The skin around your eyes is the thinnest of all the skin on your face or body. With every passing day, you age. Skin loses its elasticity and support which makes it more thin and prone to wrinkles. Your under-eye skin show signs of aging faster than your cheeks or forehead. You can take an example of a thin linen dress and thick leather pants. Which one will wrinkle easily? Of course the thin linen dress! So if you want to have a younger-looking look for a longer time, it is necessary to take the best care of your skin especially of the skin around your eyes.
Fifty shades of dark circles under my eyes
Causes of dark circles and eyes bags
Common causes of dark circles and eye bags include:
1) Sun exposure
2) Aging
3) Chronic fatigue
4) Allergies
5) Pigmentation issues
But first eyes care!
Wondering what you can do to reduce your dark circles, wrinkles or simply to slow down the aging process? There are almost countless products in the market that claims to lighten the area under the eyes but they don’t always work. Drinking more water is considered a key in taking good care of your under-eye skin. Well, staying hydrated can really help but if your eye bags and dark circles are genetically inherited, the only way to change their appearance is to make lifestyle changes that will help you in long run.
Here are a few tips to make your under-eyes feel pampered!
Cold press your eyes
You can simply avoid buying those expensive eye creams and follow a simple technique to get relief from your dark circles. Applying anything cold on your skin helps in reducing the swelling and shrink dilated blood vessels temporarily. It also helps in reducing puffiness caused by dark circles. You can simply grab an ice cube, wrap it in a clean piece of cloth and rub it around the eyes. You can purchase any cold press at the store but these DIY options also work really well; Cool cucumber, a bag of frozen vegetables, wet cold cloth, chilled teaspoon. Tap the cold compress on your skin for a few minutes at intervals to see visible results.
Apply tea bags
Applying tea bags is the cheapest under-eye wrinkle treatment. You can use caffeinated tea bags on the skin under your eyes to get rid of dark circles and eye bags. As caffeine contains powerful antioxidants, it promotes blood flow in your skin. It is also said that caffeine slows down the aging process and protects against UV rays. Green tea is considered best and it has anti-inflammatory effects. Drink green tea and chill the tea bags in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Apply these chilled tea bags to your under-eye area and leave for another 20 minutes. You can rinse later.
Stay hydrated
You can reduce fine lines on eyes by staying hydrated. Surprisingly in most cases, dehydration contributes to eye bags. It is recommended to drink 8 to 14 glasses of water per day. If you don’t like to drink water, you can try sparkling water or flavored water too. You can eat water-rich fruits. Making decaffeinated tea a part of your routine is also a good option.
Wear SPF every day
Your skin needs protection against harmful rays of the sun to protect it against issues like; discoloration, early aging, skin cancer, etc. Wearing sunscreen also helps with under-eye bags and dark circles. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen outdoor and indoor too as harmful UVA and UVB rays have the ability to pass through the glass and affect your skin even if you are in your home. Choose any sunblock with SPF 30 at least to give maximum protection to your skin.
Take your makeup off before bed
If you want to avoid bags under your eyes, it is important to wash your face before bed each night. Having a proper night routine will really help you in long run. You shouldn’t sleep in makeup because it irritates the skin, clog pores that result in acne, and also develop infections. You expose your skin to free radicals when you sleep in makeup which causes early signs of aging.
Get at least 8 hours of sleep
Getting proper sleep is the cheapest skin care for eyes. The quantity and quality both matter when we talk about sleep. Getting little or restless sleep makes your complexion pale. Restlessness also causes hyperpigmentation and you can see dark circles more than ever before. Adults are advised to at least take 7 to 8 hours of sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, you can follow these tricks:
1) Create a sleeping schedule
2) Avoid caffeine after 3 pm if you want to sleep early
3) Finish all meals and snacks 3 hours before bedtime
4) Exercise regularly
5) Turn off the cell phone and television one hour before bedtime
Eat healthily
As you age, the muscles and tissues weaken. This means your skin enters its sagging phase which means it’s losing the collagen that holds it together. Increasing your vitamin C intake helps the body to absorb hyaluronic acid which is stored in the body but decreases with age. Foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids help in collagen production. Oranges, Red peppers, Kale, Brussel sprouts, Strawberries have a good amount of vitamin C.
Add retinol to your cream
Want to know how to remove wrinkles around eyes? Invest in a good eye cream with retinol. When retinol is applied to the skin, it improves collagen deficiency. It also has been used to treat skin issues like acne, aging, certain cancers. Lower concentrations of retinol is found in different OTC products but stronger creams require a prescription from your dermatologist.
Note: Don’t use retinol or take extra vitamin A, if you are pregnant.
Many under-eye-related problems can be treated with home treatment. If your symptoms get worse over time, it’s a good idea to visit your doctor. Some cases might be the result of an infection or other medical issue that needs the special attention of a doctor. Your doctor might offer some long-term solutions like medicated creams that reduce swelling and discoloration or aesthetic treatments like laser therapy, chemical peels, and injectable fillers. These treatments may need to be repeated for better results.
