When you cry, your sympathetic nervous system is reacting to the adrenaline produced by stress. This dilates your pupils and prompts the lacrimal glands inside your eyes to release tears. When this happens, your heart pumps blood more rapidly, making your face red and your eyes puffy. Once your heart rate returns to normal when you stop crying, the swelling in your eyes may remain. You can use temperature and the anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils to help with this inflammation.
Wash your face with very cold water after crying to help you begin to reduce any heat in your body caused by the extreme emotions that made you cry.
Pat your face dry. Wrap a couple of ice cubes in a thin, soft cotton rag.
Place the wrapped ice cubes under a gentle dribble of water from the sink's faucet so they melt a little and transfer their cold temperature better through the rag.
Close your eyes and place the wet rag with the ice cubes directly on one of your eyelids. Keep them there as long as possible and then switch to the other eye. This will constrict the blood vessels in your eyes and will immediately begin to reduce the swelling caused by crying.
Place the ice cubes on the bottom of your eyes, the area commonly referred to as eye bags.
Add one drop of rosemary essential oil to 1 teaspoon of olive oil to dilute it and prevent it from irritating the skin around your eyes. Rosemary essential oil contains caffeic acid, which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that will help to de-puff your eyes.
Use your index finger to spread the olive oil and rosemary essential oil on your eyelids and eye bags without getting any of this mixture in your eyes.
Remove any excess oil from your eyes and wait a few minutes for the rest of the swelling to disappear.
Tip
If the ice cubes feel too cold for your eyes, you can use the rag alone, dipped in cold water. It will take longer for the puffiness in your eyes to go away, but it will still happen faster than normal.
If you wear contact lenses, take them out before starting this process.
Warning
Discontinue the use of the oil mixture if you experience any kind of allergic reaction.
References
Writer Bio
Ana Cassis began writing professionally in 1995. She has been published in the magazines "Cancunissimo," "Mesa Visions" and in online heath publications. Cassis is a nutrition counselor and herbalist with experience in fitness, nutrition and yoga. She holds an Associate of Arts in architecture from San Diego Mesa College.