Is it not possible that our eyes have been one of the most damaged parts of our body in the past year? You might be wondering why the reason might be WFH, yes, the most used acronym in the past months… But also the one that has led dark circles to flare more prominently. I’m sure most of you agree on the fact that endless Zoom calls, binge Netflix and so on have been on your day-to-day list of things. No wonder then why dark circles have been on top of the trends for the last few months.
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With quite a broad range of brands, doing its market research properly and leading to its advantage with gadgets like blue light glasses, today I wanted to let you know that you can also fade dark circles naturally and at the comfort of your own home.
So, let’s dive into the core and main causes of unwanted dark circles.
Why do we have dark circles?
Well, as experts and researchers say, there might be a few things to consider when looking for the main cause of your dark circles. First things first, it might be genetics -blame your mom – It might be a lack of sleep, which I’m not surprised of – hello 100 things-on your to-do list; it might also be related to hyperpigmentation factors. In case you didn’t know, Asian and East Asian are more prone to this condition than other cultures; sun overexposure might be another cause to have top of mind, yes my friend, I know we all want that summery-bronzed tone in our bodies, but be careful with ultra-sensitive parts of your face as the area around your eyes.
In other terms, if you are experiencing dark circles and none of the above causes relates to you, then you might need to be careful as it can be related to health issues, such as dehydration or even a diet poor in nutrients. It might also be a matter of year-round allergies, which can lead our eyes to become inflamed and swell…
Luckily, there are effective eye care products available in the market, specially formulated to address concerns like dark circles and puffiness, helping you achieve a refreshed and revitalised look. They are often infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamins that target the delicate skin around the eyes, promoting hydration, reducing puffiness, and minimising the appearance of dark circles. Whether you prefer creams, serums, or masks, you can find a variety of options that cater to your specific needs and preferences.
Now, let’s break down some of these causes so you have a better understanding of how to treat these bad boys:
1. Sleep
One of the most important parts of your day, getting a great sleep, might do wonders for your mind, productivity, and overall health, but also it can help you to banish unwanted dark circles. Between 7-9 hours is ideal, and we recommend you to sleep with your head slightly elevated to avoid puffiness and try to use a silk pillowcase as much as possible. They are way better than a regular one not only for the eye area but also for your hair and acne —in case you suffer from this skin condition—
2. Water
Not only will water flush out toxins like salt, but it’ll help your skin looking plumper and radiant with an average intake of water daily. When our skin is dehydrated, it tends to be more sensible, fragile, and thin; therefore it’ll show off more noticeably those dark circles you are trying to get rid of.
3. Caffeine
I know… you love your daily dose of caffeine as much as I do but bear with me here; this is not as bad as it might look. Au contraire, my friend, caffeine should be one of your best allies in the quest of fighting against dark circles; thank god for our caffeine shot in the morning — now, you might look as well for eye care products that contain a high amount of caffeine in their formulas; caffeine is seen to encourage vasoconstriction (the constricting of the blood vessels under our eyes), which can lead to a reduction in puffiness.
Best Ingredients for Dark Circles
Vitamin C
If you’re reading this, that’s because you’re probably a beauty junkie like me, and by now, you’d probably know that Vitamin C is one of the most powerful ingredients in the market and Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector is a great option to consider. Did you know that Vitamin C decreases the production of melanin by inhibiting tyrosinase? Clearly speaking, tyrosinase is an enzyme that results in melanin and pigment production in the skin.
Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants that you’ll encounter out there; it helps protect the skin from oxidative damage and free radicals floating around in the air, resulting in ageing, wrinkling and hyperpigmentation of our skin. Therefore, Vitamin C helps prevent dark circles by strengthening the skin. It supports the collagen production on the skin that makes it more elastic and resilient, and it’s also important for maintaining a strong and healthy circulatory system.
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Medik8 Retinol Eye TR Serum is another great ingredient to have in your beauty cabinet and to support yourself in fading out those dark circles. Aware that Vitamin A is a great anti-aging, right? Well, it’s also a powerful treatment for tired eyes suffering from dark circles like yours and mine.
