Chamomile Tea Bags On The Eyes: Do They Work?

Summary

• Chamomile contains compounds called flavonoids which can soothe the skin around the eyes
• The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile can sooth dry or irritated eyes
• While chamomile temporarily reduces dark circles under the eyes, a retinol eye serum like this one can permanently lessen the appearance of dark circles

When it comes to the search for the ultimate eye care routine, the recommendations are endless. From strong anti-aging creams to natural remedies, there are a lot of options to choose from.

Another popular home remedy for eye concerns is using chamomile tea bags. Chamomile is a type of plant that is part of the daisy family, and its extract has been used for centuries in traditional medicine.

Herbal teas are often recommended as a natural way to soothe puffy eyes and dark circles. But does this home remedy actually work?

Let's take a closer look at the potential benefits of using cold or hot tea bags on your eyes!

Do Putting Chamomile Tea Bags on Eyes Actually Work?

There is some scientific evidence suggesting that chamomile has properties that can be beneficial for the eye area.

Chamomile contains compounds called flavonoids, which are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

These properties can help soothe the skin around the eyes and reduce puffiness and redness.

Chamomile has also been shown to contain another compound called bisabolol, which has proven wound-healing properties.

This means that it could potentially help to speed up the healing process of any under-eye inflammation or irritation.

Benefits of Using Tea Bags For Eyes

Herbal teas offer a number of potential benefits for the eye area. Here are some of them:

Relieves dry eyes

The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile can help to soothe dry, irritated eyes.

If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, placing chamomile tea bags over your eyes can help to reduce symptoms and improve comfort.

Dry eyes can occur when the eyes do not produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly.

Using tea bags on the eyes may help release oil from the glands and improve tear quality.

Eases minor eye injuries

Chamomile tea bags may also help heal minor eye injuries, such as scratches on the cornea.

The bisabolol in chamomile can help to speed up the healing process by reducing inflammation.

A cold tea bag compress may help reduce pain and swelling if the eye is hit by a ball, elbow, or other hard objects.

Calms puffy eyes

If you wake up with puffy eyes, placing chilled chamomile tea bags over them can help to reduce inflammation and swelling.

The tannins in tea may also help constrict blood vessels and reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Prevents eyelid inflammation

Using tea bags on the eyelids can help prevent and treat inflammation of the eyelids, also known as blepharitis.

The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile may help soothe the skin and reduce symptoms such as redness, itching, and burning.

By preventing inflammation, chamomile tea bags may also help prevent dandruff formation on the eyelashes.

Soothes red eyes

The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile can also relieve red eyes. If your eyes are irritated from smoke, dust, or pollutants, placing chamomile tea bags over them can help to reduce inflammation and redness.

Just make sure that the tea bags are cooled first so that you don't end up with hot, red eyes!

Reduces dark undereye circles and bags

While the jury is still out on whether or not chamomile tea bags is actually helpful in reducing dark circles, they may help reduce puffiness and bags under the eyes.

It's thought that the bisabolol in chamomile can help to speed up the healing process by reducing inflammation.

This, in turn, may help to reduce the appearance of dark circles and bags under the eyes.

While chamomile can help, you also need a retinol eye-serum to reduce wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes.

We recommend this age reversing eye serum which is a dermatologist recommended solution to improve crows feet and fine lines. 

How to Prep Your Tea Bags

If at all feasible, get bleach-free organic tea bags instead of conventional ones to avoid any unpleasant chemicals. (Keep an eye out for staples as well!)

1. Steep two tea bags in boiling water for 5 minutes.

2. Remove and squeeze out any remaining fluid.

3. If you want to make a cold tea bag compress, chill the tea bags in the refrigerator for 10-20 minutes. If you want warm tea bags, wait about 5 minutes before applying it to the skin.

4. For 15 to 30 minutes, apply them to closed eyes.

How To Properly Use Tea Bags On Your Eyes

Aside from chamomile, a few other types of tea can be used to soothe the eyes. Here are a few tips on how to properly use tea bags on your eyes:

Black Eyes

Tea: Lavender, Chamomile, Black, Green

What happens: A cold tea compress on a black eye can reduce discomfort and inflammation. Green and black teas help reduce inflammation, while lavender and chamomile may aid in relieving aches and pains.

Red Eyes

Tea: Green, Rooibos, Chamomile

What happens: Bloodshot eyes are a consequence of blood vessel irritation. A cold tea bag compress can help with this. Due to their anti-inflammatory qualities, these teas can also help reduce inflammation and refresh red eyes.

