Everybody’s got baggage, right? And while that may be true, we think we can all agree that nobody wants that baggage hanging out under their eyes. Those pesky dark circles that leave us looking like raccoons that forgot to remove their eyeliner the night before are the bane of many early morning nightmares.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry. You aren’t alone. Just stop into any shop’s beauty section and you could spend what feels like years (and lots of money) combing through the near endless selection of under-eye creams that claim to remove puffiness and kick dark circles to the curb.

Some of these products actually work – thank god – especially if they list caffeine, arnica or peptides among their ingredients; however, not all of us are always up for splashing out on fancy products. Luckily, there are actually a ton of holistic remedies and self-care techniques that can make an immense difference for your under-eyes. Many of them also happen to be free!

1. Achieve higher elevation. If your dark circles seem to be the worst when you wake up in the morning, it’s probably time to rethink your sleeping position. Forget side-sleeping (and don’t get us started on sleeping on your stomach) and try making it through the night on your back. Adding an extra pillow under your head will help the fluid in your face drain properly so it doesn’t pool under your eyes.

2. Ditch eye bags with tea bags. Turns out tea isn’t just for drinking. Soak green or chamomile tea bags in cool rosewater or almond milk and rest on your closed eyelids for 10 minutes. This will feel refreshing but also reduce inflammation in the area and reduce the signs of fatigue.

3. Go nuts. Dry skin is actually one of the worst culprits for dark circles. When your under-eye is dehydrated, the blue and purple blood vessels show through more clearly, giving you those lovely dark circles you love so much, so one of the best things you can do is rub a little almond oil into the area. The fatty acids linoleic and oleic acid present in almond oil will help hydrate and reduce inflammation. The high levels of phytosterols and vitamins B and E also help support the barrier function.

4. Take things with a grain of salt. Sure, salt makes things much more delicious, but cutting back a bit can help you reduce the appearance of your dark circles. Opt for Himalayan pink salt, and only a light sprinkle, to lighten up your under-eye.

5. Drink up. Just like Zoolander said, moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty. Staying hydrated with juice, room temperature water and hot tea throughout the day will help you keep the dark circles at bay.

6. Get the essentials. Essential oils, that is. Lavender, fennel, rosemary, rose geranium and German chamomile can help to reduce the puffiness under your eyes. Stock up on a few of your favorites from somewhere like doTerra and mix them with a little bit of coconut oil. Pat them into your under-eyes to prevent the puff

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7. Roll with it. Jade and rose quartz rollers are all the rage these days, and for good reason. When rolled gently under your eyes, they help to flush fluid out and reduce puffiness and the look of dark circles.

8. Go with the flow. If you don’t feel like using the jade or rose quartz rollers yourself are doing enough, lymphatic massage is an excellent option. Book with Hester Maartens, who works at Splash on the Lijnbaansgracht, and she can help you to move fluids from your face with a relaxing massage that promotes lymphatic drainage.

9. Adapt yourmorning jolt with adaptogens. Adaptogens not only help with stress and fatigue but also can help you get rid of your dark circles. The rejuvenating, adaptogenic herb helps relieve stress in the body that is often the root cause of dark circles. Brew it up when you wake in the morning for a tea that will not only give you energy and keep you calm but also banish the bags for the day.

10. Catch some Zzzs. This probably seems like an obvious suggestion, but getting proper, restful sleep is probably the best way to avoid or reduce dark circles and under-eye bags. Not only is it the best, but it’s also the cheapest!