Compresses are the oldest cosmetic procedure. It suits any skin type. It is especially good to make compresses for the eyes and eyelids. The skin around the eyelids does not have a fat base and is in great need of additional moisture. In this case, compresses that do not cause allergies, redness or irritation of the skin will help. Cosmetologists recommend using compresses on the eyes if steam baths are contraindicated. With different compositions, compresses effectively relieve fatigue and relieve bruises on the eyes. We offer you the best folk recipes for eye compresses and how to make them at home.
Cold compresses
When can you use cold compresses?
Cold compresses on the eyes are used as a soothing remedy to relieve pain, itching and burning for:
- conjunctivitis;
- allergies;
- irritation from ultraviolet or bright light;
- thermal burn;
- chemical burn;
- irritation with chemicals (after swimming, exposure to tear gas, cutting onions, horseradish, etc.);
- bruises on the first day.
What should you do if your eyes become dry or irritated after swimming in the pool?
How to properly apply cold compresses?
To make a cold compress on your eyes at home you need:
- take a piece of clean cotton fabric, folded in 6-8 layers;
- wet with clean cold water;
- squeeze until the water stops flowing;
- apply to closed eyes;
- since the compress quickly warms up to body temperature, change the napkins or re-wet them every 2-3 minutes; [1]
- The total duration of the procedure can be about 1 hour.
How to replace eye patches
Masks made from natural products are an excellent alternative to pieces of fabric soaked in branded cream.
The easiest way to replace branded patches to moisturize the skin and give it a fresh look is a cucumber mask. Cut a fresh cucumber into thin slices, apply them to the skin around the eyes and rest for a few minutes.
What eye patches do you use?
PurchasedHomemade
There are several more simple and accessible recipes for every woman:
- A protein mask helps against crow's feet. Add the contents of 2 vitamin E capsules to 1 whipped chicken protein. Mix gently and apply with a brush or cotton pad around the eyes.
- You can tone the skin around your eyes with coffee. Mix 1 tbsp. l. strong coffee with 1 tbsp. l. heavy cream. Soak a piece of napkin with the warm mixture and place it under your eyes for 15 minutes. As it dries, replace with new patches.
- To relieve swelling and remove bruises, use cold milk. Soak cotton pads in ice milk and place them under your eyes, after lubricating your skin with nourishing cream.
Hot compresses
When can you use hot compresses?
Hot compresses on the eyes are used for:
- blepharitis;
- barley;
- chalazion;
- dysfunction of the meibomian glands. [4,5]
How to make hot compresses correctly?
To make a warm compress on the eyes at home you need:
- take a piece of pure cotton fabric 50 × 50 cm, folded in 16 layers (the result is a rectangle 12.5 × 6 cm);
- wet with clean water at a temperature of 45 °C (usually this temperature feels pleasantly hot);
- squeeze until the water stops flowing;
- apply tightly to closed eyes;
- The compress is changed every 2 minutes;
- The total duration of the procedure should be from 5 to 15 minutes. [2,3]
For chronic blepharitis, chalazion and meibomian gland dysfunction, it will be useful to massage the eyelids after a hot compress. [4,5]
How to properly massage the eyelids?
Useful video
From this video you will learn how to get rid of bruises and swelling under the eyes:
Compresses and lotions are recommended for use for swelling and bruising in conjunction with other medications .
Sometimes folk remedies in the form of lotions can help on their own, if the disorders are not very extensive and are not pathological in nature.
Swelling and bruises under the eyes, especially in the morning, can ruin your mood for the whole day. To reduce unpleasant symptoms, it is effective to use eye lotions that relieve swelling and bruising.
Sources
- Nursing in therapy: workshop / T. P. Obukhovets - Ed. 4th. Rostov n/d: Phoenix, 2008. - 345, [6] p. : ill. - (Medicine)
- Olson, Mary Catherine B.A.; Korb, Donald ROD; Greiner, Jack VDO, Ph.D. Increase in Tear Film Lipid Layer Thickness Following Treatment with Warm Compresses in Patients with Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice: April 2003 - Volume 29 - Issue 2 - p 96-99
- Blackie, Caroline A. O.D., PhD, FAAO; Solomon, Jessica D. B.S.; Greiner, Jack V. OD, DO, PhD; Holmes, Mycroft; Korb, Donald R. O.D., FAAO Inner Eyelid Surface Temperature as a Function of Warm Compress Methodology Optometry and Vision Science: August 2008 - Volume 85 - Issue 8 - p 675-683
- Lindsley K, Matsumura S, Hatef E, Akpek EK. Interventions for chronic blepharitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD005556. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005556.pub2.
- Craig, Jennifer P. et al. TFOS DEWS II Report Executive Summary. The Ocular Surface, Volume 15, Issue 4, 802 – 812. doi:10.1016/j.jtos.2017.08.003
Just in case
Tired, reddened eyes can be put in order by placing a compress of tea leaves on the eyelids. However, this is not the only use of tea, so to speak, for other purposes.
Followers of Gennady Malakhov claim that green tea can be used to make an enema solution. But still, the more common and more justified use of this drink is per os (through the mouth) or externally in the form of lotions.
Tea for sunburn
It turns out that in order not to get sunburned, you can use not only sunscreen cosmetics, but also... tea. It is believed that the substances it contains protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation and inhibit the formation of free radicals. Cheap, cheerful. And no chemistry.
Recipe 1: in the south, drink tea instead of water, as most of the population of Central Asia does.
