My lower eyes have been puffy for as long as I can remember. Since high school, I’ve been putting frozen spoons or cucumber slices on the area hoping the bags will shrink. Since then, I have tried to eliminate them with lotions, filters, concealers, lasers and even had my own blood plasma injected into the area. And while I’ve had some luck camouflaging those pesky, bulging pouches, nothing has worked as a long-term solution. Enter: gua sha, the ancient technique practiced for centuries. Always willing to try anything in the name of beauty, I decided to stop sleeping on this trend and give it a try.
Why Using Gua Sha Can Treat Puffy Eyes
As with many skin problems, there can be many factors that contribute to puffiness under the eyes. Some of the more common culprits include allergies, genetics, aging, lack of sleep, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating too much salt. While some of these causes can be controlled (or at least mitigated), others are just a fact of life. Sometimes puffiness under the eye is a result of fluid retention, but it can also be caused by fat deposits under or around the eye — which can be much more difficult to treat. Fortunately for me, my swelling is a fluid issue, which makes me a good candidate for this gua sha technique.
By now, you are probably well aware of the ancient Chinese healing method of gua sha. It is known to have many health and beauty benefits — from naturally lifting the face to reducing the appearance of cellulite and even massaging the scalp. When it comes to the subject of puffy eyes, gua sha is said to improve lymphatic flow and reduce puffiness under and around the eyes by moving stagnant fluid out of the area. As I mentioned, I’ve been dealing with puffy eyes since I was a teenager, so I was determined to try this method. See below for my results!
Treating my puffy eyes
I attribute my issues to a few things, namely genetics (thanks, Mom!), food allergies, and a (self-diagnosed) sluggish lymphatic system. Luckily for me, the salt doesn’t make them worse, because I’m not sure even vanity could curb my sushi addiction. I also tell myself that a little caffeine and a few cocktails won’t make things worse. Maybe I’m in denial, but I’d rather try less extreme solutions than cut out all my little vices.
Because the level of swelling fluctuates based on certain lifestyle factors and seems to be more about water retention than anything else, my esthetician recommended trying gua sha at home to help move stagnant fluid out of the area to flush it out from my system. She did it to me during a facial and talked me through the process so I could repeat it on myself between spa appointments.
My home Gua Sha routine
I have previously tried using a gua sha tool on my face to refresh the look of my cheeks and help define my jaw line. I have noticed small, temporary improvements in the appearance of these areas, but nothing permanent. As with many facial massage techniques, the results tend to only last for a few hours. I like to run them before a big event where I want to look my best, but I’ve never been good at keeping up with the practice on a regular and consistent schedule. This time I committed to trying it for 30 days in hopes of creating a daily habit that could yield longer lasting results. I followed the steps outlined here and added a few extra tips that helped improve my results:
Start with a cold gua sha tool, straight from the freezer. This method of cold therapy helps reduce inflammation and swelling by reducing blood flow to the area. And it feels so good.
I apply Hibiscus Ultra Lift Eye Cream to my under eye area and lid. It’s a lightweight eye cream that contains ingredients like caffeine that reduces the appearance of puffiness, plus ice wine and green algae that tighten the appearance of skin. It is also cooling and soothing upon application and provides just the right amount of slip to allow the gua sha to glide across the delicate eye area without tugging at the skin. As his employee Eminence Organic Skin Care, I’ve tried a lot of their eye products and was a fan of this cream on its own, so adding gua sha to the mix takes it to the next level for me. I dab it on the eye area from the outside of the eye inwards, then up and along the brow bone.
Side note: When I use gua sha at night, I use the Lavender Night Eye Cream. It’s a richer cream and I love the way it softens, hydrates and revitalizes the look of the area while I sleep. Another favorite is the Marine Flower Peptide Eye Cream. It’s super hydrating and I’ve noticed it helps with puffiness, even when I’m not using the gua sha. Day or night, I sometimes add a few drops of the Facial Repair Oil to the mix. It’s so luxurious, deeply nourishing and smells amazing.
My results
After four weeks of using the gua sha technique once a day, either in the evening or in the morning, I have to say that I am quite impressed with the results. I have definitely noticed a reduction in puffiness around my eyes as well as some other benefits. The area is brighter and I seem more awake, even after a late night or less restful sleep. Because I’ve combined my daily gua sha ritual with some of my favorite Eminence Organics eye creams and been so committed to using them every day, I’ve noticed a difference in the way delicate skin looks. It looks tighter and the fine lines and wrinkles I’m used to seeing are less noticeable. I think the combination of the gua sha massage and the eye creams really took my results to the next level.
Will the results last? As with many skin care practices, consistency is key. Because I committed to the process and made the time every day, I saw a positive change. But, let’s be real, sometimes life gets in the way. There were mornings when I was in a rush to get out the door and had to promise myself I would make time before bed. Some nights I really had to force myself to spend the extra five minutes on my skincare routine. But the results I was seeing were noticeable enough to keep me on track. Will this level of commitment continue? I’d like to believe so, but we’ll see.
Want to target puffiness under and around your eye area? Visit an Eminence Organics Spa partner near you to find out which products will address your concerns.
