eye puffiness stems from seasonal allergies
- Place cold compresses like cold tea bags, frozen spoons, or chilled cucumber slices over the eyes for about ten minutes to lessen swelling
- Make sure that your body is adequately hydrated by drinking enough water -- experts recommend consuming four to six cups of water a day -- more if you’re actively sweating or exercising
- Use topical products specially formulated for the delicate skin around the eyes. Peptides enhance firmness and elasticity, caffeine temporarily constricts blood vessels to tone up skin, niacinamide (Vitamin B3) and green tea calm inflammation, squalene hydrates skin, and Vitamin C brightens tired, puffy eyes.
Skincare for Puffy Eyes, Created for You
A select number of skincare actives can help expedite this beauty issue -- helping you look bright-eyed in no time at all. Not sure which ingredients are right for your skin type, age, and current lifestyle? Take the PROVEN skin quiz for a custom made regimen packed with clean, effective powerhouses. Our skin quiz will provide you results based on the assessments of 20 million consumer reviews, 20,000 skincare ingredients, and 4,000 scientific papers.
Our 2,000 different product combinations are formulated by Stanford dermatologists and contain exactly what your skin needs and nothing it doesn’t. Your skin will receive everything it needs in the form of a custom cleanser, moisturizer, and night cream.
Your custom cleanser effectively cleanses the skin of dirt, oils, and dead skin cells that can clog pores and contribute to blemishes. Your cleanser also has toning and exfoliating properties so that you can take care of three different skincare necessities within a single step.
Your moisturizer nourishes and hydrates the skin to help fight signs of aging and fill in fine lines and wrinkles. Not only that, but your moisturizer also contains sun protection in the form of SPF 40 so you no longer have to worry about sun burns and sun damage affecting your skin.
Finally, your night cream contains high concentrations of beneficial ingredients that can help you fight your skin concerns, such as puffy eyes, while you sleep. But don’t just take our word for it -- third-party clinical tests have shown that 84% of people report having more-rested and revitalized skin after using their PROVEN regimen for just 28 days.
However, odds are that puffy eyes aren’t the only skin concern that you’re dealing with -- and this isn’t the only skin concern that PROVEN can help you combat. For example, 90% of PROVEN users experienced clearer skin that was free of blemishes and other imperfections. 81% experienced a bright and radiant complexion that was free of redness, irritation, and sensitivity.
No matter what your skin concerns, whether it’s puffy eyes, wrinkles, blemishes, irritation, or everything in between, PROVEN is able to come up with the perfect formula for your unique skin.
Here Is Why Personalized Skincare Is Better
Personalized skincare comes with a host of benefits
  |   | |
|---|---|---|
| Formulated and made-to-order for you | No | |
| Targeting your unique Acne needs | No | |
| Optimized for your lifestyle + environment | No | |
| Easy 3-step system for all your skin needs | No | |
| Made by Stanford scientists and AI tech | No |
OUR TEAM
We're industry leaders in skincare
Dr. Yuan is a Computational Physicist from Stanford University
Proven co-founder, Dr. Amy Yuan, fixed her skincare woes by using her computer science background to analyze the effectiveness of more than 20,238 skincare ingredients, 100,000 products, 20 million testimonials, and more than 4,000 scientific journal articles. Now she is applying that to create the perfect skincare for you.
Your Skin Routine In 3 Simple Steps
Your Personalized Cleanser
Ensures any dirt from the day is removed to reveal glowing, healthy and fresh feeling skin
Your Personalized Day Moisturizer
Helps prevent the skin from drying out, while targeting other issues you may have.
Your Personalized Night Cream
Restores elasticity and delivers intensive nourishment to repair, plump and firm skin while you get your beauty sleep.
