Skin Care

Peeper’s Concerns: Here Is How To Tighten Eyelids At Home!

The menace of droopy eyelids can be a cosmetic and health concern simultaneously!


Written by Rani Premkumar

On Jun 5, 2023 – 13 minutes read

Peeper’s Concerns - Here is how to tighten eyelids at home - feature

There is no way of breaking this to you softly. It is a fact that as you age, your skin gradually loses its elasticity and begins drooping and the biggest concern starts, with how to tighten eyelids at home.

The magnitude of sagging under your eyes is most obvious on your face, especially in the areas around your eyes, as gravity pulls down the less elastic skin downwards and causes the drooping of eyelids. Tightening the skin under your eyes might work with certain lifestyle changes.

If a person has a slight droop to their eyelids, the issue is often cosmetic, as it affects only the person’s appearance. Eyelid drooping is a medical issue when there is excessive sagging of the upper eyelid.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home? Causes Of Droopy Eyelids!

The edge of the upper eyelid may be lower than it should be or there could be excess baggy skin in the upper eyelid. Eyelid drooping is often a combination of both. Pathologically, the condition is called ptosis(1). In the non-severe forms of drooping eyelids, it may contribute to the overall puffiness of the eyes and a tired look in the eyes. 

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home: Causes Of Droopy Eyelids

Here are the causes that lead to droopy eyelids:

  • Lack of sleep
  • Aging
  • Excessive sun exposure
  • Water retention 
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Smoking
  • Oxidative stress
  • Allergies
  • Sinus issues
  • Facial or eye injury
  • Fat accumulation 
  • Tumor behind the eye or swelling due to sty.

When Des It Become A Serious Health Concern?

How to tighten eyelids at home if the eyes are drooping more than usual. You could feel that the upper field of vision is blocked and when the drooping eyelid covers the pupil of the eye, the whole vision may become completely blocked. Children may tip their heads backward to help with the vision. Tiredness and achiness around the eyes could also be present. This could happen as a natural process. Generally, this is caused by nerve damage, underlying medical conditions, or more serious conditions like a stroke or neurological disorders.

Why Is It Pertinent To Learn How To Tighten Eyelids At Home?

Sagging or drooping eyelids not only make you look older but is also a health issue that can obstruct your eyesight. When it stops remaining just a cosmetic concern and becomes a medical condition, many are forced to opt for surgical remedies. This again is not an option if you don’t respond well to anesthesia or have other health conditions like diabetes or hemophilia that make you reluctant to undergo surgical procedures. 

Common Surgical Treatments For Droopy Eyelids

If you are tired of searching and trying how to tighten eyelids at home you could try certain surgeries if the condition gets serious. Blepharoplasty or ptosis repair is a surgery designed to remove excess skin and fat from the eyelids or lift the eyelids. You won’t have to stay overnight for the procedure, as it takes only about an hour to complete it.

Though the complications are rare, and even if it shows up,  they are usually mild and transient, such as hematoma (clotted blood usually caused by a broken blood vessel damaged by surgery or an injury), or dry eyes. However, sometimes they can be severe, such as infections, bleeding, or blindness which require some surgical correction. 

There are non-invasive surgical procedures as well, like laser resurfacing, which can provide great results. It also heats the layers underneath to promote collagen production, which stimulates skin in the treatment area to heal in a smoother and more even appearance. But that too is not without complications, though rare, like crusting, scarring, pain, swelling, redness, etc.

These can be listed as remedies for droopy eyelids. Glasses that can hold the eyelid up, called a ptosis crutch, are another option. This treatment is often most effective when the droopy eyelid is only temporary. Glasses may also be recommended if you cannot undergo any invasive procedures. 

In these cases, learning how to tighten eyelids at home becomes relevant.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home? A Holistic Natural Approach

Eye drops like Upneeq containing oxymetazoline hydrochloride have been approved for the treatment of droopy eyelids. Injection of products that contain botulinum toxins (such as Botox or Dysport) can also help tighten sagging skin and reduce wrinkles around your eyes.

Remedies involving food, natural products, and exercises prove to be helpful to avoid surgical and other complicated procedures. Safe and your best bet!

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home With Easy Remedies

Green Tea

Good for the eyes in terms of relaxation and tightening eyelids. Here is how to tighten eyelids at home using green tea.

First, steep two tea bags in hot water and cool them in your refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes. Once chilled, place the tea bags over your eyes for 30 minutes. Remove the tea bags and lay with your eyes closed for some more time. The tea’s anti-inflammatory properties reduce swelling, puffiness and will strengthen the skin around your eyes.

In the book Atomic Habits, there is a concept of habit stacking which has helped me to stick to this green tea remedy which is great for tired eyes as well. When I brew green tea for myself during the day, I let the tea bags sit in a container in the fridge (in order to avoid cross-contamination). At night, after work, I take them and moisten them with a  spritz of cold water and keep it on my eyes for 10-15 minutes. As I have green tea twice a day- in the morning and night- I can stack the green tea remedy on my regular tea ritual at night.

