How To Help Ease The Appearance Of Under-Eye Bags: 7 Derm-Approved Tips

Under-eye concerns can be a total nuisance, especially under-eye bags. Not only are they unavoidably visible to everyone and anyone (they are sitting right in the middle of your face, after all), but most of the time their appearance is completely out of your control. 

Dark circles and puffiness can often be caused by lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep or poor diet. They can also be handled pretty easily thanks to makeup and even a shock of ice.

When it comes under-eye bags, there's not a whole lot you can do to avoid them, as they're primarily caused by genetics and aging (and maybe worsened with some lifestyle choices). 

Unlike dark circles and puffiness, under-eye bags don't get talked about as often, probably because they're much more out of our control. Bags are caused by fat pads under the eyes due, most likely, to genetics. 

"Some families have under-eye fat pads that stick out from an early age," board-certified dermatologist at Skintap Morgana Colombo, M.D., explains. 

Arash Akhavan, M.D., owner of Dermatology and Laser Group in NYC, adds that aging typically compounds the issue. 

Since genetics and natural signs of aging are the most common reasons for under-eye bags, there's not a whole lot that can be done to get rid of them completely, bar getting them surgically removed. Since these factors are out of our control, the best route to take to minimize their appearance is all about prevention. 

To tackle the issue of aging, the best thing you can do is support collagen production around the eye. This will help prevent sagging and promote a stronger barrier for a youthful appearance. You can do this through collagen supplements or topical products.

Along with retinol-based products, there are lots of other great active-packed serums and creams that can help prevent and improve eye bags. Besides retinol, Akhavan recommends peptides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and caffeine. 

Peptides and vitamin C can help by promoting collagen production and reducing the breakdown of collagen to treat and prevent signs of aging.

Since lack of water can worsen the appearance of under-eye bags, hyaluronic acid can treat this by binding and retaining water to keep skin hydrated and youthful. 

Vitamin E's antioxidant ability helps stabilize free radicals, which can speed up signs of aging, while caffeine's antioxidant power can delay photoaging by protecting against UV ray exposure.

Even though vitamin E can help with UV protection, it's not enough to truly prevent any real damage. Instead, you'll want to make sure you apply enough SPF and wear protective sunglasses to slow down the sagging of the skin around the eyes. 

"As UVA and UVB rays are the main cause of sun damage and aging, wearing sunglasses and SPF is essential for preventing under-eye bags," Akhavan says. "This will help block the UVA and UVB light, reducing the risk of under-eye aging and skin cancer." 

If you have a big event coming up and you want to quickly and efficiently improve the appearance of your eyes, Colombo recommends using a gua sha or jade roller. These tools can target puffiness and sagging by promoting lymphatic drainage, which reduces swelling and improves circulation by helping to flush out toxins.