Banish the Bags

I can relate to that meme 100%! 😂

Since starting the ManicMakeupGirl Blog 7 years ago, the question I am asked most often is, “How can I get rid of under eye bags, puffiness, and dark circles?”
I also suffer from dark circles (thanks genetics) and major puffiness (in more areas than just under my eyes... ha!!)
But seriously... I ain’t got time to deal with bags (unless they’re designer).
I have tried all sorts of eye products over the last year to help prevent and reduce under eye bags and puffiness and I have some real winners for you guys. Unfortunately, dark circles can be hereditary and harder to get rid of by skincare alone. I have had dark circles for as long as I can remember and it doesn’t matter what skincare I use, what I eat, or how much sleep I get. They will be there no matter what and I have just had to come to terms with them (and buy a good concealer).
Under eye bags and puffiness are thankfully a different story.
In case you didn’t know, your eyes need different things at different times of day. Unfortunately, there isn’t a miracle one and done eye cream and you normally need more than one product to address all eye concerns. There’s nothing wrong with using the same eye cream morning and night, but there is a more effective way to get results and that is by using and layering different products to target your concerns. So, that means you need to be using different eye products in the morning then you are at night.
Let me explain...
In the morning I want to address the puffiness and dark circles. At night I want to address the need for hydration and wrinkle prevention. Side note: Nighttime is the best time to use wrinkle prevention and moisturizing eye products because your skin is regenerating while you sleep. Also, those types of creams are generally heavy and don’t sit well under makeup. Daytime is best for caffeine based eye products as well as eye serums, and oil free creams. Light and easily absorbed eye products work the best for daytime use to banish puffiness and also pair well under makeup.
I might be a little overboard with my eye products, but I have truly seen results by using different products in the morning and at night. Layering multiple products has also helped to compound the benefits and get the results I have been looking for.

So, let’s get down to the goods for the eye products that have been tried and true in my skincare routine.
These are the current eye products that I use to help banish the bags and more.
*Note: I do not use ALL of these at one time. Yes, I layer up to two eye products sometimes but I never use all of these in a 24 hour period. I just like options. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb
After I have taken off all of my makeup and am finishing up my evening skincare routine, the last step is applying an eye cream. The one product that has vastly improved my eye area is this moisturizing eye bomb. I am in LOVE with this product and I use it religiously every night. This cream helps to saturate my eye area (your eye area is underneath your eye as well as your eyelid and up to your brow bone) and improve elasticity. I only have to use this at night because it is SO hydrating. This eye cream is formulated to hydrate for up to 26 hours with only one application so my eye area is nice and moisturized by morning and throughout the day. Having a well moisturized eye area helps prevent extra puffiness in the morning (it doesn’t eliminate puffiness, but it definitely helps). Also, forgetting to hydrate your eyelids and eye area can bring on premature eye wrinkles and fine lines. This cream doubles as a moisturizer and as a wrinkle preventative. 
My eye makeup goes on so much better now that I use this hydrating cream. It just smooths everything out and keeps it from getting dry and creased or cracked. If you have a super dry eye area, you can definitely use this in the morning as well, but for my needs it hydrates well for a full 24 hours. 
 This product is $48 for .84oz, but the tiniest bit goes a long long way and it is worth EVERY PENNY. It will last you ages! Also, your eye area has the thinnest skin out of your whole face and shows age and wrinkles the fastest. That is why investing in your eye area with a good product is so important!
Grab it HERE


