17 Tricks To Get Rid Of Dark Under Eye Circles, That Work.
BY SASHA NIALLA
How do you get rid of dark circles under the eyes naturally? And how do you get rid of dark circles under eyes fast? Whether the result of a long night or an abundance of stress, visibly tired eyes have long been a beauty grievance.
Are they a sign of serious health problems? Probably not.
I know from personal experience that when I don’t get enough sleep, I end up looking like I aged ten years overnight. Now, what about those times you woke up from a glorious, restful slumber with this panda-like pigment?
If your dark circles don’t beat it after a good night’s sleep, there are a few other devious factors at play. You might be able to place blame on genetics (thanks mom and dad!), sun damage, age, allergies, or lifestyle choices – Just to name a few!
When it comes to beauty concerns, tired eyes are at the top of my list – Right next to acne and wrinkles, of course. That’s why I’ve put together a comprehensive list of 17 secrets for getting rid of dark under-eye circles that work.
/ READ AHEAD
- Go The F To Bed.
- What Can’t Tamanu Do?
- Tea Bags…Say What?
- Milk It Does The Body Good.
- The Most Essential Of All The Oils
- Stop And Smell The Roses
- Keep Your Body Hydrated
- Again With The Retinoids
- Vitamin C & K Save The Day
- You Are My Sunshine
- Try Some Arnica Oil
- Cut The Salt
- Get Your Starch On
- Pump Up The Iron
- Keep Your Cool
- Pop An Antihistamine
- Goat Yoga Is A Thing
As with most skincare woes, there isn’t just one single cause for dark under-eye circles.
The skin under the eyes is naturally thinner than the rest of the face, making blood and veins under the surface more obvious. This is called Periorbital hyperpigmentation (POH, Dark eye circles) and a common condition seen in dermatology offices.
Age exacerbates this issue as the skin becomes even more delicate.
However, for some people, age can be unrelated – Other leading culprits include genetics, various skin conditions, lack of sleep, rubbing your eyes, allergies, sleeping on your stomach, and sun damage.
1
GO THE F TO BED!
We all know that sleep deprivation can lead to dark bags under the eyes, but sometimes it’s about how you sleep.
Liz Brown, certified sleep science coach and founder of Sleeping Lucid told us, “Sleep deprivation makes your skin look pale and could result in dark tissues forming under your eyes…practicing good sleep habits is the way to go. This is because sleep lessens the risks of iron deficiency, the number one cause of dark eye circles.”
When you go to sleep, prop your head with extra pillows to reduce any puffiness caused by fluid pooling in the lower eyelids.
Who knew a few pillows could make such a drastic difference?!
2
WHAT CAN'T TAMANU DO?
Tamanu oil was traditionally used for wound healing and to cure various skin problems and ailments. On top of everything else tamanu oil is good for, its unique blend of fatty acids and antioxidants also come in handy for dark circles! The PRāZ Face Revive Oil is formulated with organic, cold-pressed tamanu oil to brighten, nourish and repair skin barrier while diminishing dark under eye circles.
3
TEA BAGS... Say What?
The caffeine and antioxidants present in tea help stimulate circulation, shrink blood vessels, and reduce liquid retention beneath the skin.
Dr. Lisa Stirling, MD a dermatologist in Encinitas, California and medical writer for eMediHealth explained to us, “Products with caffeine and green tea can be helpful in the morning. For a more natural approach, consider using a leftover green tea bag after refrigerating to cool and apply to the eye area as a treatment for 5-10 minutes.”
4
MILK IT DOES THE BODY GOOD
Besides being the perfect cookie companion, milk contains lactic acid, which has been proven to help reduce darkness and puffiness under the eyes. Cleopatra was said to bathe in sour donkey milk, which contains lactic acid, in order to give her skin a youthful appearance.
5
THE MOST ESSENTIAL OF ALL THE OIL
When it comes to the best of the best essential oils for dark under-eye circles, nothing can hold a flame to the powers of chamomile, rose, geranium, lavender, sandalwood, eucalyptus, and lemon.
Dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil or try the PRāZ All In One Oil. It is a lightweight, non greasy after shower, body oil. Your skin will have a healthy glow all day.
Always be sure to do a patch test before using new skin care products to ensure no allergic reactions.
6
STOP & SMELL THE ROSES
Not only does rose water revitalize the skin, but it also lightens skin. These qualities make it perfect for diminishing dark circles under the eyes.
7
KEEP YOUR BODY HYDRATED
As if we need any more reasons to stay hydrated, here’s one more. You’re far less likely to don puffy, dark under eyes if you keep up with your H2O intake.
How much water should you drink a day? A good tip: 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day.
So go ahead and grab your water bottle!
8
AGAIN WITH THE RETINOIDS
Retinoids are a group of compounds derived from vitamin A that are commonly used in skincare. They have the power to stimulate collagen production, which makes the skin less thin and improves darkness.
9
VITAMIN C & K SAVE THE DAY
Besides being totally delicious, foods packed with vitamin C help the body produce collagen. Collagen is responsible for keeping the skin hydrated, healthy, and free of dark circles. Another way to ensure your skin is getting all the vitamin C it needs is by using products that contain this powerhouse nutrient.
What do you know about vitamin K? We spoke with Lynell Ross, wellness expert and founder of Zivadream.
