Dark circles can result from lack of sleep, a dehydrating hangover, unhealthy diet or vitamin deficiency, illness, stress or simply genetics. Everyday items such as tomatoes, honey, coconut oil, lemonsturmeric and tea bags can be used to treat this problem, so take a look at the following remedies to find out how.

Only specific tea bags can be used for treating dark circles, those that include lots of caffeine, tannins and antioxidants are the best, and help to soothe the skin and lighten the area around the eyes.

Are Tea Bags good for Dark Circles?

Tea bags are an economical and proven way to reduce dark circles without any side effects. Here is how:

  • The antioxidants in tea bags makes it a good remedy for treating dark circles and reducing puffiness.
  • The caffeine content shrinks blood vessels and reduces the fluid retention in the tissues around the eyes.
  • It contains tannins that not only gives flavor and color to the tea but also stimulates blood circulation.
  • Tea bags have anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
  • It contains theophylline which permeates the skin to decrease the subcutaneous fat by dehydrating the skin cells and reducing the inflammation.
  • It contains alkaloids that promote the healthy skin growth around the eyes.
  • Tea bags, especially green tea bags, contain EGCG, an anti-inflammatory that removes under eye fluid buildup.

How to use Tea Bags for Dark Circles:

Soaked and cooled tea bags can be placed directly on dark circles.

Process 1:

  • Steep 2 tea bags (green or white or black) in a glass of hot water for few minutes.
  • Squeeze the bags to remove any liquid.
  • Place in a refrigerator for about 15 – 20 minutes to cool.
  • Wash your face with cool water and pat the skin dry.
  • Lie down and place the chilled tea bags on eyes.
  • Leave for 15 – 20 minutes before removing.
  • Rinse your face with cool water to reduce inflammation.
  • Repeat 2 – 3 times daily.
  • Or you can place the tea bags in cool water rather than the fridge and use them directly.
  • Alternately, place unused teabags in freezer and apply this on the eyes.

Process 2:

  • Place 2 tea bags or dried chamomile herb in a cup of hot water.
  • Steep for a few minutes and take out the tea bags.
  • Let the tea cool for a few minutes and then dip two cotton pads in it.
  • Squeeze them to remove excess liquid.
  • Place on a plastic wrapper or in a zip lock bag.
  • Refrigerate it for few minutes and let it sit for 30 seconds to cool down.
  • Apply under the eyes for 15-20 minutes.
  • Remove and wash the area with water.

Follow the above process for all tea bags. Here are the properties of different tea bags to know how effective they are to treat dark circles.

Chamomile Tea Bag

Chamomile tea has antioxidant, anti-allergenic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, bleaching, saturating and cleansing properties that lightens up the skin around the eyes and reduces fatigue. This is the only herbal tea bag you should use.

Green Tea Bag

Green Tea is rich in antioxidants and tannins that help to lighten the dark circles. It also reduces the puffiness and swelling and tightens the skin around the eyes. It has an astringent nature that constricts the blood vessels and capillaries under the eyes.

Black Tea Bags

Black tea has lots of caffeine and tannins that helps to tighten the skin and draws out the excess water to relieve dark circles and puffy eyes.

Peppermint Tea Bags

A cold peppermint tea compress on your eyes will help to cleanse and reduce swelling with its cooling effect. It has a strong menthol aroma that causes eyes to water and the sinus to tingle to prevent dark circles caused by skin allergies.

Tips and Precautions:

Follow these tips and precautions for quick and safe relief.

  • You should not get tea in your eyes during treatments.
  • Never use tea bags that are still hot. Use cold tea bags to reduce the inflammation and blood circulation.
  • Apply tea bags right after taking them from a fridge for best results.
  • Always apply new tea bags for each treatment.
  • Chronic eye puffiness is a sign of some serious medical conditions. So, make sure to consult your doctor if you get no relief from this problem.
  • Do a patch test for each different kind of tea bag before use.
  • Always remember to remove tea bag before adding other things to the tea.
  • Never ever open your eyes while the tea bags or cotton pads are in use.
  • Drinking any of the above teas daily helps to work from inside.
  • You also have to drink plenty of water and include fresh vegetables and fruits in your daily diet to nourish your body.