You can use chamomile(2) tea bags as chamomile is anti-inflammatory and great for baggy eyelids and strengthens the skin around the eyes. In fact, any tea bag will help. That way you are making the most out of tea bags. 

And if you are going stingy and drinking green tea, JLT, then you can refrigerate the green tea and soak cotton pads with it, to be placed on the eyelids. This works too!

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home With Easy Remedies

Cucumber 

How to tighten eyelids at home using cucumber how does that work? Cucumber slices help make your skin look healthy, smooth, and glowing. Refrigerate cucumber slices and let them sit on your eyes for 20 minutes before you remove them. Then wash your face with cool water. Cucumbers contain ascorbic and caffeic acids which are great for reducing saggy eyelids. They decrease inflammation and tighten the skin naturally. 

Egg White

If you are ok with the smell, here is how to tighten eyelids at home by applying egg white and leaving it on for 20 minutes before washing it off, can also help with the elasticity of the eyelids.

Coconut Oil Or Sweet Almond Oil

Coconut oil and sweet almond oil can enhance the elasticity of the skin and thus help with the tightening of droopy eyelids. You can keep it on for 20 minutes or so before washing it off with a mild face wash. It is not advisable to sleep on it after the application as it may seep into the eyes and make them uncomfortable.

Aloe- Oatmeal Mix

Wonder how to tighten eyelids at home with natural ingredients? Make a homemade mix to help the dropping of eyelids. Blend four tablespoons of plain yogurt, four tablespoons of aloe vera gel, two tablespoons of oatmeal, two tablespoons of olive oil, and five slices of peeled cucumber until it forms a paste. Apply the paste to your eyelids and leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and rinse with cool water. You can store the rest in the fridge and use it within 24 hours though it is recommended to be applied fresh.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home With Aloe Vera

Aloe vera can be applied to the eyelids to help with the drooping eyelids as it will tighten the eyelids with regular use. You can apply fresh aloe vera gel from the cut leaves or the aloe vera gel available in the market. You can apply it on a daily basis after cleansing the eyelids of any makeup residue. Let the gel sit on your eyelids for 20 minutes at least. You can feel a slight stretching of the skin. I leave aloe vera gel overnight as the eyes will be at rest during that time. It may be a tad uncomfortable and stretch when you wake up the next morning. Anyways, that’s what we need!

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home With Exercises/ Yoga

Exercises are yet another efficacious and cost-effective non-surgical option that helps to resolve the issue of how to tighten eyelids at home. There are different exercises for the eyes that are vouched by many including some age-old exercise regimens that are prescribed in ancient texts which can be incorporated into the eye exercises. These can help tighten eyelids at home. One such exercise is trataka exercise.

Trataka Exercise In Yoga

Trataka is a series of practices in yoga that are beneficial for your ocular health in numerous ways. Many dance forms like Bharatnatyam have similar eye movements which are a part of the performance. One such yogic exercise is called Bahiranga which involves the following four steps: 

  • Step 1: Sit upright in a meditative posture in a chair or on the floor. Keep your head straight. You may rest your palms on your lap facing down. 
  • Step 2: Look straight ahead and gently focus on a single point at a distance.
  • Step 3: Slowly move your gaze towards your right. Now rest your eyes in that position for a few seconds without blinking. Make sure your head is facing forward and not moving along with your eyes.
  • Step 4: Bring your gaze slowly back to the focus point in the center again.
  • Repeat this on the left side with both eyes.

There are multiple adaptations to this exercise. In one such variant, you can look up and down by directing your focus to the tip of your nose while keeping your head still. Gaze upwards as if you can see between your eyebrows and start to rotate your eyeballs slowly clockwise and counter-clockwise.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home With Exercises/ Yoga

Eyelid Lifting Exercises

How to tighten eyelids at home by exercise. Work eyelid muscles by raising your eyebrows, placing a finger underneath, and holding them up for several seconds while trying to close them. This creates resistance similar to weight lifting and the stretch will help reduce droopy eyelids.

Wide Eyes

Open the eyes as wide as possible for about 5 seconds, then relax the eyes for 5 seconds. Repeat this for 30 seconds. Easy peasy!

Diagonal Stretch

Here, lightly place one finger at the end of each eyebrow facing forward, and using the facial muscles, look down as far as possible while making the eyeballs gaze from one side to the other like a pendulum. Repeat this for about 25 seconds

Rapid Lids

Use two fingers and press gently against each temple. Now open and close your eyes rapidly. Repeat this for about 25 seconds. 

Lions Breath

This is a yogic posture that increases energy and eliminates toxins. It may also help stretch out the muscles around the eye and make them more supple. To do this, one usually stands on their fours like a lion, placing the fingers in lion mudra, which is basically intertwined pinkies, and the rest bent like claws (this is optional). They then open their eyes as wide as possible while gazing upward simultaneously, sticking their tongue out and down as far as they will go. Hold for 5–10 seconds while exhaling with a “haaaaaaaaaa” breath.

