Dark Circles Under Eyes

Dark discoloration of the skin under the eye is mainly referred to as dark circles. It is also known as dark rings or shadows.

Some of the main causes behind the formation of dark circles are heredity, aging, dry skin, prolonged crying, working for long hours in front of a computer, mental or physical stress, lack of sleep and an unhealthy diet. Both men and women of different age groups can have dark circles.

Dark circles are not a serious skin problem, but they make people look tired, exhausted, unhealthy and older. You can easily get rid of unsightly shadows under your eyes using some easy home remedies.

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of dark circles fast.

1. Almond Oil

Almond oil is a great natural ingredient that is very beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. Regular usage of almond oil will help fade your under eye circles. In addition to almond oil, you can use vitamin E oil to eliminate dark circles under the eyes.

Before going to bed, apply a little almond oil over the dark circles and gently massage it into the skin.Leave it on overnight.The next morning, wash it off with cold water.Follow this remedy daily until the dark circles disappear.

2. Cucumber

Cucumbers have skin-lightening and mild astringent properties that help fix those raccoon eyes naturally. Plus, they have a soothing and refreshing effect.

Cut a fresh cucumber into thick slices and chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Put the slices onto the affected skin area for about 10 minutes. Wash the area with water. Repeat twice daily for about a week or more.Another option is to mix cucumber juice with lemon juice in equal amounts. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture on the affected skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash it off with water. Follow this remedy daily for at least one week.

3. Raw Potato

There are natural bleaching agents present in potato that can help lighten dark circles and get rid of puffiness around the eyes.

Grate one or two raw potatoes to extract the juice. Soak a cotton ball in the juice and place it over your closed eyes. Make sure the juice covers the dark circles under your eyes as well as the eyelids. Allow the juice to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse your eyelids well with cool water. Repeat once or twice daily for a few weeks.Instead of potato juice, you can also use thick potato slices to remove dark circles.

4. Rose Water

Rose water has incredible ingredient for skin care. It rejuvenates the skin and has a soothing effect on tired eyes. Due to its mild astringent properties, it also works asa 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.

5. Tomato

Tomatoes have bleaching properties that can lighten skin to a great extent.

Mix one teaspoon of tomato juice with one-half teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently apply this mixture on the dark circles and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with water. Follow this remedy twice a day for a few weeks. Simply using tomato juice will also work.You can also drink a glass of tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt. For maximum results, be sure to drink this juice immediately after making it. Drink it once or twice a day for about a week.

6. Lemon Juice

The vitamin C present in lemon juice can also help remove dark circles under the eyes, thanks to its skin-lightening properties.

 

Use a cotton ball to apply fresh lemon juice around your eyes. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and rinse it off. Do this once daily for a few weeks.Another option is to make a thick paste by mixing one tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of tomato puree, a pinch of gram flour (besan) and turmeric powder. Apply this thick paste gently around your eyes. Rinse it off with clean water after 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat two or three times every week.

7. Coconut Oil

Massaging with coconut oil is another effective natural remedy to lighten dark circles. Due to its moisturizing quality, coconut oil also promotes smooth skin and prevents wrinkles and fine lines under eyes.

Simply massage some extra-virgin coconut oil on the under eye area.Leave it on for a few hours, and then wash it off.Repeat two to three times daily for a few months or until you are satisfied with the results.

8. Tea Bags

The caffeine and antioxidants present in tea can be highly beneficial for getting rid of dark circles as well as puffiness under eyes by shrinking the blood vesselsand reducing fluid retention. The tannins, in particular, help decrease swelling and discoloration.

Chill two used green or black tea bags in the refrigerator for about half an hour.Place one tea bag over each eye and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes.Remove the tea bags and wash your face.Repeat once or twice daily for a few weeks.

9. Cold Compress

Cold compress can constrict the blood vessels under the eyes and help a lot in reducing eye puffiness and dark circles.

Soak a washcloth in cold water or cold milk. Put it over your closed eyelids for several minutes.Alternatively, you can wrap a few ice cubes in a soft napkin and place it under your eyes for a few minutes. You can also use a bag of frozen peas, a chilled teabag or a cold spoon.

Follow these remedies a few times daily.

10. Turmeric

Turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help minimize dark circles. It will also make the skin around your eyes smoother and softer.

Mix two teaspoons each of turmeric powder with pineapple juice to make a thick paste.Apply this paste to the affected area.

Additional Tips

Get adequate sleep and rest. Avoid rubbing your eyes too much or too often as it causes the blood vessels to dilate, thus making the under eye circles appear darker.Remove your make-up before going to sleep or else it may irritate your eyes.Limit sun exposure.Drink plenty of water throughout the day to get rid of water retention that could be causing the problem.To avoid eye bags caused by pooling of fluids in your lower eyelids, elevate your head by adding two or more pillows under your head before going to sleep.Pay attention to your diet and eat foods rich in vitamins A, C and E.Stop smoking and restrict alcohol and caffeine consumption; smoking damages skin cells, and alcohol and caffeine contribute to dehydration which in turn weakens the delicate skin around the eyes. Leave it on for about 10 minutes before wiping it away with a soft, damp cloth.Do this daily until you get positive results.

A lot of people these days have dark circles under their eyes. Dark circles can develop at an early age, although it is more common among older people. Irrespective of age, men and women alike usually feel they don’t look their best when they have “bags” under their eyes.

