Have you ever had some well-meaning person tell you how tired you look? Or how they can just see your exhaustion in your eyes? Well, what they really mean is that you look like crap. And your eyes? They’re not some deep look into your soul—they’re just baggy, saggy, puffed-up pieces of flesh. And you probably want to do something about that.
Puffy eyes can result from illness, hangovers, hormone fluctuations, allergies, and, yes, exhaustion. They can be itchy, red, and swollen to the point of discomfort. For some people, puffy or baggy eyes are a hereditary trait, and must be accepted as such. For everyone else, the steps below should be helpful in getting rid of puffy eyes.
Getting Rid of Puffy Eyes
Cool the swollen skin around your eyes to reduce puffines. Do this with chilled eye and face creams (keep them in the fridge), an ice cube wrapped in a paper towel, chilled spoons, a cool wet washcloth, chilled left-over herbal tea bags, or strips of potato, cucumber, or strawberry. The applied cold will reduce puffiness and irritation, and can be used as often as is comfortable to get rid of puffy eyes.
Avoid excessive rubbing or drying of your eyes to get rid of puffiness. The skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive, and repeated touching of your eyes can not only irritate the them, but also worsen allergies -- and both can lead to puffy eyes. Also remember to take your contact lenses out before bed each night to avoid irritation and drying and the resulting puffiness. 
Get regular sleep to get rid of puffy eyes. It’s important to not only get a healthy amount (7-9 hours) of sleep each night, but to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each night and morning. This keeps your body regulated and rested, which in turn keeps your physical appearance healthy; this includes healthy-looking, un-baggy eyes.
Drink plenty of water to get rid of puffy eyes. When your body becomes dehydrated (maybe after a night of heavy drinking or an extended illness) it stores water as a defense mechanism. This built-up water can contribute to baggy or puffy eyes, so drinking the recommended 8-10 glasses of water will reduce water build-up and alleviate baggy eyes.
Cut down on your salt intake to get rid of puffy eyes. Eating lots of salt can cause water retention in your body (just like dehydration, above), so reducing your salt intake can in turn reduce your puffy eyes, as well as reduce bloating in other parts of your body.
Further Treatment for Puffy Eyes
If your puffy eyes don't get better with creams or cold treatment, you may be suffering from a severe allergic reaction, or some other condition that requires medical attention. You can try over the counter allergy medications such as Claritin, or a doctor may be able to prescribe a stronger antihistamine such as Zyrtec.
Sometimes puffy eyes are simply a physical, genetic trait. If puffy eyes run in your family you may not be able to get rif of your puffy eyes. If this is the case, you can use methods of concealing and covering your puffy eyes with makeup and other facial creams.