Recipe 2: before going out into the scorching sun, lubricate exposed skin with freshly brewed tea. But there is a nuance: the tea should be green, black will give the skin a characteristic shade - no self-tanning cream is required.
Fresh brewing is not only protection from ultraviolet radiation, but also a good remedy for sunburn. The fact is that tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and the vitamin P it contains helps strengthen the walls of capillaries. If your skin is burned and you don’t have panthenol or sour cream on hand, keep this in mind.
Recipe 3: brew a glass of strong tea, let it brew for half an hour, then cool. Soak a gauze cloth in the tea leaves and apply to the burned areas of the skin. Keep the compress for 20-30 minutes. If necessary, repeat the procedure 3-4 times a day.
Tea for caries
It turns out that fluoride, which protects teeth from caries, is found not only in preventive toothpastes, but also in tea. On the one hand, this microelement, due to the remineralization effect, makes the enamel stronger, and on the other hand, it reduces the harm caused by bacteria that multiply in dental plaque.
Recipe: After eating, rinse your mouth with freshly brewed green tea or chew the remaining tea leaves for a few minutes.
The nuance is the same: the tea should be green, black makes teeth yellow.
Tea for sweat
It turns out that tannins contained in tea not only reduce sweating, but also eliminate unpleasant odors, since they have antiseptic and antimicrobial effects. After all, the specific aroma is not produced by sweat itself, but by the waste products of bacteria on the surface of the skin.
Of course, all this is not a reason to throw away your trusty “chemical” deodorant and switch to a “natural product”, but if you have excessive sweating of your hands or feet, tea baths will come in handy.
Recipe: three tablespoons of green tea per half liter of water: boil for a few minutes, cool. Place your palms (or feet) in the resulting chifir for 10-15 minutes. Black tea works the same as green tea, but it stains the skin.
Tea for excess weight
It turns out that green tea helps you lose weight. Firstly, it is usually drunk without sugar and milk, but the calories in it are almost too numerous. So, by switching to green tea, we automatically reduce the energy value of our daily diet. Secondly, scientists claim that green tea speeds up metabolism, apparently thanks to vitamins and microelements. Thirdly, it regulates appetite: those who drink green tea eat less. At least during the experiment, the rats switched from water to tea became full much faster than the others.
Recipe: Drink at least 2-3 cups of green tea per day.
Tea for beauty
Vitamins, microelements, antioxidants and other beneficial substances make tea an excellent cosmetic product that can be used regardless of age and skin type.
Recipe for dry skin: a “tea mask” will help soften dry skin and improve its tone: grind an egg yolk with a teaspoon of olive oil, add half a teaspoon of green tea (grind it into powder in a coffee grinder). Apply the resulting mixture to your face for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
Recipe for oily skin: you can use “tea lotion” to cleanse, reduce shine and improve complexion. Boil 100 ml of still mineral water and brew green tea (two teaspoons) in it; after half an hour, strain the infusion and add five drops of lemon juice. Wipe your face morning and evening. To prevent the lotion from spoiling in a day or two, it is better to store it in the refrigerator.
Recipe for normal skin: brew strong green tea, add salt (preferably sea salt), cool, freeze. Use the resulting ice cubes to wipe your face in the morning.
Recipe for aging skin: a tea compress will help make your skin firmer and more elastic. Pour boiling water over green leafy green tea, after 2-3 minutes, apply the steamed leaves to your face (excluding lips and eyes) and cover with a terry towel. Instead of leaves, you can apply green tea bags to your face. Keep the compress on the skin until it cools completely.
Toning tea mask for aging skin: grind two teaspoons of green tea in a coffee grinder, dilute with boiling water to a creamy consistency. Apply the resulting warm paste to the face and neck. Before washing off the mask, lightly massage your skin with cool water.
Tea for bites
It is clear that drinking tea will not save you from the bites of rabid dogs, poisonous snakes and spiders (except to slightly reduce intoxication) - medical assistance is required here.
But itching and pain in places of mosquito and bee bites can easily be relieved by green tea lotions.
To improve digestion
Everyone knows that for gastrointestinal disorders you need to drink strong black tea. It will cope with bacteria and normalize intestinal function. Fifty years ago, tea was used to treat dysentery and typhoid fever.
Tea is also beneficial for healthy people – especially when overeating.
Recipe: Strongly brewed black tea: after meals or for disorders of the digestive tract.
Tea to improve brain function
It is believed that tea relieves fatigue and improves performance due to the action of caffeine and tannin. In addition, it contains theanine, an amino acid that helps calm and concentrate. And more recently, British scientists have proven that tea (both black and green) contains substances that inhibit the development of age-related changes in the brain. So tea lovers have a high chance of meeting old age with sound mind and strong memory.
Recipe: Drink at least five cups of tea a day.
Available to everyone
An eye compress made from tea is good for a variety of problems:
- fatigue,
- irritation,
- redness,
- swelling,
- bags and circles under the eyes.
Tea is also a means of preventing early wrinkles, of course, but not the only one.
The simplest recipe
Take two bags of ordinary black tea (make sure there are no additives), put them in a glass of boiling water, squeeze out the excess liquid, and a little warm, apply them to the eyelids for a maximum of a quarter of an hour. Then - definitely cream. A similar action can be done with green and chamomile tea bags.
The recipe is more complicated
For it you will need tea, no longer packaged, without additives. Brew a dessert spoon with ½ cup of boiling water, then strain. When the brew is cold, but not icy, dip cotton wool or discs in it and perform the procedure. Keep it for a couple of minutes and change the lotions. In total, you need to do this about ten to fifteen times over a quarter of an hour.
