5 Fast Ways to Help Your Eyes Look Younger & More Alert

We all have days when we wake up, look in the mirror, and see tired, puffy eyes looking back at us. Whether you’re battling under-eye bags after a string of late nights at the office or a weekend of fun at one of Las Vegas’ famous pool parties, you don’t want to show up at your next meeting or event looking like you haven’t slept in days!

Fortunately, there are several easy and inexpensive tricks to make your eyes look younger and better refreshed. Here are 5 of our favorites that use resources you’ll already have on hand.

1. Keep two spoons in the fridge for ready-to-use cold compresses

Want to know how to improve eye puffiness in a hurry? Try cold therapy. Applying cold compresses to your eyes causes surface-level blood vessels to constrict, calming swelling and reducing the bluish-purple hue under your eyes. An ice-cold water rinse or lying down for a few minutes with a bag of frozen peas on your face works well too—just do not place frozen objects directly on the skin (place a T-shirt underneath to protect the skin) and remove compresses within 10 minutes.

2. Hit the gym first thing in the morning

You know that an AM workout can help you feel more energized throughout the day, but did you know that exercise also delivers radiance-boosting oxygen to your skin? Going for a jog, taking spin class, or doing yoga in the morning increases circulation, helping your skin glow for a more alert look. Work out consistently, and your body ups its natural anti-oxidant production for a boost in protection against age-causing free radicals.

Toning down discoloration not only helps disguise dark circles—it also helps your eyes look larger and your lashes look darker. Try these tricks with concealer and pick an outfit to brighten skin tone.

3. Dress to downplay dark circles

To put your most refreshed face forward, pay attention to your wardrobe. Depending on your skin tone, certain colors help your face look brighter and better refreshed, while others can cast a dull shadow. Deeper jewel-toned colors like purple, magenta, or teal brighten cool skin tones, while earthy yellows, browns, and greens boost the glow of warm skin tones. Add a pair of statement earrings to add sparkle and draw attention away from sleepy eyes. Not color savvy? Here’s a fun quiz to help you dress for your skin tone, including celeb examples to help you find the right match.

4. Use concealer strategically for a brighter, bigger eye appearance

Toning down discoloration around the eyelids not only helps disguise dark circles, redness, and visible veins—it also helps your eyes look larger and your lashes look darker. Use a concealer that’s a little lighter and brighter than your skin tone for a natural look. In a pinch, you can apply a thin layer of orange eyeshadow or lipstick beneath your regular concealer. The orange “cancels out” the blueish purple tones of tired eyes.

5. Take 30 seconds to give your lashes a lift.

Curling your eyelashes immediately gives a more open, wide appearance to your eyes. Add a lengthening mascara, and your eyes instantly look brighter, bigger and more alert. A skillfully applied nude or white eyeliner can also lend a more open eye look. Hint: if sparse eyelashes are a problem for you, RevitaLash is a topical treatment that helps strengthen natural lashes for a fuller, lusher look.

More enduring options to rejuvenate the eyes

While these tips are great for giving your eyes a temporary pick-me-up, if genetics, sun damage, or aging have resulted in a chronically tired, puffy appearance to your eyes, you may want to consider a more lasting solution.

If sagging eyelid skin is causing you to look tired, cosmetic eyelid surgery can restore a more open, refreshed eye appearance for years to come.

First, take care of the delicate skin around your eyes. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, prior to putting on makeup. In-office treatments such as chemical peels or laser resurfacing can help improve skin texture and boost collagen production for a firmer skin appearance. BOTOX and filler injections are also excellent options to minimize puffiness, soften expression lines, and smooth fine wrinkles around the eyes non-surgically, with results that last for many months.

If sagging eyelid skin is causing you to look tired, cosmetic eyelid surgery may be the most effective, lasting solution to restore a more open, refreshed eye appearance. Surgery can also eliminate a puffiness on the lower eyelids. For our patients in Las Vegas, eyelid surgery procedures take only about 1 hour to perform, leave virtually undetectable scars, and allow a return to full activity within about 3 weeks.

We hope these tips come in handy the next time a sleepless night catches up with you. If you are ready to explore more lasting solutions, give us a call. You’ll learn a lot at a personal consultation with Dr. Samir Pancholi. Fellowship-trained in cosmetic surgery and certified by both the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Osteopathic Board of Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Pancholi has 10+ years of experience performing eyelid rejuvenation procedures. He will offer honest, helpful guidance about the treatment options that are best matched to your goals.