How To Brighten Eyes: Skincare Products, Makeup Tips, and Home Remedies

You don't need to be a makeup whiz or a skincare junkie to get bright, excited eyes. A few easy-to-learn makeup tricks and a couple of key products can go a long way towards getting the look you're looking for.

If you're wondering how to get rid of tired eyes especially dark circles, redness, and puffiness, hold on to your used green tea bags for an easy fix. Place used tea bags in the fridge and, once cooled, lay them over your closed eyes for a few minutes.

Green tea is packed with antioxidants which have an anti-inflammatory effect on the cornea of your eye, reducing redness and irritation in the whites of your eyes. Additionally, the cold, caffeinated tea bags will stimulate blood flow and cause your blood vessels to shrink, which can help manage dark circles and puffy eyes.

If dryness is causing your eyes to consistently grow red and irritated, try supplementing with eye-brightening drops to reduce redness and keep your eyes adequately hydrated. Consuming foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, like many types of fish, can also help keep your eyes from becoming dry. You could also take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement if you're not getting enough in your diet.

For a targeted treatment, try an eye patch formulated to reduce puffiness and nourish the eye area. Comfort Zone's sublime skin eye patch reduces the appearance of under eye bags and lines for an anti-aging, renewing effect. For maximum effect, use a couple eye patches before further brightening your eye area with makeup.

Products formulated with retinol, like Comfort Zone's natural retinol serum, also support a bright eye by promoting collagen production, which reduces dark circles and keeps your skin plump and full.

A few makeup staples can go a long way to making your eyes look bright and refreshed. For this simple eye makeup tip, grab a concealer brush and a peach-based concealer—this color is light enough to act as a natural highlighter under the eyes for most skin tones. Apply a few dabs of concealer, then blend them with a concealer brush or blending sponge to fill in fine lines and brighten eyes instantly.

Puffiness can make your eyes look small, so using an eyelash curler to open up your eyes instantly makes them look brighter and bigger. If you've had bad experiences with lash curlers in the past, watch a tutorial from a professional makeup artist before making a makeup mishap you'll regret. Make sure to curl clean lashes only, and finish off the look by applying your favorite mascara!

Subtle highlighter use can make your eyes naturally appear bright and refreshed without looking like you've caked on the makeup. For maximum impact, use your favorite makeup tool to apply gold- or flesh-toned highlighter under your eyes and in the inner corners. Just make sure it doesn't build up in fine lines or wrinkles; use your makeup brush to gently spread the highlighter evenly into creases and lines.

While black or blue eyeliner above your upper lash can help brighten the whites of your eyes by creating contrast, white eyeliner on your waterline or below your lower lashes can help hide redness and make your eyes look radiant and bright. If you're worried about poking your eye and causing irritation, gently layer white eyeliner below your lower lashes instead of on your waterline.

The best way to manage dull eyes is to prevent them from developing in the first place. Chances are, a few lifestyle changes could help make your eyes naturally bright and radiant!

It's no surprise that squinting can cause wrinkles over time, but sun exposure has its own hazards for your eye area. Damage from UV rays can cause your eyes to develop hyperpigmentation, causing dark circles to appear darker. Sun exposure can also dry out your eyes, contributing to redness and irritation.

Lack of sleep is a main cause of dark circles, eye puffiness, and redness. Adequate sleep keeps your skin glowing and vibrant, but when you don't get enough hours of sleep, your skin is more pale, making the blood vessels under your eyes appear darker. Additionally, too little sleep causes water retention under your eyes, making them appear puffy. Finally, lack of sleep interrupts your eye's natural regenerative process, which can make your eyes dry and irritated.

Your diet plays a huge role in the appearance of your skin, particularly around your fragile eye area. High-salt diets cause water retention, which makes your skin bloated and puffy. Caffeine and alcohol, on the other hand, cause you to become dehydrated, which exacerbates fine lines and wrinkles around the eye. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants and vitamins which nourish your eyes.

Adequate hydration doesn't just keep your skin from becoming overly thin and lined, it maintains moisture in your eyes, which prevents them from becoming dry and red. Experts recommend drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.