Tula Rose Glow Cooling and Brightening Eye Balm
This product is the newest addition to my eye cream arsenal and I am loving it! This balm stick is perfect for those mornings, afternoons, or evenings when you need a little under eye pick me up. Like literally... it will pick you up. This balm is like a chapstick.. but for your under eye area. It is lightly moisturizing, caffeinated to depuff, and slightly shimmery to help brighten the eye area. Honestly, I would still love this product even if it did none of those things because it gives the most wonderful cooling effect that feels so refreshing. It’s like a cup of coffee for your eyes in the morning (iced coffee, of course). The rose shimmer is very, very subtle but it does help to diffuse the depth of my dark circles and make me look more awake. The pink/peach based sheen helps to cancel out the purple in my circles and bring a slight light reflective property to the otherwise dark and scary area. 
I love to use this in the morning or before I apply my Belif Moisture Bomb cream at night for extra refreshment. It layers perfectly with all of my eye products and under my makeup. It isn’t cheap ($30), but I have been using it twice a day for almost 3 months and have hardly made a dent in it. That makes me (and my under eyes) happy!
Grab it HERE



Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff
This is another great option for an eye cream that moisturizes, brightens, and depuffs. I love the Origins brand and have used many of their products for years. This eye cream has been a staple on my bathroom counter for at least 2 years. It is lightweight but still has enough hydration to be used both morning and night. I love the subtle shimmer it has because it really does brighten the eye area nicely. This also has about the same amount of shimmer as the Tula balm stick. I tried the balm on one eye and this cream on the other and couldn’t tell a difference in the shimmer or brightness. It does not have a cooling effect but it does feel smooth and hydrating (but not heavy). This cream does not tighten the eye area or make wrinkles disappear, but it does help the swelling and puffiness to diminish and it also lightens the look of my dark circles. It is definitely one that I reach for on the regular. It works well under makeup or just to wear alone. A great everyday eye cream in my book and this .5oz jar will last a lifetime. 
Check it out HERE!



The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Have you guys heard of The Ordinary? They are an amazing skincare brand that has high quality products at an insanely affordable price. They take the frills and fuss out of their packaging and keep things simple and stripped down to keep the price low. Their products are different than what you normally see in the skincare aisle because they focus on single ingredient products or minimally combined products. That means you need to know what you’re looking for when you shop with The Ordinary because they list their products with the actual ingredient name.
Ever heard of Niacinamide?
Hyaluronic acid?
Squalene?
No?
Well, chances are they’re in most of your face creams or serums already but you just didn’t know what they were called. The ordinary strips fancy names away and calls their products what they’re made out of. That’s why you will see those weird long words on their products because they’re telling you exactly what they’re made of. Yes, their prices are insanely affordable but you will just have to do a little research on what ingredient works best for your skin and what it is called. Sorry for that tangent, but I felt like this brand needed a little explanation before jumping into this product.
 So... caffeine.
You’ve definitely heard of that one, right?
I’m not just talking about your morning coffee caffeine jolt. I’m talking about that wonderful little ingredient that not only wakes us up, it makes puffy under eyes VANISH! Most eye products that focus on depuffing will include caffeine as an ingredient. Why? Because it really works to reduce puffiness when applied topically. Sorry to break it to you, but just drinking coffee in the morning won’t help with under eye bags. If you’re in need of an eye product to get rid of puffiness, caffeine is VITAL and is the most effective ingredient to help firm, tighten, and depuff the under eye area. Specifically, caffeine constricts the blood vessels in and around the eye area to reduce puffiness and inflammation.
This caffeine solution is like a serum for your eye area. It feels like water basically but a little drop is plenty to apply to your entire eye area (brow bone down to cheek bone). This is a 5% caffeine solution (which is pretty high for a skincare product) so it will take that puffiness down ASAP. It says you can use this in the morning and at night, but if you are sensitive to caffeine I would only use it in the morning. Sounds stupid since you aren’t technically ingesting it, but it is still sinking into your skin and your body and if you are hyper sensitive to caffeine it could effect you.
I use this product first thing every morning to bring the puff down and it works like a charm. Since it is a serum it also lightly moisturizes my eye area without making it greasy. I let it sink in and then I apply my facial moisturizer over it and a quick swipe of my Tula Rose Glow Balm Stick.
The EGCG, or Epigallocatechin Gallatyl Glucoside (don’t ask me to pronounce that) is added into this emulsion from green tea leaves for it’s caffeine properties and dark circle reduction qualities.
I personally haven’t noticed any improvement in my dark circles since using this (and I’ve used this for over a year) but that’s because my dark circles are hereditary and not just due to lack of sleep or allergies. So, if you are one of the lucky ones who aren’t fighting a genetic predisposition to dark circles, then this might help you in that area along with the depuffing.
So, not only does this product work AMAZINGLY for under eye bags, the price is probably the best part about it.
Guess how much this little magic bottle is?
UNDER $7!!!!!
And one bottle lasts me all year long. I love that I know exactly what this product contains and that there aren’t any other ingredients in there that I don’t want. It works and it’s affordable! What more could you want?
Grab it HERE at Ulta and The Ordinary’s website - Deciem HERE!
Also available at Sephora and Amazon (but just FYI Amazon is double the price).
For other facial skincare items by this brand, I also highly recommend The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toner, The Buffet Face Serum, and Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion.


