I’ve had puffiness under my eyes for as long as I can remember. In high school, I would try to reduce the bags by placing frozen spoons or cucumber slices over my eyes. Since then, I’ve tried lotions, potions, concealers, and lasers to get rid of them. plasma They inject it in, and while it does a good job of camouflaging those pesky puffy bags, it doesn’t really work as a long-term solution. Enter gua sha, an ancient technique that’s been practiced for centuries. As a person who likes to try anything for beauty, I wasn’t going to pass up this trend and decided to give it a try.
How using Gua Sha can help relieve eye puffiness
Like many skin problems, swelling under the eyes can have many contributing factors. Some of the most common causes include allergies, genetics, aging, lack of sleep, and lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating too much salt. Some of these causes are controllable (or at least reducible), while others are inevitable. While swelling under the eyes can be caused by fluid retention, it can also be caused by fatty deposits under or around the eyes. Fatty deposits are much more difficult to treat. Luckily for me, my swelling is a fluid issue, which is why this Gua Sha technique is a good fit.
You’re probably familiar with Gua Sha, the ancient Chinese treatment. It’s known for a variety of health and beauty benefits, from a natural face lift to reducing the appearance of cellulite and even scalp massage. When it comes to the issue of puffy eyes, Gua Sha is said to reduce puffiness under and around the eyes by improving lymphatic drainage and moving trapped fluid out of the area. As I mentioned before, I’ve suffered from puffy eyes since I was a teenager, so I decided to give this a try. See my results below:
Relieve puffy eyes
I believe there are a few causes for my symptoms: genetics (thanks, Mom!), food allergies, and a (self-diagnosed) poorly functioning lymphatic system. Luckily, salt doesn’t make my symptoms worse, because I don’t think even vanity can curb my sushi addiction. I also convince myself that a bit of caffeine or a few cocktails won’t make my symptoms worse. Maybe I’m in denial, but I think I’d be better off trying gentler solutions rather than cutting out every little vice.
The amount of puffiness fluctuates depending on a few lifestyle factors, but fluid retention seems to be to blame more than anything else, so my aesthetician suggested I try gua sha at home to help mobilize trapped fluid in the area and get it out of my body. She administered it to me during my facial and walked me through the process so I could repeat the process myself between spa appointments.
At-home Gua Sha Routine
I’ve tried using a gua sha tool on my face before to firm my cheeks and define my jawline. I noticed a slight temporary improvement in the appearance of that area, but it’s not permanent. Like many facial massage techniques, the effects only last for a few hours. I love doing gua sha before a big event where I want to look my best, but I’m not great at keeping the practice on a regular, consistent schedule. This time, I decided to give it a try for 30 days, hoping to develop a daily habit that might bring more long-lasting results. I followed the steps outlined here and added a few tips that helped me boost my results.
Start with a cold gua sha tool straight from the freezer. This cold therapy helps reduce inflammation and swelling by decreasing blood flow to the area. Plus, it feels so good!
I like to apply Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream under my eyes and on my lids. It’s a lightweight eye cream with ingredients like caffeine to reduce puffiness, and ice wine and green algae to firm skin. It’s cooling and soothing, with just the right amount of slippery texture to allow the gua sha to glide around the delicate eye area without pulling on the skin. Eminence Organic SkincareI’ve tried a lot of their eye products and was a fan of this cream itself, so adding the gua sha took it to the next level for me. I apply lightly around the eye area, from the outer corners to the inner corners, and then upwards along the brow bone.
Side note: When I use the gua sha at night, I use their Lavender Night Eye Cream. It’s a thicker cream and I love that it softens, hydrates, and revitalizes skin while I sleep. Another favorite is their Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream. It’s super hydrating and I’ve noticed it reduces the appearance of puffiness, even when I’m not using the gua sha. I sometimes mix it in with a few drops of their Facial Recovery Oil, either day or night. It’s so luxurious, super nourishing, and smells amazing.
My Results
After four weeks of using the Gua Sha technique once a day, either at night or in the morning, I am pretty impressed with the results. I have noticed a noticeable reduction in puffiness around my eyes, along with several other benefits. My eyes look brighter and more awake, even after staying up late or not getting enough sleep. By combining my daily Gua Sha routine with my favorite Eminence Organics Eye Cream, and making sure to use it every day, I have seen a difference in the appearance of my delicate skin. My skin looks firmer, and the fine lines and wrinkles I am so used to seeing are less noticeable. I think the combination of the Gua Sha massage and eye cream has taken my results to the next level.
Are the results lasting? As with most skin care regimes, consistency is key. I was committed to the process and made time every day, so I saw positive changes. But let’s be realistic: sometimes life gets in the way. I had to rush to get out of the house in the morning, so I had to promise myself I’d make time before going to bed. I really had to force myself to spend an extra five minutes on my skin care routine at night. But the visible results got me back on track. Can I sustain this level of commitment? I hope so, but who knows.
Want to get rid of puffiness under and around your eyes? Visit your local Eminence Organics spa partner to find products that can address your concerns.
