Some mornings my first glance in the mirror reveals mere slits where my eyes should be. Post-fight Rocky Balboa isn’t the look I’m going for, so I asked my America’s Best optometrist for some puff prevention tips. 

Here’s what she told me. Bags under the eyes is technically referred to as periorbital swelling. There are many reasons you might be feeling the puff. Allergies are a common cause, or having too much salt or sugar in your diet. Too much alcohol is another culprit. The good news is, there are ways to battle morning swelling. 

Go to bed

The first place your lack of sleep shows up is on your face first. Belly sleepers beware, sleeping on your stomach (and therefore your face) causes additional swelling under the eyes. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

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Drink more water

Bags under your eyes signal that your body is holding on to water, and although it may seem counter-intuitive, drinking more water is the best way to flush out your system. Most people don’t get a full 8 to 10 glasses a day as prescribed by most doctors. If you aren’t sure how much water you are drinking, put a note by your desk or by your fridge and put a slash mark on it each you empty your glass.

Dress it up

Finally, if you still can’t get that puff to go away and you’ve gotta get out the door, grab a great pair of fashion eyeglasses. A stylish frame can do wonders for your look and help hide what you don’t want the world to see — those bags under your eyes! America’s Best has a fabulous selection of great designer frames and affordable prices that will mask a little under-eye swelling better than anything. Choose a colorful, full rimmed frame that will draw some attention but will sit over your bags.