I’m a Beauty Writer & Here Are 4 Tips for Reducing the Look of Tired, Puffy Eyes

Let's be real.

You can love yourself and feel confident, while having a few insecurities at the same time, right?

Dark circles have been one of mine for as long as I can remember.

Before working in beauty, I used to Google things like ‘do dark circles go away' and 'how to brighten under eyes'.

Then, I learnt that if you have genetically-dark circles like me, no eye cream or skincare product is going to magically make them disappear. 

Plus, when you have really dark circles, you can automatically look fatigued.

OK, now for some good news!

Over the years, I've found a few things that help awaken my under eyes.

From hydrating and nourishing eye products, to concealers that do the most, here are some simple tips for reducing the look of tired and puffy eyes...

Including a new Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair eye cream my under eyes soaked up instantly.

1. Start Using an Eye Cream.

The skin around our eyes is much thinner than the rest of our face.

So when exposed to the environmental aggressors we face every day, it's more likely to feel and look fragile, dry and dehydrated.

This, along with puffiness and discolouration, can result in your eyes looking more tired than you may or may not feel.

If you have eye skincare concerns, your under eyes might benefit from specific care. 

Eye products are created with targeted formulations and your delicate eye contour area in mind.

Enter, the new and improved Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged 15ml eye cream.

Yep, I'm talking about that juicy one you've been seeing all over social media.

Here are some Estée Lauder eye cream facts:

• New and improved formula targets signs of ageing, fatigue, lines, dark circles and dryness. 

• Exclusive FR-Defense technology and antioxidant vitamin E work to neutralise free radicals.

• Contains the same Chronolux™ Power Signal Technology as Estée Lauder’s best-selling ANR Serum, plus hyaluronic acid to boost moisture in the skin for up to 100 hours.

• Is ophthalmologist and dermatologist-tested, and is mineral oil and paraben free. 

• The best way how to use the Estée Lauder eye cream is both AM and PM after cleansing and before serums.

My mini Estée Lauder eye cream review:

So, is the Estée Lauder eye cream good? And does it actually work?

Yes and YES.

I like using the eye gel at night - your skin goes into repair mode while you sleep, so I wanted my currently dry and stressed eyes to get the most out of the product. 

Here's what my skin looked like before and straight after application.

The gel-crème texture was so delightful to apply, and it hugged the skin with its velvety finish.

It honestly felt so soothing and calming, and instantly made my under eyes feel better. 

After using the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged cream for a week, I absolutely love it. 

It gets extra points for coming in a recyclable carton.

Plus, I will definitely be re-using the glass jar for travel when I run out.

2. Add Massage Into Your Routine For Puffy Eyes.

It’s been said that gently massaging around the eye area in the morning can help increase circulation and help with lymphatic drainage. 

If you’re waking up puffy-eyed or with dry under-eye skin (me!), an eye cream with a cooling applicator is just what you need. 

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex 15ml is honestly one of the best I’ve tried.

It might even be on par with the gel cream for the best Estée Lauder eye cream.

Just sayin.

Here's how the eye serum differs from the gel cream:

• Matrix is a concentrated eye treatment designed to hydrate, firm and reduce the look of puffiness and dark circles.

• Comes with a custom-designed stainless steel applicator to cool and soothe tired eyes.

• Is suited to all skin types and ages, and can also be used on forehead lines, between the brows, and on smile lines.

• Formula contains the trademark ANR Chronolux™ tech, and different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate all levels of the skin around your eyes.

My mini Estée Lauder eye serum review:

I never knew this is what my under eyes needed in the morning until I tried this lush treatment.

I applied the serum directly onto the skin using the applicator.

It feels really soothing on the skin, and doesn't pull or tug.

Next, I gently massaged the rest of the product in with my finger.

It has a creamy texture that feels uber-nourishing, and melts into the skin beautifully.

My under eyes felt instantly comforted and moisturised.

You can see by my before and after selfies how the product awakens my under eyes, too.

If you want to turbo-charge your eyecare routine, a cooling applicator product like this one is a great way to do it.

Sure, I could just use a cold spoon, but this dedicated eye treatment and massager in one feels a bit special.

And we deserve special at 7am before our morning coffee, no?

3. Prep Your Under Eyes Before Makeup.

Do I use eye masks every morning? Gosh no.

But when I remember to pop some on, I wonder why I don't.

There’s no better way to brighten and plump under eyes before applying concealer.

If you're feeling bougie and want to treat yourself, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Mask - 4 Pack are the ones to try.

Watch how I applied the eye masks (and used the leftover serum in the packet!) below...

I like to keep mine for special occasions. You can get a pack of four eye masks for $60 (which works out to be $15 each).

Plus, they’re infused with the same Advanced Night Repair technology as the best-selling ANR Serum to give you instant hydration under the eyes. 

Side note: This won't stop your concealer from creasing.

Makeup creasage is unavoidable.

When you smile, laugh or show any emotion, you will get creasage!

But ensuring the under-eye skin is well-hydrated does make a difference.

4. Choose the Right Concealer.

I’m very passionate about concealers.

In my experience, concealer is the best tool for looking like you’ve had a good night’s sleep.

So, what do I look for in a concealer for dark circles?

Hydration. Luminosity. Full coverage!

It’s not easy finding all three in one product, but Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Flawless Wear Concealer ticks all the boxes.

You can see my concealer before and after photo below.

The medium coverage concealer comes in more than 20 shades from 'ultra light' to 'very deep', and has a lovely creamy texture infused with both vitamin E and hyaluronic acid.

The applicator makes it super easy to apply, and the buildable formula didn't feel cakey or heavy on the skin.

I'm wearing the shade '3W Medium Warm'.

It does an excellent job of blurring my dark circles and brightening my under eyes.

The concealer creasage was very minimal. And it gets bonus points for being long-wearing.

These pictures below were taken after five hours of wear, in both good and not-so good lighting!

Boy oh boy, did these eye care products feel UH-MAZING on the skin. 

I might be biased, but I think they did a great job at awakening my under-eye area too.

Moral of the story:

Dark circles, puffiness and tired eyes are all part of living a full life.

But if adding one or all of these tips into your routine helps you feel like your most confident self, even better!

P.S. Watch my YouTube video below for more of my dark circle concealer tips!

Check out these articles for more eyecare product recommendations:

• Bioderma Review: We *Need* To Talk About This New Cult-Brand Eye Makeup Remover

• This Best-Seller Now Comes in an Eye Cream & My Dark Circles Won't Do Concealer Without It

• Bargain vs Bougie: A Beauty Writer Reviews the Best Concealers for Dark Circles