10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
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Your dark circles may have been caused by factors such as insomnia, stress, or too much time spent in front of a computer. There are a lot of different reasons why we get dark circles under our eyes.

Concealer is what the majority of people use to hide dark circles and puffiness under their eyes, but there is a less expensive and makeup-free alternative. Our hands are the most effective instrument we have for making our eyes look younger. Eye massages are a quick and easy way to get rid of dark circles and brighten the skin around the eyes.

What causes dark circles?

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jeremy Fenton, there are four major reasons why dark circles occur…

Genetics

This one is fairly easy to understand: dark circles sometimes just run in families, so you might be someone who has had them ever since you were a baby.

Thin Skin Around your Eyes

According to Dr. Fenton, "as we age, the skin gets thinner around your eyes," and this is especially true as collagen is lost. The thinner skin in this region makes the superficial blood vessels more noticeable, which contributes to the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. "We also have a lot of superficial blood vessels in this area," the doctor said.

And to circle back around to the decline in collagen...There are a few different things that can lead to it, so you should take precautions to avoid them all: constant movement of your facial muscles, touching and pressure applied to your face, and last but not least, exposure to UV light.

Tear Trough

Tear trough, or the loss of volume around the eyes that can give them a more sunken appearance, is another potential cause of your dark circles. "As we age, we lose volume in our face not only from the skin thinning, but also from bone, muscle, and fat," says Dr. Fenton. "This may contribute to a shadowing effect that results in the appearance of dark circles. If you have puffiness or bags next to your tear trough, this shadowing may get worse.

Hyperpigmentation from Environmental Stressors

Hyperpigmentation, which occurs when patches of your skin turn dark due to conditions like UV ray damage, exposure to blue light, or acne, is another important factor in the development of dark circles. And regrettably, your eyes are still fair game!

Here is a detailed explanation of how UV-induced hyperpigmentation occurs: Dr. Fenton claims that exposure to the sun stimulates the skin's melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing melanin, or the pigment found in our skin. So, excessive sun exposure around the eyes can make the skin produce more pigment than is necessary, resulting in dark circles.

What your doctor might suggest for dark circles

10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
Photo: Allure

Your doctor might offer a medical option, depending on their diagnosis of the cause of the circles under your eyes. That recommendation might include the following.

Skin-lightening cream

To lighten under-eye hyperpigmentation, a dermatologist might prescribe a skin-lightening cream with azelaic acid, kojic acid, glycolic acid, or hydroquinone. Some of these creams, in formulas with lower percentages of the active ingredient, are available over the counter.

Laser therapy

Laser treatments use heat energy to vaporize damaged cells. The darker pigment under the eyes can be targeted. Along with lightening darker skin tones, laser therapy may induce new collagen formation.

Chemical peels

A dermatologist might suggest a light chemical peel to lighten dark pigmentation under the eyes. Commonly these will include glycolic acid, retinoic acid or hydroquinone. Your dermatologist might also suggest a Jessner peel, which includes a combination of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and resorcinol.

Blepharoplasty

Fat can be surgically removed in a lower lid blepharoplasty by a plastic surgeon, oculoplastic surgeon, or dermatologic surgeon. The procedure can decrease the shadow cast by your eyelid, which can decrease the appearance of dark circles.

Fillers

A hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler such as Restylane or Juvederm can be injected into the tissue under the eye by an ophthalmologist, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or specially trained healthcare provider. Fillers help with volume loss under the eye, which can cause dark circles.

When to see a doctor

If swelling and discoloration appear under only one eye, you should talk to your doctor about it, especially if it appears to get worse over time.

10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home

1. Eye Massage Will Lighten Up Your Dark Circles

10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
Photo: Healthline

While it would be ideal to log off and sleep until they leave, it's simply not possible. The next-best option for waking up those drowsy eyes is as follows: a brief eye massage for 30 seconds can help with puffy, dark circles.

Here are some eye care tips based on lymph drainage theory for eye bags:

Make a circle around your eyes by tapping lightly with your index and middle fingers (no pulling or dragging). Blood starts to flow to the area when you tap.

After moving inward along the top of your cheekbones in the direction of your nose's bridge, move outward along your brows. Make three circles with your eyes.

Then, with your middle fingers, firmly press upward where your brows should begin, which is just below the brow bone on either side of your nose.

Next, apply firm pressure to the area next to your tear ducts, above the bridge of your nose.

Finish by massaging your temples with your middle and index fingers.

The benefit of this tapping massage is that you can perform it at any time of day without significantly affecting your makeup. To prevent harming the delicate skin around your eyes, be careful not to drag your fingers along that area.

