Dark circles under your eyes getting you down?
We know how it feels to wake up, get ready, and then look in the mirror only to see those pesky dark circles looming under your eyes.
No one wants to look like a panda or a zombie to start the day!
Dark circles under the eyes are a problem that effects thousands of men & women every day.
It can knock your confidence, self-esteem and in some cases people struggle to make eye contact with others due to their fear of being judged by their appearance.
Is this you?
Let’s take a look at why this happens!
WHAT CAUSES DARK CIRCLES UNDER EYES?
LACK OF SLEEP
Lack of sleep is a widely common cause of dark circles. If you even stay up two hours past your usual bedtime, you can become sleep-deprived. Sleep-deprivation causes your skin to become pale, allowing for tissue and blood vessels to show from underneath.
When you’ve not slept enough, fluids can build up underneath your eyes, causing them to be puffier than normal. Puffy eyelids can cause shadows under your eyes which give the appearance of dark circles.
SCREEN TIME EYE STRAIN
Are you one of those people who works from home & spending more time on screen than usual? Eye strain is exactly what it sounds like. When you look at your computer, phone, or any other electronic screen for too long, your eyes become strained. This strain can enlarge blood vessels around your eyes and as result, the skin surrounding your eyes will begin to darken.
THE NATURAL AGING PROCESS
The natural aging process is something unfortunately we can not fight! As we age, our skin becomes thinner and this allows the blood vessels underneath your eyes to show themselves since your skin is losing both collagen and fat.
This process is one that is pretty difficult to treat since as you age, your skin will start to thin, whether you like it or not. Luckily, make up is a god send you can disguise those circles with foundation or concealer!
HEREDITY/GENETICS
Another cause is genetic family history. This can play a part in your skin’s level of pigmentation. This means that dark circles under your eyes can worsen as you age or they can slowly disappear.
DEHYDRATION
Dehydration is another problem when it comes to dark circles. Since the skin around your eyes has a close to the underlying bone, a lack of water can cause the skin around that area to look dull, grey and thin. This can make blood vessels appear from under the skin, causing the dark circles to be more visible.
SMOKING
Smoking can restrict blood flow, causing a pale appearance to skin and drawing attention to dark circles. Cigarettes also contain dozens of additional chemical toxins that hassle the body with additional chemicals to filter.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol can worsen dark under eye circles in so many ways. Alcohol consumption increases the workload on the liver and decreases blood oxygenation because alcohol replaces oxygen in the blood, causing the intoxicating effect. Alcohol can cause a swollen, puffy appearance and increase the appearance of purple/blue colour in the under-eye skin.
HOME TREATMENTS FOR DARK CIRCLES UNDER EYES – We got you!
Now that we’ve looked at some of the causes of dark circles, let’s take a look at some of the home treatments that can help you treat dark circles under the eyes.
More and more people are becoming fans of home remedies for dark circles under eyes since they’re simple, easy to do, and can save you money too!
POTATOES
Potatoes are a great remedy to cure swollen eyes. They have natural bleaching agents which can help to lighten the dark circles and reduce inflammation and tighten the skin.
Cut a potato into slices, prick and keep in refrigerator. Apply this daily over the eyelids for 10 minutes and then rinse with water. Apply a good under eye cream afterwards.
TOMATOES
Tomatoes are also a great skin lightening agent and help make the skin soft and supple. They also help decrease the appearance of dark under eye circles.
Take one teaspoon of tomato juice and mix it in one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture, gently on the affected area. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse it off gently with cold water. Follow this remedy twice, daily till you notice reduction in the dark circles.
CUCUMBER
Cucumber is very quick in treating dark circles as well as being great for toning skin.
Cut the cucumber into thick slices and place them in the fridge for 30 minutes. Remove them and place them on the affected area for at least 10 minutes. Wash it off with water. It’s so refreshing and will give you the best relief from dark circles as well as helping to relax your eyes.
MINT LEAVES
Along with reducing dark circles, mint leaves give a cooling effect to the eyes. This is a natural remedy that will soothe and refresh your eyes.
Take five to six mint leaves and crush them. Apply these leaves around the eyes and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wipe it off with a cold cloth. You need to be very gentle, as you are contacting a very sensitive area. This can be one of the most effective natural remedy to cure under eye dark circles.
Remedy # 2
Another remedy to cure dark circles is by adding mint leaves paste to tomato juice. You need to apply this paste on the dark circles and leave it on for 5 to 7 minutes. Rinse off this area with cold water.
COLD CHAMOMILE TEA BAGS
Sounds bizarre but cold tea bags can help! Cold tea bags contain two factors that help improve your appearance: caffeine and antioxidants. Both of these improve blood circulation, and reduce discoloration within your skin.
Simply soak two tea bags, green or black preferably, in hot water for five minutes. Then, after they’re finished, let them chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before applying to the skin underneath your eyes for intervals of 10-20 minutes. Once you’re finished, rinse your eyes with water.
If you’ve just brewed up, don’t bin the tea bag, simply put it in the fridge to chill for 15-20 minutes. Then, you can begin the application process.
LEMON JUICE
Just like potatoes, lemon juice also has bleaching properties. Vitamin C helps to reduce dark circles around the eyes.
You can place a cotton ball dipped in fresh lemon juice under the eyes. Leave on for 15 minutes and wash it off with water. Repeat the process to see results.
Remedy # 2
Another remedy is to make a paste. The paste consists of one tablespoon of lemon juice, a pinch of gram flour and turmeric powder along with two tablespoons of tomato puree. Rinse off with clean water after 15 minutes. Repeat this process at least 2 to 3 times a week to regain your skin tone around the eye area. The dark circles should reduce within weeks.
APPLY A COLD COMPRESS TO YOUR FACE
Again, your dark circles might be the result of expanded blood vessels and dark tissue. Using a cold compress and applying it to your face can help shrink blood vessels and reduce inflammation, thus reducing your dark circles.
Simply grab a towel or washcloth and dampen it with cold water. Then, apply it over the skin under your eyes for about 20-30 minutes. If the towel or washcloth becomes warm, then rewash in cold water before reapplying!
GET MORE SLEEP!
This is the simplest and most straightforward way to deal with dark circles. While lack of sleep usually doesn’t directly cause dark circles under eyes, it can contribute to it since lack of sleep can result in paler skin.
By getting the proper amount of sleep each night, you can prevent dark circles from appearing since your skin won’t be as pale. It also improves your overall health and keeps you refreshed for the day!