Tried and Tested: Do Home Remedies for Eye Bags Actually Work?

Putting cucumbers over your peepers is one of the most well-known home remedies for eye bags – and, TBH, also the most bogus. It feels refreshing, especially after a night of binge-watching Tell Me Lies, but it won’t magically erase those dark circles. Still, it’s tempting to believe there are DIY fixes that really work. Because who wouldn’t want an easy, cost-free dark under-eye treatment?

If you never try, you’ll never know. So, I tested several popular home remedies for eye bags and ranked them from worst to best. Some surprisingly exceeded my expectations, while others had me panic-buying a new eye cream at 8 a.m.

The residents of #SkinTok have used baking soda for many things, from keeping their armpits stink-free to deep cleaning pores. Now, it has made its way as a home remedy for eye bags.

The idea is that baking soda can work as a physical exfoliant when mixed with water, revealing radiant, softer skin. However, it can also disrupt the skin barrier due to its alkaline pH. Knowing this, I applied the baking soda paste only on one side of my face (thankfully!).

Believe me when I say don’t try this hack at home. The baking soda paste did nothing but leave me with a red blotch under my right eye that still hasn’t faded. You’d better off investing in retinol-containing skincare products like POND'S Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Eye Cream. It has 3x power to smoothen wrinkles and brighten eye bags – no skin burning.

Ayurvedic medicine has been using spuds to brighten pigmented skin for centuries. The starchy root vegetable is packed with vitamin C and azelaic acid – both help inhibit melanin production. It also contains natural enzymes that calm inflammation and maintain a healthy skin barrier.

Everything about this DIY potato mask sounds good in theory, but not in practice. Slicing the tater in thin pieces made me almost give up. Not to mention the sticky residue and smell that clung to my face.

I left the mask on for 15 minutes, washed it off, and the first thing I noticed was how smooth my skin felt. My dark circles also looked better, though I can’t say it was worth the hassle. Overall, the results were not better than a regular brightening serum.

The cold spoon trick supposedly reduces puffiness by constricting the blood vessels under the eyes. What’s more, it can help relieve itchiness in the eye area. The method is straightforward: Put two metal spoons in the freezer, wait until they’re chilled, and then press them gently against your eye bags.

I can’t say how many times this home remedy has saved me after a sobfest. The cooling effect refreshes my swollen eyes every time. However, the result is short-lived. After about an hour, the puffiness creeps back (although it becomes less visible), and those dark shadows linger. You can always pop the spoons back in the fridge and re-apply them to your under-eye area, though.

Leftover tea bags can be repurposed as home remedies for eye bags. Dermatologist Shereene Idriss shared on her TikTok that caffeinated tea has anti-inflammatory compounds that help soothe redness and constrict dilated blood vessels beneath the eyes – a common cause of dark under-eye circles.

To put this hack to the test, I steeped two bags of oolong tea in hot water and let them cool in the fridge before placing them over my eyes for 10 minutes. The experience felt similar to when I did the cold spoon compress, only this time I felt extra pampered by the tea aroma.

Did the tea bags do the job? Kind of. I definitely looked more awake, and I could see a slight improvement in my dark circles. Perhaps my eye bags are caused more by vascular issues than by pigmentation. That said, I’m open to trying this remedy again because of how easy and relaxing it was.

Gua sha is a beauty must-have, and for good reason. This facial massage tool gently encourages lymphatic movement, boosting circulation and depuffing eye bags. Doing gua sha massage regularly can also promote collagen production, which helps firm up the undereye area. 

Just make sure to invest in a proper gua sha made of the smoothest possible materials for an effortless glide. The most popular options are jade and rose quartz, which supposedly have healing properties. Some gua shas are made of antimicrobial stainless steel, which are perfect for sensitive skin – they’re also unbreakable unlike their stone counterparts.

I’ve incorporated gua sha into my skincare routine for about two months, and I’ll admit there’s something to the hype. I can barely see my eye bags. But what surprised me the most was how my eyelids have become more even. Consider me a gua sha believer. 

Despite my glowing review, gua sha is not a one-and-done fix for eye bags. You need to stick to it regularly to see lasting results. If you decide to give it a try, prep the skin with POND'S Age Miracle Ultimate Youth Night Cream to minimize unintentional friction. Powered by hexyl-retinol, it helps blur fine lines, brighten dull skin, and improve skin firmness.

Home remedies for eye bags can be hit or miss. Some may even do more harm than good. Ultimately, in-office treatments like laser therapy, fillers, and eyebag removal surgery are the best permanent solutions. But if you’re in a pinch and need a quick refresh, I recommend reaching for cold spoons, tea bags, gua sha, and your trusty eye cream.