There are a magnitude of different reasons why women and men alike develop under eye bags—a late night out on the town, allergies, fluid retention, genetics, and then there's the inevitable: aging. Whatever the reason, under eye bags aren't pretty—they can make you look haggard, stressed, and downright old. While going under the knife to remove the extra "luggage" hanging underneath your eyes is a route some choose to go, there are other techniques that can reduce swelling and help slow down the stretching of under eye skin, the natural way.

1. Use Cold Compresses

You've probably seen the image one too many times before: a woman in a salon draped in a white robe with cold cucumber slices placed carefully on her eyelids. The key word in the scenario is "cold." The cucumbers aren't doing the real magic, it's the cold. So don't waste a good cucumber (save that for your salad). Instead, invest in a good face mask and keep it in the freezer.

Whenever your eyes get a little puffy, put on the face mask and let your eyelids absorb the cold for a good 10 to 15 minutes, or until the puffiness begins to subside. Note that this remedy may only be temporary for some. However, for those who typically have more prominent under eye bags, if you continue to use cold compresses twice daily, it will undoubtedly slow down under eye stretching and the formation of larger bags.

If you still don't get the results you want, try frozen green tea bags instead. Green tea bags contain EGCG, a natural anti-inflammatory.

2. Pass on the Salt

For some, the reason for puffiness or bags is because excess fluid is naturally stored under the eye. There is no way to redirect where the fluid is stored if it's due to genetics. However, if it is not caused by genetics, there are some easy ways you can fight fluid retention. The first is to reduce your sodium intake: avoid salty and fried foods, carbonated and caffeinated beverages, and alcohol, since those things are the number one reason for water retention.

Instead, drink plenty of water (aim for the recommended 6 to 8 glasses a day) and change your diet. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, especially "watery fruits" such as apples, oranges, watermelon, and grapefruit will not only help keep you hydrated, but will also help flush out harmful toxins in your body that can cause bags.

If you think you are experiencing water retention due to your menstrual cycle, sometimes simply taking a Pamprin can help. And always remember to smile. This may seem simple enough, but smiling helps squeeze some of the excess fluid out of your eyes.

3. Dab on Some Hemorrhoid Cream

This might sound unpleasant, but hemorrhoid creams such as Preparation H can actually work wonders when it comes to diminishing the appearance of under eye bags. This is because hemorrhoid creams act as a vasoconstrictor—the phenylephrine found in the cream works to constrict the blood vessels, which causes swelling. Just make sure to only rub in a pea-sized amount, and avoid getting the cream in your actual eyes.

Caution: Do not use this remedy repeatedly. The cream can actually cause the blood vessels to grow over time. But for a quick fix once in a while, it's perfectly safe.

Kitty Holman regularly writes on the topics of nursing colleges. She welcomes your comments at kitty.holman20@gmail.com.