Ross told us, “Vitamin K is an effective tool in fighting blood coagulation and promoting better blood circulation.Vitamin K is commonly found in broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and spinach. As poor blood circulation is one of the main culprits of dark circles under your eyes, eating more foods packed with vitamin K can help reduce the appearance of under eye circles.”
My favorite Vitamin C & K Smoothie – Mix in Vitamix on high speed.
- 1 big handful of baby spinach
- 1 broccoli stalk
- 1/4 of a trimmed pineapple
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 2 peeled oranges
- 1/4 cup of rose hip powder
10
YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
If you don’t wear sunscreen regularly you can’t possibly defend against wrinkles or dark circles. Overexposure to sunlight damages skin cells and leads to excess production of melanin. Next time you’re planning a day in the sun, don’t forget to protect your precious skin.
11
TRY SOME ARNICA OIL
Arnica is said to be a perfect remedy for reducing the appearance of dark circles due to its ability to fight deep tissue inflammation. As if that weren’t enough, it also boosts the circulation of white blood cells, which encourages the skin to fight inflammation in specific areas. Prāz makes an arnica soak formulated with eucalyptus for added benefit. Soak for a minimum of 20 minutes in the Muscle Conditioner Soak, your skin will thank you for days.
12
CUT THE SALT
I know it’s tempting to shake a bunch of salt on everything, but if getting rid of dark circles is a priority, you should try limiting your sodium intake. Salt causes your body to retain water, which can lead to bags and puffiness under the eyes.
13
GET YOUR STARCH ON
You're probably no stranger to enjoying your potatoes fried, mashed, and baked, but I bet the idea of putting them on your face is somewhat foreign. Potatoes stay cold for long periods as they deliver a hearty, soothing dose of antioxidants. The enzymes and the astringent properties in these vegetables help reduce inflammation and help tighten the skin.
14
PUMP UP THE IRON
An iron deficiency anemia could be exactly what’s keeping your eyes looking so sleepy. Be sure to maintain a diet filled with some iron-rich sources such as well vitamin B12, pork, poultry, seafood, beans, spinach, raisins, apricots, and peas.
We spoke with Erik Levi, Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. He explains the importance of why you should never take iron supplements.
"Iron is a mineral that works in ratios with other minerals specifically copper and zinc. If these ratios are thrown off in the body you begin to see disease and disorder, especially in metabolism, thyroid and adrenal health. Specifically, iron toxicity can affect most important organs in the body...also most iron supplements are made very poorly with little regulation and third-party testing which makes the iron even more toxic in the body. Excess iron can also lead to oxidative stress which is at the heart of inflammation and disease."
15
KEEP YOUR COOL
When you need to reduce the appearance of under-eye circles in a hurry, there’s no better way than cooling down. Whatever you prefer – masks, cucumbers, a cool shower – Take the time to let your body absorb and replenish. This moment for self-care will reduce swollen blood vessels under the eyes.
16
POP AN ANITHISTAMINE
Don’t let allergies rain or your parade any more than they already do – Treat your sniffles and sneezes to simultaneously combat dark, sagging eyes. You might still feel lousy some days, but at least you won’t look like it!
17
GOAT YOGA IS A THING
Along with all the other total-body benefits of yoga, we can now add bright eyes to the list. Simple postures and breathing exercises can go a long way in the war against tired eyes. The benefits aren’t all physical, they also relieve mental stress which can worsen dark circles.
Although it’s hard to find one cure-all solution for sleepy eyes, certain lifestyle choices can prevent dark under-eye circles.
Start by making sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep. The trick here is that when you sleep more, you require less coffee to get through the day. Caffeine is bad for circulation around your eyes and makes the dark circles more pronounced. Talk about killing two birds with one stone – Or rather, waking up two eyes with one slumber.
Some other classic crimes against our wellbeing include smoking, excess salt, alcohol. Try to cut back on these vices because they all cast a shadow under our eyes that’s hard to ignore.
Why not try meditating or the tried and true gym session to give your under eyes a fresher outlook.
If you’ve tried these tricks and you’re wondering why you’re looking more dull and drained than bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, it’s smart to take a close look at your dietary choices. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats can create visible skin enhancements all over the body – this includes the under-eye area.
I know it sounds awful, but cutting back on the red wine, coffee, and salty foods will bring you the change you so desperately crave.
While most of the remedies listed are great for preventing dark circles under eyes, the combination of a healthy lifestyle with natural, organic skincare products full of vitamins, is the best way to get rid of dark under-eye circles.
Levi explains, “While there is no one-size-fits-all solution there are dietary and lifestyle methods to help improve the occurrence of these dark circles under eyes. Work on fixing overall digestion and gut issues including liver and gallbladder function. This means improving glutathione status by eating more high-quality protein, taking liposomal glutathione and/or NAC. Adding high-quality fats into the diet is good for gallbladder function along with adding a supplement that includes gallbladder friendly nutrients like pancreatin, taurine, betaine, vitamin C. Adding beets and citrus fruits are great for both the liver and gallbladder. Sulfur-rich cruciferous veggies like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale are also good for the liver.”
Prāz skincare products, backed by science, are packed with organic fresh, food-grade ingredients with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories to brighten eyes and reduce dark circles and bags. Give Prāz a try and if your dark under-eye circles don’t go away in 30 days, Prāz has a 60-day money-back guarantee.