Rosacea

Tea: Chamomile, Green, Lavender

What happens: You can use chamomile, green, or lavender tea to treat rosacea around the eyes. These teas may soothe the skin by reducing redness and irritation.

Pink Eye

Tea: Chamomile, Green Tea, Eyebright

What happens: When mucous membranes get irritated and swollen, they become inflamed, and the result is eye irritation called conjunctivitis or pink eye. A cold tea bag compress can help relieve some of the uncomfortable dryness.

Eyebright has antiviral effects that can aid in the prevention of pink eye infection. Green tea also aids in the reduction of inflammation.

Any of these teas may aid in the removal of extra fluid from your eye, reducing inflammation and swelling.

Stye

Tea: Chamomile

What happens: Goodbye stye. This painful bump that appears beneath the eyelid is frequently caused by an infection.

A warm chamomile tea bag compress can help drain the stye's pus and aid in its healing.

Puffy Eyes

Tea: Chamomile, Rooibos, Eyebright, Green, Black

What happens:  If you have black or green tea bags, the caffeine can make your skin look tighter. The antioxidants in black and green teas also have an anti-inflammatory effect that can help with puffiness.

Green tea has more flavonoids which might make it work better. Eyebright, rooibos, and chamomile teas also have the same anti-inflammatory effects.

Dark Circles

Tea: Green, Black

What happens: Enlarged blood vessels under the eyes might be a factor in why those dark circles appear.

When you place a chilly tea bag over the blue circles around your eyes, the vessels will shrink, restricting blood flow to the vessels that give it that bluish tinge. Sometimes, reducing dark circles is just this easy!

Dry Eyes

Tea: Lavender, Eyebright, Black

What happens: When you don't produce enough tears, dry eyes occur. Instead of deliberately making yourself tear up, try one of these teas as a warm compress.

They can assist in improving the quality of your tears and relieve irritation by stimulating the glands.

Are There Risks For Putting Tea Bags On Your Eyes?

Yes, there are some risks. Your eye area is extremely sensitive, so you'll want to take care when using anything on or around your eyes. Some of the dangers you should look out for include:

Using old tea bags

If the tea bags are old, they may contain bacteria that could lead to an infection. It's best to use fresh tea bags that haven't been used before.

Allergic reactions

Some people may be allergic to certain types of tea. Doing a patch test on another area of your skin before using it on your eyes is always a good idea.

Burns

The tea bags should be warm, not hot. If they're too hot, you risk burning your skin.

Excessive dryness

If you use tea bags on your eyes for too long, it can lead to excessive dryness. This can irritate your eyes and make them more susceptible to infection.

Damage to contact lenses

If you wear contact lenses, make sure to remove them before using tea bags on your eyes. The tannins in tea can damage the lenses and irritate your eyes.

FAQS

How long should I leave the teabag on my eyes?

You should only leave the tea bags on your eyes for about 15-30 minutes. Any longer and you run the risk of irritating your eyes or causing excessive dryness. Always make sure the tea bags are warm, not hot.

Can I reuse tea bags?

Yes, you can reuse tea bags, but only once. After that, they may be contaminated with bacteria that could lead to an infection. If you have any concerns, it's best to just use fresh tea bags.

Can I use any type of tea?

Any type of tea will work, but some may be more effective than others. Green and black teas are good choices because they contain caffeine and antioxidants.

Chamomile, lavender, and eyebright teas are also anti-inflammatory. Just make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients before using them on your eyes.

Can I put tea bags in the fridge?

Yes, you can put your tea bag in the fridge, but make sure they're sealed tightly so they don't dry out. You should only use them within a few days to ensure they're still effective. After that, they may start to lose their potency.

How often can I use tea bags on my eyes?

You can use tea bags on your eyes as often as you like, but it's best to limit it to no more than once or twice a week. Any more than that and you run the risk of irritating your eyes.

Of course, everyone is different, so you may need to experiment to see what works best for you.

The Bottom Line

Chamomile tea bags are a safe and effective way to reduce puffiness and dark circles around your eyes. They can also help to relieve dryness and irritation.

Just make sure you don't use them more than once or twice a week to avoid irritating your eyes.

And always test the tea on another part of your skin before using it on your eyes to ensure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients.

Have you ever used chamomile tea bags on your eyes? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!