Click here to get more DIY home remedies for dark under-eye circles. Please feel free to share your experiences with us!

32 comments
  1. i have a small dark spot in left side on my face under the left eye. this spot from 6-7 years. any home made way to reduce the dark black spot??

    1. Use any method mentioned regularly to lighten the dark circles. Apart from that don’t rub or scratch the eyes, drink plenty of water to avoid water retention under the eyes, apply moisturiser regularly and take a 30 seconds gap every 15 minutes if you are watching any electronic screen continuously.

  2. Where should I place the tea bag? Is it on the closed eye lids or can I place it under the eye where puffiness is present.

    1. For puffiness, you can place them under the eyes. If you want to treat dark circles as well, then you can place them on the closed eye lids. Make sure to wring out excess liquid from the tea bags so that the liquid doesn’t drip into your eyes.

  3. I was just wondering if hot water would work more effectively rather than cool/cold, since cold water close the skin pores and hot water has the opposite effect. Would this not help the properties of the tea to enter the skin? Just something I thought about.

    1. Coolness will reduce the water retention and puffiness under the eyes. Hot water is not recommended as it can hurt the delicate skin under the eyes. You can use very lukewarm water if you want. You splash lukewarm water before trying out the remedies.

  4. I don’t sleep well as I’m anxious, even with sleeping pills. My skin under my eyes is very wrinkled. Will tea bags help wrinkles?

    1. It is very important to get a proper sleep to reduce the dark discoloration or wrinkles under the eyes. Placing tea bags wouldn’t help or provide temporary results if you don’t get a proper sleep.

  5. I’m a black african american woman and years ago I laid alcohol pads underneath my eyes and now my skin is burned, is there anything that could lighten my skin color back??

  6. How long can I leave the bags in the fridge or freezer after steeping and still get good effects? Can I steep and cool and leave bags in the fridge overnight to work in the morning?

    1. You can leave the tea bags in refrigerator for 5 mins. Leaving it for longer time, dries it out completely, which may not be effective. If you want to leave them overnight or left it for a longer time then wet the tea bags under running water before placing them on the eyes.

  7. I want to gain information about my grandmother’s problem that she told me that she feel her feet is burning is any solution there for feet burning

    1. Usually, burning feet can be caused due to weak nervous system, diabetes, exposure to certain toxins, or deficiency of folic acid, thiamine, calcium or vitamin B. For treating burning feet, you can try the process mentioned here – combine turmeric and enough amounts of water to make a paste. Apply the paste under the feet. Leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse off with water. Alternatively, you can try this process – Add ½ cup of Epsom salt into tub of warm water. Soak the feet for 10 – 15 minutes in it. Remove them and pat dry. Repeat any process once or twice in a day to get relief from burning feet.

  8. please i need an advice on what to use to clear up the dark cycle under my eyes! it’s seriously given me a concerned. I don’t want to use cream! I need a natural and fast remedy please. Thank you.

    1. You can try any method mentioned above in the article. Apart from that get enough sleep, avoid stress levels, avoid rubbing your eyes frequently and drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated.

    1. It is difficult to tell the exact time frame as everyone is different. It usually depends on the skin texture, healing capacity and other factors. Yes, you can place tea bags on the dark spots.

  9. The tea bags after keeping in the refrigerator will become dry.. isn’t it supposed to be used a bit moist?
    Will the dry teabad be of any help?

  10. I did not get paid to write this review. I’ve been using the Somaluxe Triple Collage Eye Gel 20 days and deep eye lines are going away. They have faded, I will continue to use because I like that they are beginning to fade. My dark circles are diminishing and my eyes look so much brighter.

  11. i have pimples on my face.and pimples have dark spots.and also my skin is very oily,im very worried about it.plz help me..

  12. For years I have treated sun burns with tea. Works wonders. You boil tea bags, let stand and cool. Put a cloth in the tea and place on the sun burned area. Leave it on area as long as you want.

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