Kate Moss Swears By This Free Beauty Hack to Banish Puffy Eyes

We’ve all been there: One episode of the latest must-watch true-crime series rolls into the next, and before you know it, it’s 1 a.m. on a work night and you’ve binged the whole box set. While you might be riding an adrenalin high right now, come morning you’ll likely be greeted with a less than ideal combination of extreme tiredness and lacklustre skin.

For me, it’s my eyes that really give the game away when it comes to late nights. Although I don’t suffer too badly with dark circles (yet), it’s puffy, swollen under-eyes that I’m left to battle come morning. But what actually causes them and how can you combat them quickly?

I asked some beauty industry experts for their advice and headed to Instagram to find out how fashion girls tackle theirs. Plus, I found out that there's one free hack that supermodel Kate Moss swears by for banishing hers. Keep scrolling...

I asked some beauty industry experts for their advice and headed to Instagram to find out how fashion girls tackle theirs. Plus, I found out that there's one free hack that supermodel Kate Moss swears by for banishing hers. Keep scrolling...

What causes puffy under-eyes?

First things first, if you’ve already compromised the amount of sleep that you should have got the night before, then you’re definitely in danger of waking to puffy under-eyes. "Sleep is really important,” Dr Justine Hextall, consultant dermatologist on behalf of the Harley Medical Group, tells us. "Plenty of sleep lowers cortisol, which can damage our skin. When you get a good night’s sleep, the skin around your eyes reflects that.”

However, if you really can’t get to bed early, then you might be able to help to keep at least some of the potential puffiness at bay by switching up the position that you sleep in. "Gravity can make a notable difference,” Hextall advised. "Sleeping with your face down can exacerbate eye swelling and bags.”

Oculoplastic surgeon and aesthetic doctor Maryam Zamani agrees: "Get your 7–9 hours of beauty sleep. If you notice puffiness with dark circles, try sleeping on your back instead of on your sides and use a pillow to elevate your head.”

I must admit that as a serial side sleeper, I think I’d be willing to take the puffy eyes over an uncomfortable night’s sleep. But if there was a big event coming up where I’d want to look particularly fresh-faced, then I’d definitely consider giving it a go.

And it’s not just the lack of sleep linked to a late night that can lead to puffiness. If you’ve been up in front of the TV or out with friends, then any consumption of alcohol or salty foods can also have an effect. Yes, it seems that puffy eyes want to ruin all of our fun.

"Lifestyle tips for reducing eyelid puffiness include getting sufficient sleep, drinking enough water [and] cutting down on salt and alcohol,” consultant dermatologist Justine Kluk tells us.

"These culprits lead to water retention, exacerbate swelling and reduce circulation,” says Zamani. So, next time you’re up late, skip the crisps and wine to increase your chances of waking up bright-eyed.

The Kate Moss-approved hack

But what if, like me, you already know that you’re going to fail to take heed of all of this genuinely useful advice? There’s one trick that you can use come morning that will de-puff your eyes in minutes and won’t cost you a thing: ice. Yes, before there were jade rollers and bio-cellulose eye masks, there was water. And when you chuck water in the freezer before you go to bed, it becomes the ultimate cure for puffy under-eyes and late-night regret.

We first spotted influencer Courtney Trop, our Instagram beauty and style inspiration, taking to Instagram ahead of big events to rub an ice cube all over her face. Instantly refreshing, it works to reduce inflammation, minimise pores, calm breakouts and boost glow—and Kate Moss agrees.

"The ice plunge is the best trick I’ve learnt," Moss told Harper's Bazaar." Fill a sink or a bowl with ice cubes, cold water and slices of cucumber and hold your face in for as long as you can, it instantly reduces puffiness and tightens up your skin."

If the thought applying an ice cube directly to your skin feels too much, though, Zamani suggests that you "chill a teaspoon in ice water and use it to place on your eyelids for about 10 minutes to help diminish the puffiness and cause constriction of the blood vessels.”

Similarly, wrapping the ice cube inside a muslin cloth will give you the same calming and de-puffing results with a little less of the harsh chill.

In the market for something a little fancier than frozen water? Keep scrolling to shop my favourite de-puffing beauty buys:

Next up, eight eye creams that over-40 celebs actually use.