Dark circles– we all have them, and we all hate them. Although more apparent dark circles are often hereditary, certain habits can exacerbate their appearance and make them worse. Lack of sleep, seasonal allergies, dehydration and drinking too much alcohol are all aspects to consider when taking a look at your dark circles. Take a look at this list of 10 tips and tricks to make your eyes brighter and get rid of dark circles for good!
Under-eye patches are a popular and professional method of eliminating dark circles. My favorite option is by Milk Makeup, branded as their “Cooling Water Eye Patches.” These eye patches are best for those mornings after a rough nights’ sleep, or whenever you’re feeling a little stressed out. Their cooling and depuffing effect hydrates your skin and infuses the eye area with moisture, making your under-eye complexion look healthy and bright. They’re a great option for everyone, even for those with sensitive skin, as they contain aloe, caffeine, and lavender. Each box comes with six pairs of under-eye masks, which are packaged individually so they are easy to travel with or take on the go! You can get them at Sephora or online at Milk Makeup.
Using tea bags to get rid of dark under-eye circles is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and for a good reason! This really works! Brew your favorite black or green tea (make sure it’s caffeinated!) and let cool in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. Apply the cold tea bags to your closed eyes for 10-15 minutes and wait for the magic to happen. The caffeine and antioxidants in green tea help stimulate blood circulation, shrinking your blood vessels and reducing liquid retention under your skin. After resting with the tea bags on your eyes for 10-15 minutes, remove and rinse your skin with cold water. You’ll be left feeling refreshed and with your dark circles disappearing before your eyes!
If you’re feeling creative and want to try an all natural DIY eye serum, check out this recipe. With only five ingredients, it’s easy to make and still so much cheaper than commercially sold eye serums. The ingredients you’ll need are listed below, all of which can be purchased through Amazon, Etsy, or your local organic store:
Mix the ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Pour the mixture into a glass dropper bottle, and use ½ a dropper full (or less) of the serum on a clean face. Wait 4-5 minutes for the serum to set in, and then moisturize. That’s it! It’s that simple! Each oil included in your serum has a different and specific purpose aimed at reducing puffiness and brightening skin. Rosehip seed oil has Vitamins A and C, which are essential in collagen formation. Carrot seed oil provides moisture without clogging pores and helps to repair damaged skin cells. Chamomile helps to soothe skin and reduce redness, rose essential oil is vitamin rich and reduces skin irritation, and primrose oil helps to reduce wrinkles and tightens skin, making it appear young and healthy. With so many beneficial ingredients, this natural remedy will be sure to show results.
You’ve seen these since you were little– the cucumber eye mask is a classic symbol for a spa day. But working this easy treatment into your regular routine can be extremely beneficial in resolving those dark circles! Simply peel a cucumber using a veggie peeler, and add thin ribbons all over your face and slices over your eyes. Cucumbers are brightening and plumping, and will leave you glowing and refreshed.
It sounds a little strange to put coffee grounds on your face, but I swear, it works! Use two teaspoons of coffee grounds and one egg-white for this mask. Combine the egg white and coffee grounds in a bowl and beat the mixture together with a fork until frothy. Use a makeup or face mask brush to apply the mask around and under the eyes. Let the mask sit for about 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water and patting dry.
Rose water is found in so many cosmetic products because of its healing properties for the skin. Due to its high concentration of vitamin C and the anti-inflammatory, soothing, regenerating, and decongesting properties, rose water is the perfect ally for treating your dark circles. All you need for this technique is– you guessed it– rose water! Fill a glass spritzer bottle and mist over your clean face before bed. You’ll fall asleep feeling fresh and your skin glowing.
Dark circles often appear because of dehydration, and almond oil can help with that. The area around your eyes has thinner skin, which is why it often becomes more dehydrated than the rest of the skin on your face. Apply a couple drops of sweetened almond oil under your eyes to rehydrate and plumpen your skin, leaving dark circles behind.
We’ve all heard it before– put your phone down before bed! There are so many reasons why scrolling on our phones and watching Netflix in the dark before bed is bad for us, but if you do it for anything, do it for your dark circles! The harsh blue light from your phone, laptop, or TV can cause you to wake up with puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles, so seriously! Put the phone down! Try reading or listening to a podcast before bed instead. You’ll fall asleep faster and your skin will thank you too.
As I mentioned before, dehydration is often a direct cause of your dark under-eye circles, and is a super easy fix– drink your water! Carry a reusable water bottle around with you all day and drink a glass at every meal. Go get that H2O!
Don’t you love when someone recommends you sleep? You don’t have to tell me twice! Getting enough rest is important for your body and your skin. Dark circles often appear with stress and lack of sleep, so make sure you’re catching enough of those z’s.
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