Dr. Brandt Needles No More - No More Baggage
Sometimes we can eat right, apply our skincare routine religiously and still have puffy eyes in the morning. What gives!??
While the products I mentioned above do work and keep most of it at bay, sometimes you just need a little extra help. This Dr. Brandt eye product will seriously get down to business. You apply this product as the last step of your skincare routine in the morning. And by last I mean LAST. After you’ve applied your serums, moisturizers, etc. LAST LAST. Why? Because this product has a silicone type consistency and needs to dry down completely for it to work. If you apply creams or moisturizers on top of it, it won’t work at all.
Lightly pat a little dab on your area of concern (any place that needs tightening) and let it dry and watch the magic happen. This stuff literally tightens, firms, and depuffs right before your eyes. I have watched it pick my eye bags up off the floor. Truth.
 The only drawback with this product is that it is a little drying. It is more of a paste consistency and can feel extra drying or “too tight” if you already have dry skin. So, unfortunately if you have a dry eye area then this might not work well for you. However, if you don’t and want some serious baggage help, try it out!
The full size tube will last you forever because you only need a little dab for it to work (that’s how I rationalize the $42 price tag). I don’t use this product every day, only when I need to call in the big guns and need some extra help. I also only use this in the mornings because it contains caffeine as well.
Grab the full size HERE!
If you don’t want to splurge on the full size, try it in this travel size for only $22 HERE.



Additional products for getting rid of puffiness and concealing dark circles.




If you struggle with under eye puffiness like I do, eye gel patches will change your LIFE! Not only are they cooling, refreshing and hydrating, they also get rid of puffiness in minutes! If I have some extra time in the morning and have some serious bags going on, I apply a set of eye gels and let them sit and do their magic for a good 20 minutes. My eyes instantly look refreshed and the puff is GONE! Not to mention the cooling sensation is a seriously effective way to wake up those peepers. I have used all of these different kinds in the above photo and they all get the ManicMakeupGirl star of approval. Eye gels are also great to use before applying makeup or before a big event. They plump up the skin and lessen the look of wrinkles and fine lines all while making the puffiness disappear. They don’t have to be super expensive to work (Walmart has some for $2 and they are awesome). Look for eye gels that include collagen, caffeine, Hyaluronic acid, or other hydrating ingredients to see the quickest results. Use whenever you need a little extra moisture, refreshment, or depuffing!
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Luxury Lift and Firm Hydra Gel Eye Patches - HERE 
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels - HERE
Earth Therapeutics Collagen Pure Gel Under Eye Patches - HERE
Soap and Glory Puffy Eye Attack Super-Hydrating Under-Eye Brightening Hydrogel Patches - HERE



