How to Fight Puffiness
Whatever the reason—too much lockdown-related wine, the salty snacks you opted for instead of making actual dinner, seasonal allergies, or plain old lack of sleep—waking up to puffy skin in the morning is no fun. While lifestyle changes like fewer drinks and more hours spent sleeping can make the most significant difference in preventing puffiness in the first place, here’s what to do when you’re staring in the mirror and damage is all too clearly already done.
1
Eye Cream
Just about every makeup artist we know starts any look with a generous dab of eye cream: The moisture plumps up any creases or lines, so most people look better instantly, and eye cream also helps makeup glide on much smoother. The new GOOPGENES cream combines extracts of caffeine (to firm) with Schisandra fruit (to help with skin elasticity) and arjuna (to help reduce the appearance of dark circles) for some pretty impressive results that go far beyond its considerable power to hydrate and smooth: After four weeks of use, 100 percent of test subjects saw significant improvement in eye-area firmness, 97 percent in elasticity, and 91 percent in crow’s-feet.*
2
Gentle massage can make a noticeable difference
Tools are a great way to move along the fluid causing puffiness. Jillian Dempsey’s vibrating roller firms, depuffs, and smooths skin for visible results that last all day. (Watch the video here; it’s pretty amazing.) For optimum results—and to push nourishing ingredients deeper into your skin—moisturize with cream or oil first. After just a few minutes, puffiness will ease and your face will seriously glow.
3
Detox
Whether it’s sugar from alcohol or salt from food (or stress or the environment), what you ingest can have an effect on your skin. This daily detox shot—made with milk thistle extract, a nutrient blend (selenium, zinc, magnesium, glycine, and pantothenic acid), and the antioxidants resveratrol and vitamin C—works to help neutralize dietary and environmental toxins for healthy, vibrant skin. Mix it with water and drink daily to support the body’s own detoxification system.
4
Cold really helps
Cool products and cooling tools can really make a difference, and they feel incredible. This hydrating gel contains cooling elderflower—as well as soothing chamomile and decongestive green myrtle—to help relieve puffiness. Leaving the tube in the fridge makes the ritual feel downright wonderful. You know what else feels next-level when chilled? A rose quartz roller. Use the larger side, along with the cooling gel, to promote circulation all over—or use the smaller, eye-focused end to treat puffy undereye bags. The same goes for gua sha: The stones cool as they sculpt and depuff skin.
5
Sculpt with nanocurrent
Of the many issues we love the ZIIP for, we’re particular fans of its cheekbone-reviving capabilities. The nanocurrent device helps define different areas of the face—including the jaw and cheeks. Whether you use it daily, a couple of times a week, or even just monthly, your skin will still see an instant boost.
6
Well-placed concealer
is a miracle
Great concealer or a foundation stick helps draw attention away from undereye bags and shadows. Going a couple shades lighter plays down the puffiness in a completely natural way. To apply, use your ring finger or a concealer brush—and make sure to pat gently, as opposed to rubbing it in. It will seem like it’s not blending in; keep patting, and suddenly it will. Focus on the area where you see shadows, not around it or past it.
*Based on an eight-week third-party consumer-perception and clinical study conducted on thirty-three women ages thirty-five to sixty-five.
