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Have you spent hours googling about how to get rid of dark circles and still couldn’t find a satisfactory solution?
Or were you awake for multiple nights studying for an exam and now your eyes look like that of a raccoon?
Forget it all because I’ve gathered all the causes of dark circles/ eyebags and substantial treatments available for you based on your specific condition.
What causes dark circles under the eyes?
The first step to treat something is to understand the root cause. Once you find that out, then you can go on to find what works best for that specific problem.
Directly listing down all the causes for dark circles would be pretty easy but invaluable as there are various types of dark circles and each one of them has its own causes.
Below is an outline of the main types of dark circles and their potential causes.
1) Blueish Color
Stressful lifestyle, lack of sleep, allergies, and stuffy nose are the main culprits behind blueish under-eye circles.
They make the blood less oxygenated which turns it from a bright red to dull blue color.
2) Brownish COLOR
Medium to darker skin tones are more susceptible to having brownish circles. They are mainly caused by aging, genetics, appearance of blood vessels and sun damage.
In some cases, more melanin (hyperpigmentation) is produced around the eye area which causes dark circles.
3) Shadowed Color
If your dark circles stay the same in every lighting and look like a shadow on your face, you might have shadowed circles.
They happen due to natural bone structure when there is a deep valley under eyes and cheekbones. Other reasons include weight loss and aging.
4) pURPLE COLOR
If you have a purple-ish tint to your circles, they are caused by the thinning of blood vessels, aging and genetics.
Can you really get rid of dark circles?
If your dark circles have gotten worse due to any lifestyle change then they are PRETTY MUCH reversible.
However, if you’ve been struggling with them since a very age like 11 or so then they are hereditary.
Whilst you can’t do much to reverse them, you can still take necessary precautions to NOT worsen them over time.
An easy test to find out if you have hereditary dark circles is to lightly pinch and move skin under eyes. If it stays dark, then yours are hereditary. If it looks like your skin color then they are reversible.
Tips to get rid of dark circles
1. Remove makeup gently
The skin around our eyes is very thin so we shouldn’t rub it as it will make it thinner.
Makeup wipes are really harsh on the skin so instead use a cotton pad or your hands to gently take off the makeup around your eyes.
2. Apply SPF
Overexposure to sun rays can worsen dark circles over time by causing hyperpigmentation, so it is necessary to always apply a good amount of mineral sunscreen before heading out.
Gently apply it under your eyes and the rest of the face.
3. Get enough sleep
Sleep helps the body repair itself and LOWER stress levels. If you’re awake at night, all your organs are working to keep you awake. This delays the body’s natural cleansing and detoxing system.
So when you wake up the next day, you are fatigued. It is recommended to sleep for 8-9 hours for the body to function healthily.
Also, sleep on your back and don’t put too much pressure on the eye area as it will move fluids to your eye area and you’ll wake up with puffy eyes.
4. Stay hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is the key to healthy and glowing skin. Dehydration can make your eyes look dull and tired which gives the appearance of dark circles.
Drinking a cup of hot water with lemon daily can be beneficial.
5. Diet
Lack of nutrition in your body causes the blood vessels to dilate to allow more nutrition. This darkens the under-eye area. Eat a healthy, nutritious diet with lots of anti-inflammatory fruits.
Additionally, limit your sugar/salt intake as excess salt in diet increases sodium in the body which causes puffiness. Similarly don’t drink sodas after 6 pm and avoid eating too hot or too cold food.
6. Moisturize
The skin around the eyes is very delicate and doesn’t produce any sebum (oil) to keep it moisturized.
This makes it prone to drying so always keep it moisturized and hydrated with a good eye cream.
7. Limit cellphone use
Don’t look at your phone for too long before going to sleep. The blue screen restrains the production of melatonin (the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle).
Reducing melatonin makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. Alternatively, use your phone on night mode.
8. Avoid heavy concealer
Using heavy concealers all the time can do more damage than good by drying out the eye area thus amplifying the appearance of fine lines and dull eyes.
Use a light concealer if needed and hydrate your eye area well.
9. Stress
When you’re stressed more blood is directed to your main organs which leaves your face looking drained, pale and dull.
Thus making your dark circles more noticeable. It is ideal to meditate/ exercise daily for at least 15-20 minutes to relax your mind and body.
10. Facial Exercises
Doing facial exercises daily promotes blood circulation which can help to get rid of dark circles. You can watch a good facial exercise for dark circles below:
Best treatments for getting rid of under-eye circles
So you skimmed through the entire blog and have a better idea about your dark circles & now you’re looking for the possible solutions for your type of dark circles ha!
Well, I have listed the best solutions available in the market for you to try.
🔺 Niacinamide: Niacinamide helps to improve the look of dark circles by retaining its moisture and firmness.
🔺 Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps to brighten the dark circles and combat dullness.
🔺 Retinol: Retinol stimulates the production of collagen by making the skin less thin and improving the dark circles over time.
🔺 Vitamin E: Vitamin E helps in fighting the effect of free radicals that causes dullness/ wrinkles and moisturizes and hydrates the eye area.
🔺 A few more great products for combating dark circles are The INKEY List Brighten-i Eye Cream, Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop, CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil, and Skinceuticals Phyto + Botanical Gel For Hyperpigmentation.
Hopefully, you liked these tips for dark circles and found them helpful in some way!
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