Since we know that dark circles are very hard to get rid of, these priming and concealing products will have to do. 
First off, the Becca Anti Fatigue Under Eye Primer is something that I never knew I needed but I am SO happy that I tried. This stuff blurs fine lines and preps the eye area for makeup application beautifully. It also has caffeine infused into it to depuff the area as well. It’s so soft and silky and cooling and just fabulous. I notice my concealer doesn’t crease as much when I prep with this product (WIN). It does look blue in the pan, but it has no color to it once you apply it. It just blurs, blends, and preps so nicely. 
Next up is the Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector. Becca is seriously killing the under eye product game and this little gem has been a dark circle banishing STAPLE in my makeup bag for the last 3 years. What’s so great about this? Well, it totally diffuses my purple/blue based dark circles. Like... poof! Gone! Obviously they’re still lurking under there (because genetics, remember?) but this product color corrects the dark area with a pink/peach base that totally cancels out the purple tones. This product also has a subtle shimmer to it so it reflects the light and brightens up the area as well. It comes in two shades (I use the light to medium shade) and one jar lasts me well over a year with almost DAILY use. This also works wonderfully well on top of the Becca Anti Fatigue primer. Even if I’m not wearing any makeup I will still pop this on just to conceal my dark circles and brighten my eye area. My #1 most loved eye product for sure! 
Last up to bat is the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer. If you have mature or aging skin and need a concealer that hides dark circles but doesn’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles, then this is the one product you need! It works well on all skin types but especially for mature skin that is battling dryness and fine lines. This product has anti aging ingredients and is full coverage, waterproof, and self proclaimed “expression proof” (aka no settling in fine lines). A little tiny dab covers your whole eye area and makes it look so bright and natural. Apply with your ring finger and dark circles will be gone and creased concealer will be a thing of the past. My mother in law is in love with this product and said she will never use anything else. 
Becca Anti Fatigue Under Eye Primer - HERE 
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector - HERE 
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer - HERE


A few ManicMakeupGirl tips:
1) Always ask for samples. 
I know some of these products are expensive so if you shop in store (at Sephora, Ulta, or department store counters) most places have samples on hand of many skincare products or they can make you your own sample right there in store. If you shop online, always check for travel sizes of items you’re interested in or select free samples when you check out. Sephora always lets you choose at least 2 samples with every online order. If it’s free... it’s for me!
2) Try out a subscription box.
The majority of my current skincare routine has come from subscription box deluxe samples. I love to try items before I splurge and buy full size.
If you’re like me, this is the perfect way to get introduced to new beauty items and test them out before you spend the dough. I personally subscribe to the SephoraPlay monthly box ($10) and the Target Beauty boxes when they come out (I also recommend Ipsy or BoxyCharm). The Belief Moisturizing Eye Bomb, Origins GinZing Cream, Dr. Brandt No More Baggage, Soap and Glory Eye Gels, Becca Under Eye Corrector, and It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye ALL were introduced to me through my subscription boxes. That’s a ton, right? Totally worth it in my opinion to spend $10 a month and find new products that you enjoy before dropping $30 or more!
3) Start small.
Do you need 5 different eye creams? No. If you’re new to the skincare game, choose one product to start with and see how you like it. Then you can add more products as you go and address other skin concerns one at a time. It is also good to try one new product out at a time in case you have an allergic reaction. It’s much easier to pinpoint one new product that makes you breakout instead of figuring out one of five.
4) Test things out.
Skincare products are never one size fits all. That’s because we all have different skin types and skin concerns. I share what works for me but it might not necessarily work for you. I try to find products that will work for the majority of people but there might be things I recommend that you don’t like. That’s why it’s important for you to test things out for yourself too! Trial and error has greatly improved my knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work for my skin. That has also helped me be able give recommendations to you! Don’t be afraid to try a new product and test it out to see if it works for you. After all, you’ll never know until you try, right?
5) Invest in yourself.
Spending money on quality skincare (especially eye creams) isn’t a frivolous splurge, it’s an investment in yourself. Invest in good skincare items that help take care of your skin and make you feel good about yourself. There’s no shame in that!

——

And this concludes your in depth look at dark circle and puffiness banishing products.
Back to your regularly scheduled programming. 😜
Do you have a favorite eye product that works for you? I would love to hear which products you can’t live without.


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