As mentioned with Vitamin C, retinoids themselves might help rebuild dermal collagen and thereby contribute to vascular support in the area and recover skin volume and firmness. According to dermatologists, these two ingredients are a power couple to help you and your unwanted under-eyes enemies.
Vitamin K
This is not as well known as the vitamins mentioned above, but Vitamin K indeed can increase blood coagulation and improve circulation. Also, according to skin experts, when this is combined with the caffeine in a base of emu oil, vitamin K was shown to fairly reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles.
Vitamin B12
If you’re a vegetarian like me, you might find out that the cause of your dark circles relies on the lack of this vitamin; therefore, taking a daily supplement might be the answer to all your problems dark circles related.
How to get rid of dark circles at home?
Ok, so now that we have debunked dark circles and the majority of causes why they flare up in our eyes area is time to end with them once and for all. Keep reading to find why you should do to banish them and trust me, you won’t have to leave your own kitchen to fight with them.
– Cucumber
Thanks to its skin lightening and shrinking properties, it’ll allow your eyes to immediately soothe when placing little slices on top of your dark circles (the results get even better if you put the slices in the fridge for around 15 minutes).
– Potato
Another essential in any kitchen, this starchy veggie, will help lighten dark circles and improve that morning puffiness. Try to be consistent, and within a few weeks of putting a pair of thick slices on the dark area for about 10 minutes twice a day, you’ll start seeing results.
– Green tea bags
Yes, they are a great antioxidant for your body, and I do recommend you to drink at least one cup a day, but don’t throw them straight away; reuse them as you place them in the freezer for 5-10 minutes, and let them do the work, within 15 minutes you’ll start feeling that cooling down effect.
– Rosewater
Did you know that rose water doesn’t only smell divine but also has great astringent properties as cucumber does? For this reason, I encourage you to soak a couple of cotton pads on it and place them on top of your eyelids for about 15 minutes, as with the rest of the at-home remedies, better performed twice daily.
– Tomato Juice
Veggies are your very best friend; yes, another easy way to fight against dark circles are our juicy friends, the tomatoes. They are full of lycopene which is a great ally for our skin; in particular, lycopene can help work towards a more supple and softer skin even on the most sensitive areas, aka our under eyes. Get creative and apply the mixture as a soothing and calming eye mask for around 10 minutes.
– Coconut Oil
You thought you were an expert on Coconut Oil until you read this? I know… this greasy gem won’t stop surprising us with its uncountable list of benefits, am I right? Well, if you are keen to keep exploring the power of coconut oil now for your under-eye area, just massage it all around this sensitive area, and if you want to get a deep level of hydration and even prevent some wrinkles try leaving the mixture overnight… You’ll see instant results the morning after.
– Turmeric
Another great anti-inflammatory ally to have in the kitchen and not only add into your recipes for a happy gut feeling, but to use as a DIY mask, mix a full spoon with some water until create a manageable paste which you’ll be applying to your under-eye area for approximately 10 minutes. Add it to your nighttime skincare routine, and you’ll see results quite shortly.
– Ice/Cold compress
I’m sure you’ve had this feeling before, the cooling sensation of ice on your body, refreshing, right? Well, then why not extrapolate that sensation to your tired eyes? Ice is known for reducing puffiness if applied correctly, DO NOT APPLY ice directly into your skin as this can burn easily, instead, grab some ice cubes, wrap them in a washcloth and let the magic work for around 10 minutes, again for the best results try to do this twice a day.
– Orange Juice
I went through some of the benefits of Vitamin C before, right? Well, now we are taking this to the kitchen, and let me tell you that squeezing a couple of oranges could be the solution to short sleep nights. Prepare your juice, soak some cotton pads on this and reap all the greatness from our orangey friends; the natural glow is a given.
These are just some beauty hacks that I’ve learned along my beauty editor journey and that I truly believe are worth a try on your quest to fight against dark circles. However, if you are a little bit reluctant when it comes to natural or at-home treatments, there are a few professional treatments you should consider too.
Extra Tip for Unwanted Dark Circles
For those looking for more tips to improve your dark circles at-home, a Jade Roller might be an easy self-care solution to help the vessels on the eye area shrink and get back to their natural tone. Place your beauty tool in the fridge and use it in the morning rolling upwards and outwards to lift the skin and improve the circulation.
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