Everyone knows that dark under-eye circles are almost always guaranteed after a night of little to no sleep.
Dark undereye circles are most common as we age. That’s because the two most common causes of dark undereye circles are tiredness and aging.
Our eyes tend to get puffy and dark when we’re tired for a couple of reasons. When the body is tired, it tends to produce more cortisol to boost energy levels. But cortisol also makes our blood vessels larger, including the blood vessels sitting just beneath the surface of your delicate skin under the eye.
If you’ve spent a night tossing and turning in bed, unsuccessfully trying to sleep, it can be worse. Lying horizontal means that the blood flow to your eyes increases. So it’s no wonder that after a night of poor sleep, your eyes can look increasingly puffy and dark.
But there are ways to decrease the appearance of dark undereye circles, and some of the simplest ways to do it involve items you probably already have in your home. Here are a few of our favorites.
Household Ingredients That Work!
- Cool tea bags. Applying cool tea bags to your eyes can work wonders against mild or moderate dark under-eye circles. Choose a caffeinated tea, such as green, black, or red. Any of these that contain caffeine can shrink blood vessels, which can decrease puffiness and darkness. Tannins in the tea may also help to stimulate circulation and increase the elasticity of the skin.
- Freeze a teaspoon. Keep a couple of small metal spoons, such as a teaspoon, in your freezer. Applying anything cold (such as a bag of peas or a frozen washcloth) will help your undereye circles, but a cold teaspoon is one of our favorite choices because it has the added bonus of being a perfect size. Pop one in the freezer for an hour, and you’ll have a perfectly-sized mini-cold compress ready to apply to your dark undereye circles. This works because applying the cold metal helps constrict blood vessels and reduces swelling around the eyes.
- Apply slices of cucumber. There’s a reason this is a common spa treatment! Cucumbers have astringent properties that help shrink blood vessels, reduce puffiness, and reduce inflammation. Cut two thin slices, put one over each eye, lie back and relax for 15 minutes, and voila! You’re done.
- Use some dairy milk. If you’re looking for an easy at-home solution for dark circle, you can’t get much simpler than milk and some cotton balls. The lactic acid in milk has a lightening effect on our skin. So simply apply milk to the skin around your eyes using a cotton ball. Let it dry for 30 minutes, then gently rinse off with warm water.
- Prop your head up with extra pillows. No, not to put on your eyes, but to put on your bed. One way to prevent dark undereye circles is to prop your head up higher while you’re sleeping. Try switching to sleeping with two or more pillows. Your head will be more elevated while you snooze, which prevents as much liquid from pooling in your lower eyelids. The result is less puffiness!
Along with household under-eye circle remedies, you can also conceal and lighten dark under-eye circles with this product from Hyalogic.
Episilk Dark Circle Lightening Serum by Hyalogic
Episilk Dark Circle Lightening Serum from Hyalogic is a facial serum that seeks to support healthy aging and promote healthy-looking skin. Episilk Dark Circle Lightening Serum uses hyaluronic acid with a high molecular weight formula to support nourishing and hydrating skin while supporting healthy aging. This formula includes ReguAgea, a complex made from purified soy, rice peptides, and yeast protein to support skin tone and promote tissue health under the eyes. Another blend, Eyeseryl, includes ingredients that work to support skin elasticity and flexibility. This fragrance-free and paraben-free serum can be used along with any other skincare products.
What are your favorite common household ingredients that help you reduce or conceal dark undereye circles?