It is often a hereditary condition. Also, dark circles tend to worsen with age as the skin thins and loses subcutaneous fat, which in turn exposes the blood vessels lying beneath the skin.

But many other factors can be at fault, such as excessive smoking, inadequate sleep, improper diet, excessive drinking,pollution and allergies.

Hormonal imbalances during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause can also contribute to dark circles.

There are many cosmetic products designed to minimize the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. But, most of these products are expensive and contain chemicals that can be harmful to the delicate skin. So, why not try home remedies? Many natural remedies can effectively treat this problem.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for dark circles.

1. Cucumber

Cucumbers have cooling as well as astringent properties and hence they are widely used to treat dark circles. They can lighten the color of the skin, increase blood flow and reduce puffiness.

• Cut a cucumber into thick slices and chill them in the refrigerator. Place a cool cucumber slice over each eye for 10 to 15 minutes. Then wash the area with lukewarm water. Do this twice daily for at least a week to notice changes.
• Grate a small cucumber, extract the juice and refrigerate it for a few minutes. Dip a cotton ball in the juice and apply it under the eyes. Allow the skin to absorb the juice for about 15 minutes. Then wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this twice daily for a week.
• Another way to treat dark circles is to mix cucumber juice with lemon juice in equal quantities, then apply it on the skin near the eyes using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash it off with water. Do this once daily for eight to 10 days.

2. Potato

Potatoes have natural bleaching properties that can help lighten dark circles. They can also help get rid of the puffiness around the eyes.

1. Chill two potatoes in the refrigerator for one hour.
2. Peel and grate the potatoes to extract the juice.
3. Dip a cotton ball in the juice and apply it around your eyes before going bed. Leave it on overnight.
4. In the morning, wash it off with warm water.
5. Follow this remedy daily for a week or more to remove dark circles.

3. Green Tea Bags

Rich in antioxidants and tannins, green tea bags can help lighten dark circles. The tannins in tea also reduce swelling and puffiness.

1. Boil two green tea bags in one-half cup of water for 10 minutes.
2. Remove the tea bags and cool them in the refrigerator for half an hour.
3. Put the cold tea bags over your eyes for about 15 minutes.
4. Follow this remedy twice daily for at least 10 days to get positive results.

4. Rose Water

Rose water is a gentle ingredient with fabulous skin-enhancing benefits that can lighten dark circles under the eyes. Being a rich source of antioxidants, rose water can help strengthen skin cells, regenerate skin tissue and rejuvenate the skin around the eyes.

1. Dip clean cotton balls in rose water and place them over your eyes.
2. Leave them on for about 15 minutes and then wash the area with lukewarm water.
3. Do this once in the morning and once in the evening, every day for two weeks.

5. Almond Oil

Almond oil is also very effective in lightening the skin color around the eyes. Being rich in nourishing vitamins and minerals, almond oil can replenish and rejuvenate the delicate skin and keep it moisturized.

• Lightly massage five or six drops of almond oil into the delicate skin under the eyes before going to bed. Leave it on overnight and wash it off with cold water the next morning. Follow this remedy daily until the dark circles disappear almost entirely.
• Alternatively, mix five or six drops of almond oil with one tablespoon of raw honey. Apply it carefully on the skin under the eyes before going to bed. Leave it on overnight and then wash with lukewarm water the next morning. Repeat daily until you get the desired results.

6. Milk

Milk contains lactic acid that helps soften and moisturize the skin under the eyes. Also, milk has protein, enzymes, amino acids and antioxidants that are required to strengthen the skin and heal damaged skin. Milk can be used as a cold compress to treat dark circles and reduce eye puffiness.

7. Tomato

Tomatoes are one of the most effective remedies for dark circles. They contain the antioxidant lycopene, which helps lighten the dark circles.

1. Blend one medium-size tomato into a paste.
2. Add one-half teaspoon of lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder and two teaspoons of gram flour to the tomato paste. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
3. Apply the paste on the dark circles.
4. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
5. Do this two or three times each week until your dark circles go away completely.

8. Mint

The cooling effect of mint leaves can immediately soothe tired eyes, which in turn helps reduce dark circles.

1. Grind a handful of fresh mint leaves into a paste. Add the juice from half a lemon to it.
2. Apply the mixture on the dark circles.
3. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
4. Gently pat dry the skin with a soft cloth.
5. Do this once daily until you get positive results.

6. 9. Coconut Oil

   

   Coconut oil helps moisturize the delicate and thin skin under the eyes, which in turn reduces the appearance of dark circles. It can produce positive results within a few days because coconut oil is easily absorbed by the skin.

7. Dab a little coconut oil on the skin near the eyes.
8. Massage the area in a circular motion, first clockwise and then counter-clockwise.
9. Leave it on overnight and rinse it off with lukewarm water the next morning.
10. Follow this simple treatment daily for about a week to start noticing a difference.

11. 10. Fenugreek Seeds

    

    The high amount of vitamin C, potassium and protein present in fenugreek seeds help lighten darkcircles under the eyes. Plus, they can help balance the pH level of your skin, which is essential to maintain an even skin tone.

12. Soak two teaspoons of fenugreek seeds in water for three to four hours.
13. Grind the seeds into a smooth paste.
14. Mix in one-half teaspoon of turmeric powder, and then add one teaspoon of raw milk.
15. Apply the mixture under your eyes.
16. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off with cold water.
17. Repeat once daily for a week.

18. Try these easy home remedies to treat dark circles under eyes. You do not have to spend a fortune and you do not have to worry about side effects.