Apply some cold eye cream while doing this for a more soothing experience.

2. Using Best Products for Eye Massage - Eye Cream

If you're looking for something to add to this routine, consider an eye cream, which will significantly more effectively reduce dark circles and puffiness than concealer. Your eye massage will improve by dabbing a few tiny drops of cream around those important areas of your skin.

Collagen is a skin-tightening nutrient that declines with age and is found in anti-aging serums like Revive Science Eye Cream (Buy on Amazon, $24.95). This research was published in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology. To energize tired-looking eyes, it also contains caffeine in the form of green tea.

Anytime you feel the need to look rested, use this technique. It will therefore improve your appearance whether you wake up in the morning after getting some beauty rest or you go out with friends in the evening. You'll definitely start using this eye massage technique as your new go-to trick for removing dark circles whenever and wherever!

3. Using a retinoid

10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
Photo: southernliving

Antioxidant niacinamide calms inflamed skin and aids in reducing redness and hyperpigmentation. To increase the impact, it is frequently added to products that contain retinol. Pay close attention to skincare products that contain these components.

"Retinol can stimulate the production of collagen with continued use, reducing skin thinning and lightening dark circles. They are simple to locate at the pharmacy, according to dermatologist Rachel Nazarian of New York City. Dermatologist Patricia Ceballos from New Rochelle, New York, adds that "Retinoids help rebuild dermal collagen and thereby contribute to vascular support in the area and the recovery of skin volume and firmness."

4. Be careful with beverages

Dehydration and fluid loss are not actually brought on by drinking caffeinated beverages. However, they might have a slight diuretic effect. If you're worried that drinking coffee will make you dehydrated or worsen the quality of the skin around your eyes, that isn't the problem.

Additionally, caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and may cause the blood vessels near the eye area to constrict, minimizing the appearance of swelling and fatigue. You can use it on your face as well.

However, some people may experience insomnia and headaches after consuming caffeinated beverages in excess of four cups per day.

Can vitamin E actually treat dark circles?

Although vitamin E has many advantages for the skin, there aren't many studies that show it can effectively reduce dark circles.

The effectiveness of a gel containing 2 percent phytonadione, 0.1 percent retinol, and 0.1 percent each of vitamins C and E in treating wrinkles on the lower eyelids and dark circles under the eyes in adults was examined in a 2004 study.

The gel applied topically was found to be somewhat or moderately effective in reducing dark under-eye circles in Japanese adults, particularly in cases of hemostasis. Additionally, the gel slightly reduced wrinkles.

However, because there was such a small amount of vitamin E in this gel compared to the other ingredients, it was difficult to tell how well the vitamin E worked to reduce under-eye circles.

5. Get enough sleep

According to a 2017 study that was published in the Royal Society Open Science, people who slept for four hours compared to those who slept for eight hours had more obvious dark circles under their eyes.

"Lack of sleep can contribute to darker blood vessels as well as fluid buildup under the eyes resulting in a dark shadow," says Karly O'Keefe, an esthetician and owner of the facial treatment facility SkincraftLA in Los Angeles.

Additionally, lack of sleep can lead to more stress, which aggravates dark circles.

6. Reduce sinus congestion

If your nose is constantly runny, exercise caution. Dark blood can accumulate in the veins under the eyes as a result of persistent sinus congestion. Because of this, the veins may produce dark circles around the eyes and be visible through the skin. Experts advise occasionally cleaning your sinuses.

7. Try a cold compress

10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
Photo: Sunmay

According to Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist with her own practice in New York City, a cold compress can help reduce swelling and shrink dilated blood vessels, which, if those blood vessels are the ones under your eyes, can lessen the appearance of dark circles.

If you want to give it a try at home, wrap some ice cubes in a fresh washcloth and place it over your eyes for three to five minutes. You can also apply a wet washcloth to the skin under your eyes for about 20 minutes while applying gentle pressure. Eye gel masks are another option, and they can be frozen until you're ready to use them. Use for ten minutes.

8. Apply tea bags

According to O'Keefe, a cool tea bag can also reduce inflammation. This is so because tea contains antioxidants and caffeine, all of which help to constrict blood vessels, increase blood flow, and lessen puffiness.

Apply used tea bags to your eyes for 30 minutes after placing them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to try this method. Because green tea contains caffeine, which constricts the capillaries and blood vessels under your eyes and tightens the skin, O'Keefe advises drinking it.

