More Perk, Less Puff: How to Brighten Your Eyes.

Maybe it was an all-night binge watch of “Stranger Things.” Maybe too much work. Too much worry. Too many Trader Joe’s meals for one (have you checked the sodium content on those things?). Whatever the reason, you’ve woken up looking like you knocked back a bottle of Veuve then got in a brawl at a 24-hour Target over the last copy of Eat, Pray, Love. It happens. While dark circles can be related to genetic traits, there are plenty of other causes that are completely within your control. Here are some things you can do to avoid those unsightly dark circles and puffy eye bags.

Get Some Sleep. What are you? Twelve years old? Start adulting and get to bed at a reasonable hour. It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing. When you don’t get enough sleep, the blood vessels under your eyes dilate and cause a bluish tint. Get good rest on a consistent basis to avoid the vampire glow.

Sleep On Your Back. Gravity is good for keeping your car on the road and the coffee in your cup. Not so good for beauty. When you sleep on your side fluids tend to pool under your eyes. Sleep on your back with an extra pillow under your head to keep pillows from forming under your eyes.

Watch Your Sodium Intake. Excess sodium is notorious for causing water retention in all the wrong places. It also impairs circulation and dilates blood vessels, all things that can show up as dark circles or puffiness under your eyes. Even if you never put salt on your food, that doesn’t mean your diet is low in sodium. It’s hiding in places you might not expect. Processed foods are loaded with it. And so are sodas, particularly diet sodas. Read the labels and moderate your choices to keep your eyes bright.

Don’t Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em. It’s 2016. Why are you still smoking? The science is all there. Not only is it killing you, it’s giving you dark, creepy, flabby eye bags. Stop it.

Chill Out With A Cold Compress. Lay back for ten to fifteen minutes with something nice and cool and moist on your eyes. Chilled spoons, cucumber slices, tea bags. Whatever is comfortable, just make it cold. This will reduce the puffiness and refresh you all at the same time. For an added boost, use caffeinated tea bags.

Use A Good Eye Cream. The runway trick of using Preparation H may work in a pinch, but it can also irritate the sensitive skin around your eyes and it’s only a short-term solution. For more long lasting results use Vivant’s Wink Eye Rejuvenation Cream with peptides to stimulate your body’s own collagen production and create lift and plump. It also has hyaluronic acid to nourish collagen growth, caffeine to firm sagging skin, and kojic acid to brighten dark circles. Apply using tapping motions with your fingers to increase circulation.

Eat Well. A deficiency of vitamin K, B12 or antioxidants can be a cause of dark circles and puffiness. Load up on the fruits and veg, especially dark leafy greens like spinach and kale and be sure to drink plenty of fluids for good circulation.

Get Some Exercise. Increased circulation helps keep skin looking refreshed and healthy by delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and removing waste. To help keep your visage vibrant and eyes sparkling instead of sagging, get up and get moving at least twenty minutes a day.