What causes them?
Dark circles are usually caused by 2 factors: genetics and lifestyle choices. For me, genetics plays a vital role in how sallow and deep-set my dark circles are. Genetically formed dark circles are more so a type of hyper pigmentation in the skin. Also, some people are born with thinner skin around the eye which makes it hard for blood circulation and enhances the darkness of the area.
Bad lifestyle choices like, drinking, late nights, smoking, unhealthy eating, stress and dehydration can all lead to dark circles. If you’ve recently battled with darker under eyes it’s probably not genetic but a sign your body is telling you to take things easy and to take care of yourself.
Now, here are a couple of things you need to know:
What you can do to prevent them:
- Sleep
We all know that a well rested body can make a huge difference to your hair, skin, health and so on. It essential to get that 8 hours of sleep especially if you have genetic circles. - Increase water intake
When you starve your body of water it tries to overcompensate by using the h20 that’s already in your body, leading to puffy under eyes. Drinking 2 litres of water a day is necessary to keep your skin healthy and dark circles hydrated. - Put your phone away
Take a digital detox at least and hour or two hour before you hit the bed. The blue light exposure is really bad for your eyes and skin. Research also says it make a huge difference to the quality of your sleep.
Products that can help:
Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream
L’Occitane Divine Eyes
Dermalogica Intensive Eye Repair Serum
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye Cream
Natural ways to get rid of them:
- Tea bags
Tea includes caffeine. And caffeine is said to reduce inflammation and shrink the blood vessels in your under eyes. This is the easiest way to reduce under eye puffiness. Just place a tea bag under the eyes and let all the nutrients soak in. Another great hack is to cool the tea bags in the freezer and then place them on the eyes. The coolness can really sooth and rejuvenate the skin. - Ice cubes
Cooling the area around your eye can reduce swelling. Ice cubes are the most effective way to do that. If you’re not a fan of cubes, you can use spoons or cucumbers, store them in the fridge and tea apply it over the eyes. Of late, the beauty world’s new craze has been the Jade Roller. They’re great for reducing puffiness and help in blood circulation.
Temporary way to hide them:
- Colour correction
Sometimes a concealer isn’t enough to mask your dark circles. Instead, opt for neutralising the colour first, aka colour correction. Using shades that are opposite to your colour, this will cancel out the darkness. For example, if your under eye has a slight blue tint/shadow cast, a peachy concealer is the best to neutralise the dark circle. And if you have a red-ish pink undertone, opt for a yellow based corrector
I really hope this helps you figure out how to combat your under eye circles. Remember, sometimes you just have to work around what you’re given!
DM me at @natasshapatel and let me know any other concerns!