Try to do this inside your room as you may look totally scary if you follow the lion’s pose as well.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home With A Healthy Diet

Grapes

Eat one bowl of grapes a day. You can also apply grape juice directly to your skin as well but it can get sticky. Grapes have resveratrol which slows cellular aging. Eating more grapes helps your skin stay youthful-preventing fine lines and diminishing drooping eyelids. Wine in moderation also will help! Clink-clink!

Fish

Fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids that can help with eyesight as well as improve the quality of the skin around the eyes, among other benefits.

Nuts

Nuts like walnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts, etc. also contain a high level of vitamin E, which can protect the eye from age-related damage.

Seeds

Seeds like chia seeds, flax seeds, etc. also are high in omega-3s and are a rich source of vitamin E helping with the elasticity of the skin around the eyes among its other benefits.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, lime, etc. also contain vitamin C which helps with age-related deterioration of the skin around the eyes.

A balanced diet that includes Green leafy vegetables like spinach and moringa, eggs, milk, and veggies like carrots will be extremely helpful in vision-related issues and will help maintain the elasticity of the skin around the eyes.

Preventing sagging eyelids can be done through a healthy skin care regimen. Keeping your skin well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water, moisturizing your eyelids with quality moisturizers or serums, and always applying sunscreen even on cloudy days are no-brainer preventive measures. Removing any eye makeup before hitting the sack and wearing sunglasses when heading out also will help. A good night’s slumber and a healthy diet also help. Being well hydrated also will help with the elasticity of the skin around the eyes.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home: Creams Worth Trying At Home

The Beholder Eyelid Lifting cream

The Beholder, by Beauty Bio, is a lightweight, emollient eyelid lifting and firming cream that lifts tired, hooded lids and restores a youthful contour for a fresh, wide-awake look. Powerful self-rising technology from the Holy Herb and Holy Sinensis plants opens and lifts the entire eye area and diminishes dark circles. Persian Silk Tree Bark Extract improves elasticity helping us to say goodbye to sagging. This is priced at around $ 62 on their website.

How To Tighten Eyelids At Home: Creams Worth Trying At Home

Total 3 In 1  Renewal Therapy 

This product from Colorescience works on droopy eyelids by restoring skin health. Powerful clinical ingredients deliver rich doses of hydration that support the sagging skin in the upper eye area. Their trademark ingredients help with cellular integrity and help with the sagging skin at the upper eyelid, miraculously. It helps with other issues like dark circles, crow’s feet, etc, as well. This is priced at $ 79 on their website.

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle And Firming Eye Cream

L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Eye Cream with Pro-Retinol and Centella Asiatica are significant for reducing Dark Circles and firm droopy eyelids. This is priced around $11.70 on Amazon.

Sudden Change Cream

Sudden Change Eyelid Lifter Crème claims to reduce Wrinkles & Eyelid Droop. It lifts, firms up & moisturizes for Younger Looking Eyes. It is formulated with Antioxidants and Makeup Friendly. This is priced at around $15.

Dermactin-TS Upper Eyelid Cream

Dermactin-TS Upper Eyelid Cream is great for sensitive skin and has citric acid as its primary ingredient. It explicitly claims to help reduce drooping eyelids. It is available on Amazon.  

FAQ On How To Tighten Eyelids At Home

1. How can I tighten the skin on my eyelids?

You can take care of your diet, try home remedies, apply creams that target the issue, and do face yoga to tighten the skin around your eyelids.

2. How do I get rid of saggy upper eyelids?

There are home remedies like placing a tea bag or cucumber slices on your eyes that can reduce the sag in your upper eyelids. Face exercises or face yoga can also be beneficial. Combining both with a balanced diet can help you get rid of saggy skin.

3. What foods can tighten the eyelids?

Foods like nuts, green leafy veggies, carrots, fish, eggs, etc. which when combined become a balanced diet, can help with the tightening of eyelids.

4. Can you lift sagging eyelids?

A non-invasive procedure at home, like taking care of the diet, staying hydrated, and doing face yoga along with applying home remedies can help lift the sagging eyelids.

Summing Up On How To Tighten Eyelids At Home

Now you know how to tighten the eyelids at home with these holistic remedies. These can also be used to prevent the condition. After all, they say- prevention is better than cure! Here are cheers to healthy eyes that can smile!

  1. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.(2023).Ptosis: Causes, Presentation, and Management. Available at:

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00266-003-0127-5
  2. Spandidos Publications.(2023).Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future (Review). Available at:

    https://www.spandidos-publications.com/mmr/3/6/895

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rani

Rani is a women’s lifestyle coach with a knack for translating high fashion into accessible, everyday looks. She has helped countless women embrace their personal style, fostering confidence and self-expression.

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