Because dark circles aggravate with minor lifestyle factors that are often overlooked and sometimes camouflaging is not the solution!
When the skin beneath the eyes darkens and sags, you need to investigate into your sneaky habits and determine what is the root cause of the under-eye catastrophe. You may observe shades of purple, brown, blue, or black, based on your skin colour, as the characteristic sign of dark circle—a pesky issue that refuses to heal. Besides stress, fatigue, and sleep deprivation, a handful of other factors worsen the appearance of dark circles which make you fret and indulge in all sorts of DIYs and cosmetics. The mantra is eliminating dark circles instead of concealing or temporarily easing them.
The upper and lower eyelids have thin and sensitive skin, worst vulnerable to sun damage. Forgoing sunscreen over a prolonged period causes irreversible and long-term damage to the skin rendering it loose and sallow. Sun damage is highly irreversible, and so is hyperpigmentation. To remedy the recurring appearance or the consistent worsening of dark circles, you may want to start with the ritualistic application of sunscreen.
Hot water is one potent culprit behind worsening puffiness and under-eye bluish tint. Instead of hot water, you may want to resort to cold compression such as softly rubbing ice cubes under the eyes to reduce the swelling and heightened visibility of dark circles.
Some superfoods play a crucial part in reducing dark circles and making you look youthful and refreshed. Foods high in antioxidants, water content, vitamins K, A, E, and C to improve coagulation and elasticity of blood vessels, beta carotene, vitamins B1, B6, and C, and manganese go a long way to improve the skin below the eyes. Try blueberries, tomatoes, cucumber, green veggies, foods replete with vitamin E, beetroot, and papaya for its vitamin A. Most importantly, hydrate well to flush out toxins and salt concentration around the eyes.
Cleansing the under-eye regions to take of eyeliner, mascara, and other make-up products prevents capillary damage and inflammation, which triggers dark circles. If you have been struggling with the issue already, removing make-up before hitting the bed should be your top priority. You may consider a non-oily formula to remove the last dreg of make-up. Post removal, be sure to hydrate. Good news: Certain cleansing oils or moisture cleansing balms do both the jobs of cleansing and hydrating.
Indulging in salty foods, especially at night, dials up the body’s tendency to retain water and increases salt concentration in the body. This results in flaky and dry skin and puffiness, making the under-eye regions prone to darker circles. To curb salt intake, cut down on frozen foods and snacking and opt for fresh, home-cooked meals. Even squeezing lemons or adding spices, among other condiments, to enhance the flavour might affect a regular and optimum amount of salt intake.
Overlooking the body’s deficiencies is one main reason why using expensive products or DIYs would never work. The body needs sufficient iron to produce haemoglobin, and, therefore, the need for vitamin B12. Breakfast cereals, seeds and nuts, bananas, leafy green vegetables, and beans are an excellent source of vitamin B12 and a strong antidote to your under-eye region looking all gloomy and exhausted.
Going overboard with retinol application over a long time would thin out the under-eye skin and cause red and itchy rings around the eyes that will turn darker with time. Regulate your retinol use or consult with a dermatologist regarding it if you notice a stark deterioration in dark circles.
