Why Does My Face Look Puffy?

We all tend to overindulge in food and drink, and the after effects leave us feeling full and puffy. Did you know that bloating in the body can affect your face, too?

Facial swelling can also be the result of many things beyond a salty margarita or too many potato chips. Allergies (mold, dust, pollen), medication, hormonal changes, infections, stress, and even the way you sleep on your pillow can all be culprits in the dreaded puff.

How to alleviate puffiness and bloating that appears on the face? Here are some tips:

• Try not to sleep on your belly. Keep your head slightly elevated (2 pillows!) to avoid “pooling” in the face.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep is also a culprit for a puffy face.
• Upon waking, wash your face with cool/cold water to reduce swelling, or use a cold compress to rest on your face.
• Cardio exercise helps to reduce bloating and puffiness throughout the body. Get active first thing!
• Face yoga, otherwise know as facial exercises, may help strengthen the muscles under your skin, helping your face to look leaner and toned.
• If you must snack in the evening, just say no to salty snacks. Choose fruits and veggies that are low in fat and sodium. Many have a high-water content, which assists in staying well-hydrated and decreases bloat.
• Greek yogurt, as well as fermented beverages such as kombucha, fermented tea and kefir, help to prevent face puffiness.
• Eating nutrient-dense, fibrous carbs instead of refined, sugary carbs, can combat inflammation, keeping facial puffiness at bay.
• Staying hydrated throughout the day and night will help to reduce water retention and the chance of facial puffiness. Dehydration reduces blood flow throughout the body and face.

Besides being conscious of what you eat and how you sleep, there are topical treatments that can work to decrease that puffy look. These include:

• Getting a facial, during which the treatment stimulates circulation and works to decrease puffiness.
• Applying an under-eye gel product decreases the dreaded bags that appear with inflammation.
• When applying makeup, contouring the face with a bronzer and the appropriate brush will create the illusion of a sculpted face.

At Kiki Skin Spa, a day spa in Andover, you can enjoy a relaxing facial, followed by a Makeup Application to make you look and feel more toned and sculpted.

Concerned underlying health issues might be realted to facial bloating and puffiness? Please consult your Physician.