What drink gets rid of eye bags?

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, dehydration is a primary cause of eye bags, making fluid intake a crucial factor. This raises the common question: what drink gets rid of eye bags? While no single drink is a miracle cure, several beverages can support your body's efforts to reduce puffiness and fluid retention.

Quick Summary

Several beverages, primarily water-based and rich in antioxidants, can help diminish the appearance of eye bags. These drinks combat fluid retention and inflammation when consumed as part of a healthy, hydrated lifestyle.

Key Points

Hydrate with Water: Proper hydration is the most effective way to prevent fluid retention that causes eye bags.
Sip Green Tea: The caffeine and antioxidants in green tea help constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation, a key benefit for eye bags.
Try Cucumber Water: Infused with vitamins and silica, cucumber water aids in general skin hydration, helping to keep skin plump and healthy.
Consider Topical Application: Placing chilled tea bags on your eyes provides a direct, fast-acting way to reduce localized swelling and dark circles.
Avoid Dehydrating Drinks: Limiting alcohol and excessive caffeine intake, especially late in the day, prevents dehydration and fluid retention that can worsen eye bags.

The Importance of Hydration

At its core, the most effective 'drink' for eye bags is simply water. Dehydration forces your body to retain fluids, a major cause of puffiness, particularly in the delicate skin around the eyes. When your body is properly hydrated, it can flush out excess sodium and toxins more efficiently, preventing water retention. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, and increase your intake if you consume diuretics like coffee or alcohol. Infusing your water with fruits like cucumber and lemon can add beneficial vitamins and a refreshing taste.

Teas with Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Certain teas offer more than just hydration; they provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits that can help reduce eye bags. The key is to choose the right type and to moderate consumption, especially for caffeinated varieties.

Green Tea

Green tea is packed with antioxidants, specifically catechins, which are potent anti-inflammatory agents. The caffeine in green tea acts as a vasoconstrictor, temporarily narrowing the blood vessels and reducing swelling. While drinking it helps from the inside, applying chilled, steeped green tea bags directly to the eyes is a popular topical remedy that harnesses caffeine's constricting effect.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is well-known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. For eye bags caused by irritation or allergies, a warm cup of chamomile tea can help soothe the body from within. As a topical treatment, chilled chamomile tea bags can calm inflamed skin and reduce puffiness.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos, a caffeine-free tea, contains flavonoids with anti-inflammatory effects. It is an excellent hydrating choice, especially in the evening, as it won't disrupt sleep like caffeinated teas might. Its benefits are best for general inflammation rather than fluid retention, and it is a good alternative for those sensitive to caffeine.

Infused Waters and Juices

Infusing water with certain ingredients can create a beverage that targets inflammation and boosts overall skin health.

Cucumber and Mint Water

This simple, refreshing drink is high in water content and provides vitamins that support skin health. Cucumbers contain antioxidants and silica, which aid in hydration and skin elasticity. Sipping this throughout the day helps keep skin plump and less prone to puffiness caused by dehydration.

Lemon Water

Warm lemon water is a popular morning ritual for its detoxifying properties and high vitamin C content. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen, which maintains skin elasticity. By flushing toxins and aiding digestion, lemon water can help reduce the fluid retention that causes eye bags.

Beetroot Juice

Rich in nutrients like iron, potassium, and vitamin C, beetroot juice helps purify the blood and improve skin health. Improved circulation and detoxification can contribute to a reduction in eye bags caused by poor blood flow and stagnation.

The Negative Impact of Some Drinks

Just as some drinks help, others can worsen the appearance of eye bags. Alcohol, for instance, is a dehydrator that can lead to significant water retention and facial puffiness. Sugary drinks can contribute to inflammation throughout the body, accelerating skin aging and damaging collagen. Limiting these drinks is crucial for maintaining a healthy and youthful complexion.

Comparison of Anti-Eye Bag Drinks


Drink	Primary Mechanism	Best For	Caveats
Water	Hydration, flushing out sodium	Preventing fluid retention, overall skin health	Must drink consistently; easy to forget.
Green Tea	Caffeine (vasoconstrictor), antioxidants	Acute puffiness; dark circles. Best applied topically.	Can interfere with sleep if consumed late.
Cucumber Water	Hydration, antioxidants	General skin hydration, gentle detox.	Benefits are largely tied to hydration and general health.
Lemon Water	Detoxification, Vitamin C (collagen support)	Aiding digestion, brightening skin over time.	Can be acidic; use sparingly if sensitive.
Turmeric Milk	Anti-inflammatory properties	Reducing inflammation, soothing skin.	Benefits are general; not an immediate fix for puffiness.

The Role of Topical Application

While drinking is important, topical application of cold, steeped tea bags offers a direct, fast-acting remedy for localized swelling. The combination of caffeine, tannins, and the cooling effect helps constrict blood vessels and reduce puffiness quickly. This can provide a noticeable temporary improvement, especially after a sleepless night. Studies have shown topical caffeine effectively reduces under-eye swelling and dark circles.

Conclusion

For those asking "what drink gets rid of eye bags?", the answer lies less in a single miraculous concoction and more in a holistic approach to hydration and nutrition. The most reliable method is to maintain consistent hydration with plenty of plain water, while incorporating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory teas and infused waters to support overall skin health. By reducing the intake of dehydrating and inflammatory beverages like alcohol and sugary drinks, and utilizing quick fixes like chilled tea bag compresses, you can significantly reduce the appearance of under-eye puffiness and promote a healthier, more rested look from the inside out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, drinking enough water is crucial for reducing eye bags. Dehydration signals your body to retain fluids, which can lead to puffiness, especially around the eyes.

When chilled and applied topically, the caffeine in green tea bags acts as a vasoconstrictor, constricting blood vessels to reduce swelling. Its antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory effects.

While topical caffeine helps, drinking too much coffee can lead to dehydration and disrupt sleep, which can worsen eye bags. It is best to use caffeine moderately and stay hydrated.

Yes, excessive consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks can contribute to dehydration and inflammation, which can make eye bags and puffiness more noticeable.

Cucumber water adds vitamins and antioxidants that can benefit skin health, but plain water is equally effective for basic hydration. The benefit of cucumber water lies in its additional nutrients and mild anti-inflammatory properties.

Lemon water's high vitamin C content supports collagen production, which can improve overall skin health and elasticity. While not a direct cure, this can help reduce the appearance of dark circles over time as part of a healthy routine.

For best results, you can use chilled tea bags on your eyes for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a week. Always use fresh, unbleached bags to avoid irritation.