Are you constantly fighting against puffy eyes? Do you know which beverages might be contributing to the puffiness? While some drinks may be hydrating, there are sugary and salty beverages that can actually dehydrate the delicate skin around your eyes and lead to a puffy, irritated look.
To get the best advice, we checked in with nutritionists, doctors and skincare experts to learn more about five common sugary and salty beverages that can cause puffy eyes. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Kathryn Piper, RDN, LD, registered dietitian and nutritionist, Dr. Heather Smith, ICU and internal medicine physician and founder of BareLUXE Skincare and Dr. Jenelle Kim, skincare formulator and founder of JBK Wellness Labs.
5 Beverages That Can Lead to Puffy Eyes
1. Coffee
While many of us need coffee to help wake up and start our day, Piper notes that drinking large amounts of it without enough water can lead to an undesired puffy eye look. "The caffeine in coffee has a diuretic effect which can contribute to dehydration," she warns. "When you’re dehydrated, your body tends to retain water, which may cause puffy eyes," she notes.
In order to combat this, drinking eight glasses of water every day along with your morning coffee can still help you gain the necessary benefits from caffeine without dehydrating yourself.
2. Salty Alcoholic Drinks
Smith says that the ultimate "worst drinks for puffy eyes" are going to be the "alcohol-based drinks highest in salt." If you're just having just one, she says you "might get away with" not having puffy eyes later, but if you're over-indulging, then you're "going to retain a lot of water."
"This can leave your whole body puffy with a large overnight increase in water-weight," she warns. Smith adds that this can be very noticeable in the facial area, "especially when you first wake up." The most common culprits are the bar drinks based on tomato juice, she explains, such as "Bloody Mary's."
3. Soda
Sipping on soda frequently can contribute to "inflammation and fluid retention," Kim points out. "High sugar intake can also affect collagen and elastin production," she stresses, potentially impacting the skin's elasticity, including the delicate skin "around the eyes."
If you want to add more water to your diet but need a bit of flavor, Kim suggests "infusing water with slices of fruits like citrus, berries, or cucumber." This, she says, can add a subtle flavor and encourage hydration. "Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, which supports collagen production for healthy skin and eyes," she continues.
4. Energy Drinks
Heavily caffeinated and sweetened energy drinks are common causes of puffy eyes, Kim says. "Drinking these can result in the body retaining water, including around the eyes, leading to puffiness," she adds. She stresses that "energy drinks that contain high levels of caffeine may exacerbate puffy eyes," and that they can also dehydrate you.
"Sufficient water intake helps maintain hydration levels, flush out toxins, and prevent fluid retention, potentially reducing eye puffiness," Kim emphasizes, as any drinks that act as a diuretic can prevent a hydrated-looking complexion.
5. Sweet Tea
Another sugary drink that could be causing sullen, dull and tired-looking skin is sweet tea. Piper notes that the sugar in heavily sweetened, sugary iced teas may "contribute to inflammation in your body." This inflammation causes "fluid retention, which may occur around the eyes."
Instead, Kim says that choosing herbal teas that are "naturally caffeine-free, such as chamomile, green tea (decaffeinated), or rooibos tea" can provide hydration and potentially offer "antioxidant properties that are beneficial for skin and eye health." The more you know!
