Tips and Tricks to Depuff Your Face

Enjoy a few drinks last night? Indulge in a salty midnight snack? Maybe you just got off the plane on vacation or you’re enduring a hot summer’s day. A common culprit behind facial puffiness is dehydration and, subsequently, water retention, which explains why all these scenarios can cause a bloated face. Throw in the ever-present lack of sleep or congestion—especially during the summer months when allergies are at their peak—and you may find yourself in desperate need of some tips and tools to slim down and refresh your face.

Icy face bath
There’s nothing quite like a surge of ice-cold water to the face to wake you up and get your blood flowing. Whether you splash your face in the sink or massage your face with ice cubes, the frigid temperature works wonders on a swollen face. Or if you dare, dunk your face in a bowl filled with ice cubes and water for faster, more-immediate results. The few minutes of discomfort are well worth the results of ice-water therapy. 

Caffeine fix 
Drinking your favorite latte can’t help you here unfortunately, but incorporating its main ingredient into your skincare can. If your under-eyes are puffy, caffeine-infused under-eye patches or cream are a quick pick-me-up for the skin. When applied topically, the energy-boosting substance has a shrinking effect on blood vessels surrounding the eye area and acts quickly to deflate those pesky bags. 

Roll it out 
Stimulate lymphatic drainage by using a jade facial roller or gua sha tool, moving excess fluid towards the lymph nodes where it can be carried away. For best results, move in a lateral motion, away from the center of your face and towards the lymph nodes located along the jawline and in front of the ears. Store your roller in the fridge or freezer for increased effectiveness. 

Other tricks include at-home face masks or LED masks. And of course, most importantly, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!