Sound familiar? Face bloat can happen to almost everyone (trust), especially when you're dehydrated, overdid it on the salt, cried a lot over This Is Us, or had a crappy night of sleep.
Some days when I wake up, I literally do a double-take in the mirror just to make sure the reflection I’m seeing is actually me, and not Chip or Dale (hello, chipmunk cheeks!).
Sound familiar? Face bloat can happen to almost everyone (trust), especially when you're dehydrated, overdid it on the salt, cried a lot over This Is Us, or had a crappy night of sleep. Thankfully there are multiple ways to treat a puffy face:
1. Sculpt with a stone
“Using a butterfly stone for lymphatic drainage, smoothing, and contouring can really help drain the toxins from your face,” says celebrity facialist Georgia Louise. A jade roller works great for this, too.
Glide the smooth stone inward and upward along your face and jawline, then down your neck, to push excess fluid away from your face. For bonus de-puffing power, keep your stone or jade roller in the fridge between uses-the coolness will help reduce swelling, too.
2. Slather on some caffeine
“Look for skincare and makeup products with caffeine in them,” says Mona Gohara, M.D., associate clinical professor at the Yale department of dermatology. “Caffeine is great at constricting blood vessels.” This cuts down on blood and fluid flow to the face, helping puffiness shrink down ASAP. Why do you think so many eye creams come with caffeine in the ingredients list?
3. Get iced
Cold temps help reduce redness and swelling. “Putting straight ice on your face might be too much, but a cool compress will help,” says Gohara. Wrap an ice pack in a towel (or soak a washcloth in cold water), then apply to your face. Leave the compress on for 10 to 15 minutes to see all-over puffiness calm down.
4. Brush it out
“Massaging a facial cleansing brush on your face with a cleanser can really promote lymphatic drainage,” says Barbara Close, esthetician and Naturopathica Founder and CEO. Close suggests using your favorite cleanser (she likes Naturopathica's Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm) with a facial cleansing brush, and brushing in upward strokes that end at your lymph nodes (right below the ears).
How do I prevent this from happening again?
Sometimes, puffiness happens (especially if you're dealing with seasonal allergies, or rough sleep). But Gohara swears by one trick: “Sleeping on elevated pillows will help drain the puffiness from your face at night,” she says. Pillow fort, anyone?
And if you're still seeing persistent, unusual puffiness, it might be wise to visit your doc. Face bloat can be a symptom of other, more serious conditions, including thyroid problems and the mumps.