Dark Circles and Puffy eyes? Problem Solved!

Here we go entering on a bit of a touchy topic that no girl wants to deal with... 

So, you look older than you really are or always tired all thanks to those dark circles under your eyes, no one likes them but there they are! Although dark circles may be a fact of life for many of us, that doesn't mean we have to live with them. 

As they mimic the soft black fur around a raccoon's eyes. Now, while it looks good surrounding a raccoon's eyes, on us humans... they are an entirely different matter. They can be quite distracting and do not exactly present a very alluring appearance (and sadly makeup can't cover everything). Don�t sweat! The good news is, that there are a boat load of simple, natural treatments and lifestyle changes, that are not to dramatic (thank goodness), that you can do at home to rid yourself of those dark circles once and for all. 

There is no need to spend valuable money on expensive treatments and products that do more harm to your skin then good or don't help your circles at all. All you need to do is make a trip to your kitchen or grocery store and give yourself a couple of minutes to relax. 

Most of us at some point or another will deal with this bothersome condition of dark circles under our eyes, they are nothing new but can spoil the beauty of your face. Whether it is due to stress, lack of sleep, aging or whatever the cause may be, dark circles are unattractive and no one wants them around their eyes. Since you probably don�t want to spend your days looking like a raccoon... let's get started. 

Here are some lifestyle areas you need to make sure you are getting enough of and natural treatments you can do in order to kiss those dark circles goodbye! (Keep in mind your dark circles can be caused by any one of these topics or even a combination of them. Evaluate each, see where you are lacking and what your body is trying to tell you what you need more of!)

Sleep:

• One of the easiest ways to reduce the presence of dark circles would be to get around 7-9 hours of sleep per night (it varies for different people, at different times and schedules). Why is this? The lack of sleep tends to cause the skin to become paler, increasing the appearance of darkness under your eyes, it also reduces circulation. This is the most common reason why people develop dark circles under their eyes. With more sleep however, it reduces your stress levels which can also cause dark circles. Simply, get a decent regular amount of sleep to eliminate those dark rings around your eyes! It is recommended, if this is an issue that needs to be changed in your habits, to get an additional hour of sleep a night, whatever is suitable to your body's needs.  

• Another simple change you can do is sleeping on another pillow at night. Instead of using just one pillow, add another one to the stack! This helps to prop your head up a bit more while you are getting your beauty rest, this keeps fluids from collecting beneath your eyes, which can cause you to wake up with puffy and dark circles present around your eyes. 

Lower Stress Levels: 

• I know this one is easier said then done but if you can sneak in the time to relax and take some time to yourself... DO IT! This will help remove stress and anxiety that can be weighing you down a little bit. Relaxing enough will help your eye skin to improve as you feel less stressed and more at ease. Skin reflects a whole host of emotional and physical ailments, our body uses our skin to let us know where we are lacking, so don't dismiss the need to relax whenever possible. 

Diet: 

• Dark circles can be an indication that you are not getting proper nutrients. Simply, evaluate your diet to be sure you are getting enough to fill your daily needs. However, it's not only eating healthy foods but it goes hand -in- hand with making sure you have a balanced diet. 

• Changing your diet, even in simple ways, can make a big difference in the way that your eyes look. Simply eliminating a lot of salt, sugar and caffeine from your diet will definitely help. Stop eating highly salted foods, as too much salt can impair your circulation and cause the blood vessels under your skin to appear bluer, therefore making your dark circles stand out even more! By cutting down on the sugars, salt and caffeine it also is a way you can keep water from retaining around your eyes, which leads to dark circles and puffiness around the eye area (not saying you can't have any, just limit what you consume). 
• Eating vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin E, vitamin C and iron are healthy for your under eyes, specifically, cabbage, spinach and other leafy green vegies. Receiving a good dose of calcium and magnesium by eating greens (which are higher in calcium and magnesium than dairy products are) and a good mineral supplement will help in making those circles disappear. 
• A host of cosmetic problems can be attributed to vitamin deficiencies. Dark circles or puffiness are often connected to the lack of vitamin K, deficiency in B12, or inadequate antioxidants. To solve this issue, make sure you are getting enough vitamins, which is a key part to keeping dark circles off of your face. 

Water: 

• A common reason why people end up with those unattractive dark circles under their eyes is because they are dehydrated. Since dehydration is the result of a lack of water in your system, drinking more water will help in ways you can't imagine. Drinking a few 8oz glasses of water per day will not only do wonders for your diet, but it will also lead to the reduction of those unwanted circle patches under your eyes. It is also a good idea to make it a practice to drink water in the morning to detoxify your body, drinking an adequate amount of fluids will also help to improve your circulation. 

Ok, so now that we know what you can work on as far as lifestyle change, here are a few natural remedies you can do to ensure those dark circles disappear and are no longer apart of your face. 

