washing face to reduce eye puffiness

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You're not doing a thorough job of rinsing your hair and face.
The most common cause of eyelid dermatitis (inflammation that can lead to rubbing and, eventually, bags) is shampoo, conditioner or facial-cleanser residue that gets trapped in the folds of your lids, says Matthew Zirwas, MD, director of the Contact Dermatitis Center at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Adding mascaras, eye shadows, and eye-makeup removers to the mix, with their preservatives and fragrances that can cause further irritation, only makes things worse. (It's less common, but mascaras, eye shadows and makeup removers can also cause dermatitis on their own.)

How to de-puff: Make sure you've gotten all shampoo, conditioner and cleanser off your face when you're done washing. And if you're prone to eye irritation, choose hypoallergenic personal-care and makeup products to minimize the chances of putting a known allergen near your eyes. One particular ingredient to avoid: methylisothiazolinone, a bacteria-fighting preservative often found in makeup-removing wipes that can cause allergy-like skin reactions. (It doesn't go by any other names, so it's easy to check for on product packaging.)
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