As a student who sacrifices sleep for studying without a second thought, I can at times be seen roaming campus with those dreaded dark circles. As a result, I am constantly trying out new eye creams and eye gels that all claim to lighten dark circles in just a few days.
However, such products can be expensive and more often than not don’t even work! That’s why I am thrilled to share that I have finally come across an unbelievably affordable and natural “beauty product” that quickly and visibly reduces dark circles and diminishes puffiness: tea bags!
Yes, you read that correctly. Read on to learn how you can use tea bags to relieve tired, puffy eyes!
Table of Contents
What you’ll need:
- Two tea bags (I find green and black tea bags containing caffeine to be the most effective)
- A mug of hot water
- A plate, container, or plastic sandwich bag
How to:
Step One
Take the two tea bags and steep them in hot water for 3-5 minutes.
Step Two
Take the tea bags out and put them in your container of choice (I used a plate). Leave them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or until cold. While the tea bags are cooling down, you can relax by drinking the mug of delicious tea you just made – yum!
Step Three
Take the tea bags out. Gently squeeze out any excess liquid until the bags are damp and not dripping wet.
Step Four
Lay down and put the tea bags over your eyes. Leave them on for 15-30 minutes. Remove and carefully rinse off any tea stains on your face.
You can use this tea bag eye treatment every single day, once a week, twice a week, once a month, or whatever you prefer! For optimal results though, it is best to use this treatment at least once a week.
How It Works:
You probably have noticed that many eye treatments contain caffeine. This is because caffeine can help shrink blood vessels around your eye, thus reducing puffiness and dark circles.
The tea bags used in this DIY eye treatment not only contain caffeine and beneficial antioxidants, but they also contain tannins. Tannins are responsible for the tea’s color and flavor; most importantly, tannins can also stimulate healthy blood circulation and help tighten and soothe skin.
Risks and Precautions
Always be cautious when using tea bags on your eyes since they can cause irritation. Here are some more things to keep in mind:
- Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least thirty seconds before you touch your eyes.
- Never use hot tea bags — obvious but needs to be said!.
- There is a risk of contamination from bacteria and fungus on the bag itself; if your eyes are at all sensitive, don’t do this. If not, make sure to follow the next step below to kill bacteria.
- If you choose to use a tea bag, make sure it is boiled for at least three minutes before using it.Â
- Make sure your eyes are completely closed when placing the tea bag over them in order to avoid any potential irritation from contact with eyelids or lashes.Â
- Careful not to leave the eye area wet after removing the tea bag as this will lead to dryness and irritation.
What Do You Think?
Do you like this super easy DIY? Are you going to try it out? Let me know in the comments below; I’d love to hear what you think!
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PS: How many times do I need to use before I might see results. I’ve had these dark bags under my eyes for a long time now so I don’t expect instantaneous results.
Do you put the teabags on your eyelids or more underneath your eyes where the dark circles are?
m surely gonna try this, thank you so much for explaining so simply. well done.
I am steeping my tea bags right now! It is comforting to see that it has helped so many, as I read in the comments!
I tried..n it s incredibly give a good effect..my eye bag r gone..every one with eye bag should do this..it s so cheap n effective..tq so much
Do you put it on your eyelids or on your bags?
Any kind of tea can use?
im going to try this out right now! hope it works well as i’ve been researching this tea bag eye treatment for awhile now, thank you
Had heard about it from years back, Eyes were hurting and watering so I put tea bags on my eyes and it works. dont now how or why but it helps, Amazing.
I’ve been doing the tea bag trick for year and yes, it really works!
I love the Rilakkuma mug! So cute!
I’ve never used tea bags on my eyes, but I have made green tea, then put it in the fridge in a small container, then used it as a toner on my skin to freshen it up. It sounds weird, but rubbing a cotton ball soaked in green tea all over your face actually does make it feel really smooth and fresh! Drinking it is also apparently good for your skin as well 🙂
Rachel- LOL! I have never heard of Pedobear so I had to look it up; I dare say Rilakkuma is ten time cuter and by far less creepy 😛
I’m a terrible person but that cup reminds me of pedobear :/
The Internet has corrupted me.
Love that cup! It’s adorable.
As an avid tea drinker, I am going to do this with the tea bags i use every day 🙂 Great tip! i love me some tea.
Another option is soaking cotton pads in green tea or camomile tea and freezing any spares for later.
I had heard of this one time before but was unsure if it actually worked. I am very interested in trying it!