There are Three Keys to these Home Remedies: 

• Moisturizing the skin: Moisturizing helps eliminate dark circles by hydrating the skin.
• Cooling the skin: Cooling the skin helps by relieving the stress around the eyes.  
• Stimulating the skin: Stimulating brings blood flow into the area causing it to look more alive.   

Potatoes:

• To help you reduce your dark circles under your eyes, cool a potato in the refrigerator and slice it thinly. After reclining, place the slices on your eyes for 15-20 minutes at a time. Repeat it whenever you can. 
• Also, you can use the potato juice. It's an effective approach that has been used for centuries. Mix a spoonful of potato juice (you can also add a few drops of lemon juice, if possible, to reduce dark circles, as it is loaded with vitamin C which will help diminish your circles) and place it on and around your closed eyes. Leave on for 15-30 minutes and wash it off when the time is up with warm water. 

Oils:

• One of the "greasier" solutions you can add to your eyes is also one of the most effective. What is this magical ingredient? This would be almond oil. After applying it directly on your dark circles the almond oil goes right to work on the problem to help reduce, if not outright eliminate them right away (amen). As well as, almond oil can soothe the skin around your delicate eye area and helps to reduce redness and irritation. (A good tip is massaging the area with almond oil before going to bed to diminish dark circles, it gives the almond oil the whole night to go to work!) 
• Using the approach of vitamin E and C oil is also a winner! Adding this oil to your dark circles has been proven to be beneficial in kissing your dark circles goodbye. 

Juice from Vegetables and Fruit:

• This one you will raise your eyebrow at, but we want those dark circles gone, right? The unique mix is tomato and lemon juice (hang in there). That might seem on the surface to be very weird and out-of-the-ordinary combination... but like I said, it will help to reduce your dark circles under your eyes effectively. Gently, dab this mixture under your eyes to help reduce discoloration. Now... let's answer a quick question: Why do these fruit and vegetable juices work so well? These juices have a replenishing effect on the skin, so why wouldn't we want to add it to the mix? 

Cucumber Slices: 

• One of the best treatments you can do at home for your dark circles is also the most well known, cucumber slices. Cucumber slices have long been used to reduce puffiness and circles, refreshing the appearance of the skin around your eyes. Providing a fast "pick-me-up" for tired, puffy, or dark eyes. Lying down, place a cool slice over each eye, extending over the darkened area for 10-15 minutes. Do this daily until your circles lift and then keep this treatment in your beauty regimen so they don't make a reappearance. 
• To change it up a little bit, you can also squeeze out the juice from the cucumber and dab the chilled juice onto your dark circles with a cotton ball or pad. Keep it on there for 15 minutes so you can get the full effects as it relaxes your eyes. 

Tea Bags: 

• Another effective approach to treating your dark circles is using tea bags! Tea bags contain caffeine, which will dramatically reduce the swelling and discoloration associated with dark circles. As well as there are antioxidants found in teas that can protect and repair damaged skin. For the best results, use a white, green (EGCG is contained in green tea, which is a natural anti-inflammatory which is very beneficial), black or chamomile tea bags. The first thing you need to do is brew the tea bag and allow it to cool, after it has cooled squeeze it out. Lie down, and leave the cool, damp tea bags over your eyes for about 10-15 minutes, it is as easy as that! 

Others:

• Take a spoon and put it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Take it out and place it on your dark circles, holding it there until the spoon is warm again.
• Mix turmeric powder and pineapple juice to make a paste. Apply this paste to your dark circles for  another effective remedy for dark circles.
• Take a cotton ball or pad and dip it in rose water. Place it under your eyes for about 10 minutes every day. 
• Crushed mint can create a pleasant cooling sensation and reduce swelling. Simply, crush mint leaves and apply it to the area and leave it for about 10-20 minutes. 
• Make a paste out of nutmeg mixed with milk and apply it all around your eyes and over the eyelids, leave it for 10 minutes.
• Use moisturizers with avocado oil, sesame, Vitamin K and Vitamin E are a positive way to relieving your face of those not so gorgeous circles. 

Now, while you are treating this specific beauty problem, of course, you don't want these circles to show or make you look more tired then you are. So, here is something you can do! 

Cosmetics:

• A concealer can come in handy for this problem. Look for one with a white or green tone to contradict the dark color under your eyes (keep in mind, each skin tone is different so it is best to play around with a few shades to find what works the best for you and your circles). Simply, add your regular make up on top and you are set to go. Additionally, look for a concealer which has chamomile in it. Chamomile has long been known as a natural remedy for skin, some concealers contain this ingredient which can help cure as it covers (you can't get much better then that). (Note: be sure to apply moisturizer containing vitamin E before using cosmetics, as they can often dry out or damage your skin, which will only make those dark under eye circles appear more.)

Hopefully, this post will get you on your way to living a life without the frustration of those unwanted dark circles. Enabling you to face your day looking lively and your very best! I am always open for any questions or suggestions you may have for me, I am here to help!