Tips & Products To Disguise Tired Looking Red Puffy Eyes

You may suffer from redness around your eyes due to eczema flare ups (me too) or perhaps you are pink and puffy during hay fever season (yep, me too) maybe a few glasses of wine is all it takes for your peepers to appear bloodshot and bleary (bloody hell, me too) or maybe pregnancy hormones for some reason beyond your comprehension or control, have meant that you wake up every day looking as though you have spent the previous evening crying intensely or had some kind of severe allergic reaction to to your own bed. Yes you guessed it….ME TOO.

I can just about deal with the water retention, the unsexy waddle and the moon face, but the state of the windows to my soul had left me fed up and not wanting to leave the house. Or at least only in dark glasses and a big hat.

Rather than wallow in my vanity, I have instead been researching and testing methods and products that will help to combat or at least disguise redness and puffiness and assist in making your eyes appear more sparkly and clear. I hope you find the tips useful and I would love to hear some of your own advice and experiences in the comments box below.

Use A Cold Compress {or in my case, SPOONS}

I have kept teaspoons in the freezer ever since I was a teenager. James thinks it’s hilarious. But honestly – for a quick reduction of eyelid swelling, nothing works quite as well as the pressing the cold oval part of the spoon over your closed eye for a minute or two. I sometimes press the handle underneath my lower lash line to take away any puffiness in the bag/dark shadow area too.

Apply A Flesh Toned Liner On The Lower Eyelid Rim

This is not a new trick, it’s as old as time, but one that I used to ignore as it just seemed like yet another step to my make-up routine that I don’t have time for. Realistically it takes seconds, and a flesh/pale eyeliner inside your lower eyelid rim REALLY reduces the appearance of redness. Your eyes also appear slightly bigger. The dogs whatsits of lower rim pencils is Charlotte Tilburys Rock N Kohl Eye Cheat, it doesn’t irritate and even though it’s fairly spendy, it lasts forever.

A close second is NYX Wonder pencil in “Light”. It’s slightly chalkier but again doesn’t irritate at all and is a bargain £4.50.

Use Eyecream {Applied Sparingly}

Along with irritated redness often comes flaky dryness which makes concealer look well…a bit crepey and shit. I am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Eye Cream but you only need the teeniest amount. I press it on gently – never rub, and let it sink in for a good ten minutes whilst I’m brushing my teeth and getting dressed before I would consider applying make-up over the top.

For those of you with normal/combination skin types who require a less intense product, my sister, my Mum and various online beauty gurus swear by organic brand Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil eye cream, it is light and refreshing but creates a smooth hydrated base.

Apply Yellow Based Eyelid Primer

For summer months and for those of you who don’t suffer with flakes, Bare Minerals “Well Rested” brightening powder works really well to counter act pink hues, blue veins and general unevenness on your lids. I’ve used it on and off for years. I brush a tiny bit on with a regular concealer brush and extend it right underneath my brows, it also works well as a base for eyeshadow and liner.

More recently (and more suited to parched types) I have discovered Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer which is A.Mazing. My eyeshadow looks so smooth and my whole eye area appears less knackered looking. The packaging gets some getting used to (more gimmick than practicality) but if you invest in some I promise that a) you won’t regret it b) just squeeze a very small amount from the tube and you will prevent clogging/mess.

Both products come with SPF20 – a must for the thin delicate skin around the eye area.

Use Hydrating Eye Drops BEFORE Bed

I found this tip in Good Housekeeping magazine and it works, apparently dehydrated eye glands accumulate fluid which causes puffiness so a few drops before bed means significantly less swelling by morning. Genius.

Sweep A Gold/Champagne Shadow Underneath Your Lower Lash Line

Another trick I have used for years, I don’t really know why it works to make you look fresher and more awake but it does. I use an angled eyeliner brush to sweep shimmery shadow from the inner corners across to the outer corners of my lower lash line.

I favour Urban Decay Half Baked for its longevity but there are many of these types of shades available at a variety of price points. And if you own an eye palette of any kind I guarantee there will be a champagne hue in there you can try.

And Voila! less red, less puffy, and more looking like you. Product recommendations most welcome in the comments section below.

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