Picture this: You just got a blowout at the salon. You're wearing your favorite, form-fitting little black dress. You're pretty much looking like a perfect ten - except for one little detail: those dark, puffy eyes. Bags under your eyes have a way of eclipsing everything and ruining an otherwise flawless look. They can be genetic (thanks, mom) or they can just be the result of too many martinis (we won't tell.) Either way, they're a huge buzzkill. Luckily, we've pulled together our favorite tips and tricks for preventing puffiness and how to conceal it if you've already got a major case of eye baggage.

How To Prevent Undereye Puffiness

8 hours of sleep: File this one under the "duh" category. Sleep is essential. If you aren't getting any sleep, even the most powerful products don't stand a chance. Do your body some good and get to bed at a reasonable hour.

More Water, Less Alcohol: If you're nursing a hangover, chances are you've got dark circles. That's because alcohol widens the blood vessels, giving you puffy, tired eyes. If you're not a major water drinker, try a pitcher of fruit-infused water. Here are some spa-worthy flavor combos: cucumber and basil; mint and watermelon; blueberry and lavender.

Reduce Your Salt Intake: A balanced diet is key, but your salt intake is particularly important. Too much sodium causes your body to retain water (and bloat) and can make your eyes look extra puffy. Instead of snacking on potato chips while watching Netflix, switch to almonds or unsalted popcorn.

Invest In An Eye Cream: Eye cream is one of the most forgotten and underrated skincare products, but it's so important. The skin under your eyes ages at a faster rate than the rest of your skin because it's thinner. Because your eyes require extra attention, a quality cream is the perfect product to invest in. Look for a cream that contains caffeine as one of its active ingredients. This will help to reduce swelling and diminish the appearance of dark circles.

Product Recommendations: Kiehls Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer, Lancôme Genifique Yeux Eye Cream, Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

Chill Your Undereye Masks: Facial masks are great, but cooling undereye masks are perfect at targeting puffiness and circles. They also help to moisturize and combat wrinkles. For extra oomph, put the eye patches in your fridge before you use them; they'll feel super refreshing.

How To Conceal and Treat Undereye Puffiness

Undereye Concealer: It may seem counterintuitive, but you don't want to put undereye concealer on your eye bags. This will lighten them, and it will actually make the puffiness more prominent. Instead, focus on the dark circles and shadowing right below your bags. Apply an illuminating concealer like YSL Touche Eclat, and blend it in well using a small concealer brush.

Don't Line Your Lower Lashes: Leave your lower lashes bare and keep the mascara and eyeliner on the upper lashes and lash line. This will pull the focus up, toward your eyes themselves, not your bags.

Thicker Brows: Fuller brows are not only on-trend and great for a more youthful look, but, like the previous trick, they help to create an optical illusion, drawing attention away from your bags. Resist over-tweezing and use a brow pencil or kit (like Maybelline Brow Drama Pro Palette) to fill in sparse areas.

The Witch Hazel Remedy:

Witch hazel is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to reduce redness, which is perfect for a bad case of under eye bags. Apply a small amount to a cotton ball and let it sit on top of your closed eyes for a few minutes.

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