9. Avoid fragranced skin care products

Asthma-related lingering irritation is one cause of dark circles, for instance. If you believe that to be the case, a specialist advises avoiding fragranced skincare products and applying 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily. When in front of a screen, put on blue light glasses as well.

10. Try Nature Products

10 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Dark & Tired Circles Under Eyes At Home
Photo: Foreo

I've listed the at-home remedies that can help with this problem, then I listed the items that you can buy over the counter (at Cedra!) to speed up the process!

Almond Oil

A wonderful natural product that is excellent for the delicate skin around your eyes is almond oil. Almond oil will help your under-eye circles disappear with regular use. In addition to almond oil, vitamin E oil can be used to get rid of under-eye circles.

Apply a small amount of almond oil to the dark circles before bed and gently massage it into the skin.

Keep it running all night.

Wash it off with cold water in the morning.

Use this treatment every day until the dark circles are gone.

Cucumber

Cucumbers have mild astringent and skin-lightening properties that work to naturally treat raccoon eyes. Additionally, they have a calming and energizing effect.

Fresh cucumbers should be sliced thickly and chilled in the fridge for 30 minutes. For about 10 minutes, apply the slices to the affected area of skin. Use water to clean the area. Repeat twice every day for at least a week.

Another choice is to combine equal parts of cucumber and lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the affected skin using a cotton ball. After 15 minutes, remove it with water and wash it off. Use this treatment every day for at least a week.

Raw Potato

Potatoes contain natural bleaching agents that can be used to reduce puffiness and lighten dark circles under the eyes.

To get the juice, grate one or two chilled potatoes. Place a cotton ball over your closed eyes after soaking it in the juice. Make sure the juice covers both the eyelids and the dark circles under your eyes. Give the juice 10 to 15 minutes to sit. Wash your eyelids thoroughly in cool water. For a few weeks, repeat once or twice each day.

To get rid of dark circles, you can also use thick potato slices rather than potato juice.

Rose Water

Rosewater has incredible ingredients for skincare. It rejuvenates the skin and has a soothing effect on tired eyes. Due to its mild astringent properties, it also works as a good skin toner.

Soak cotton eye pads in pure rose water for a few minutes.

Put the soaked pads on your closed eyelids.

Leave them on for about 15 minutes.

Follow this remedy twice daily for a few weeks.

Tomato

Because of their natural bleaching abilities, tomatoes can significantly lighten skin.

Lemon juice and one teaspoon of tomato juice should be combined. Apply this mixture to the dark circles gently, and then give it 10 minutes to work. Use water to wash it off. For a few weeks, use this cure twice daily. Tomato juice alone will also work.

You can also add some mint leaves, lemon juice, and salt to a glass of tomato juice to brew. Make sure to consume this juice as soon as possible after making it for best results. For about a week, consume it once or twice per day.

Lemon Juice

Due to its skin-lightening qualities, the vitamin C found in lemon juice can also aid in removing dark circles under the eyes.

Apply fresh lemon juice around your eyes with a cotton ball. After about 10 minutes, wash it off with water. Every day for a few weeks, perform this.

Another choice is to combine one tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of tomato puree, a dash of gram flour (besan), and a pinch of turmeric powder to make a thick paste. Apply this thick paste around your eyes with caution. After 10 to 15 minutes, wash it off with water. Every week, repeat two or three times.

How to Prevent Undereye Circles and Bags

Get enough sleep. Sound sleeping is an inexpensive, easy way to help minimize dark undereye circles, no matter what the cause. Sleep not only helps keep eyes bright. It also aids your body in repairing cell damage to your skin.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Though they may perk you up in the short term, caffeine and alcohol don't do the same for your skin. They can cause mild dehydration, making dark circles more obvious.

Consider skin lighteners or bleaching agents. If the dark circles under your eyes are due to too much melanin, dermatologist Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, says creams containing lightening agents such as retinol, hydroquinone, kojic acid, green tea, vitamin C, or soy can be helpful. To help skin-lightening products work their best, avoid the sun and use sunscreen daily. Badreshia-Bansal suggests a sunscreen with zinc and a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 30.

Check out injectable fillers. A dermatologist may administer these if your dark eye circles are due to broken blood vessels, Badreshia-Bansal says. Fillers can also help if fat loss is the cause of bags under the eyes.

Look into laser treatments and vitamin K. Laser treatments may reduce the look of dark circles due to broken blood vessels. Skincare products containing vitamin K can also help.

Go a shade lighter in your concealer. A concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone can help disguise undereye circles. A concealer with an SPF of 15 or higher provides double benefits. If your skin tends to be oily or acne-prone, use an oil-free concealer.

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