Red, puffy eyes and dark circles — it looks like you’ve had quite a night on the town; only you haven’t. A few midnight trips to the nursery or a sleepless toddler can have the same effect on a mother’s complexion. Sure, your little one has put a new twinkle in your eye, but they’ve also given you a whole new host of worries and robbed you of too much sleep, and it’s beginning to show.

Okay, so it may not be all junior’s fault. Those dark circles, the result of engorged blood vessels around your eyes, can also be blamed on genetics and poor circulation. But no matter the cause, here are five ways to perk up your peepers.

1. Watch What Goes In

Limit your salt and alcohol intake to help reduce puffiness and inflammation. Drink plenty of water and snack on foods rich in antioxidants like blueberries and cranberries.

2. Sleep

If child-induced sleep deprivation is the cause, this might be a hard one to correct. Our best advice is to follow the old adage, “Sleep when baby sleeps.” This means giving yourself permission to rest (and not feel guilty about it rather then doing a to-do list marathon during naptime.

3. Apply a Cool Compress

During that nap, apply a cool compress to your eyes (cold is better then warm because it will help constrict blood vessels. Your compress could consist of a wet washcloth or a spa gel eye mask, $9. You can also make a naturally soothing compress from:

  • Green tea bags: the caffeine and antioxidants in green tea will assist with swelling.
  • Chamomile tea bags: the soothing chamomile is better for red, irritated eyes.
  • Cucumber slices: the cucumber has astringent properties which will reduce puffiness.
  • Potato slices: this one might sound strange, but the starch in potatoes acts as an anti-inflammatory to counteract itchy eyes and redness.
4. Cover Up

When all else fails, hide!  Cover up dark circles with a concealer like Benefit Cosmetics Lyin’ Eyes, $18, and apply a good mascara like Cover Girl Lash Exact, $7, to draw attention into your twinkling eyes.

5. Stop Worrying

Since stress only contributes to your eye ills, probably one of the best solutions is to stop worrying about those dark circles and bags; afterall, a big smile is what really makes your eyes sparkle!

– Bettijo B. Hirschi