For most people, danger, fear or anger get tears flowing, but it's also possible to laugh until you cry. Crying can actually be beneficial for your health by offsetting the effects of adrenaline and cortisol, helping ease stress. Unfortunately, puffy eyes that result from a good cry can linger well after all the tears have dried. Luckily, you do not have to look any further than your own kitchen to fix your swollen face.
Fill a small bowl halfway with water. Add three to four ice cubes to the water. Saturate a washcloth with the ice water, wring it out and apply it to your puffy eyes for five minutes. The cold compress removes redness and suppresses inflammation. Repeat three to four times.
Remove a container of milk from your refrigerator. Pour a small amount of milk into a cup. Saturate two large cotton balls with the milk. Aside from relieving puffiness from crying, milk will also brighten dark circles under your eyes. Lay the cotton balls on your closed eyelids for 10 minutes. Repeat until puffiness is gone.
Soak two black or chamomile tea bags in a cup of ice water for 10 minutes. The tannins in tea help constrict blood vessels, relieving puffiness. Remove the chilled tea bags and wrap them individually in a tissue. Set the tea bags over your puffy, closed lids for 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
Open your vegetable crisper drawer and take out a potato or cucumber. Cut two slices of potato or cucumber and place one slice over each closed eye. Allow the slices to remain on your puffy eyes for 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat the process with two more fresh slices if eye puffiness remains.
Massage your eyes with the cushions of your fingertips, gently. Massage the soft skin between your eyebrows and the inside corners of your eyes. This gentle massaging action will remove excess fluid that develops during the crying process.
Tip
Applying a few dabs of makeup concealer around your eyes can cancel out redness and hide some of your eye puffiness.
Warning
Do not rub your eyes. Rubbing will cause further irritation, making your eyes redder and puffier.
References
Writer Bio
Jonae Fredericks started writing in 2007. She also has a background as a licensed cosmetologist and certified skin-care specialist. Jonae Fredericks is a certified paraeducator, presently working in the public education system.