Lately, I have had more than usual trouble with under eye dark circles and I’m pretty sure the hollows are just due to my age.
- One of the first signs of fatigue or dehydration is dark circles that appear under the eyes.
- The under-eye skin is thin, with a membrane that runs between a fatty layer and the outer layer of skin we see.
- When your body needs water, it shows up around the eyes first.
- Drinking alcohol causes dehydration, as does over consumption of sugar and caffeine.
- Stress also causes under eye puffiness. Diet can impact your face too, especially if you have food allergies
and sulfites in wine can wreak havoc on the delicate skin around your eyes. - Bone structure: If you have deep-set eyes, shadowing contributes to the dark color under the eyes.
- HOLLOWS under the eye area – I have this and I have read that it is because your cheeks are sagging, so therefore your bones
there are more prominent and you end up with that ‘sunken’ look under your eyes. I have read about fat transfer. I have also read about Juvenderm
injections there to ‘fill’ the space. You will want to go to the websites listed below for more information on this!
As I have said repeatedly – you might be able to banish visable signs of aging and undereye circles from within by taking care of your health.
Below are some helpful things to do:
- Lie down, close your eyes and apply chilled cucumber slices, cooled chamomile tea bags or potato slices to your lids.
Leave on for ten minutes and remove. Wash the area with cold water. This soothes tired eyes instantly, and helps boost
blood circulation in the under-eye area. You can also use Cosmetic cotton squares soaked in milk or witch hazel. - Apply Vitamin E to the area under your eye. There are very inexpensive Vitamin E oils
at your local drugstore. Pat on gently. - Swallow a capsule of cod liver oil everyday. It strengthens eyes.
- Avoid stepping out in the sun, especially between noon to four, when the sun is at its strongest.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, and the delicate skin around it, from the harmful effects of UV radiation
- Take a teaspoon of tomato juice, a few drops of lemon juice, a pinch of turmeric powder and a little flour, enough to make a paste.
Apply this paste to the under-eye area, and wash off after fifteen minutes. - Potassium regulates the hydration in your cells:
- Foods high in potassium include: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Brazil Nuts, Brown Rice, Cantaloupe, Figs, Honeydew, Kiwi, Legumes, Lima beans,
Milk, Oranges, Orange Juice, Peaches, Potatoes, Prunes, Rasins, Roasted Peanuts with skin, Spinach, Squash, Vegetable Juices, Wheat Bread,
White Rice, Winter Squash, Yogurt, Artichoke, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Corn, Dates, Green Beans, Green Peppers, Iceberg lettuce,
Fish: Cod, flounder, sardines, salmon, poultry: chicken, turkey - Tomatoes, milk products, avocados, meats, potato, celery - - LOTS of foods contain this important ingredient and You should not have to supplement if your diet includes these whole foods with out the over processing.
Non-surgical options to eliminate puffy or dark undereye areas: Please note!! If you have chronic puffy eyes; it can be a symptom of thyroid issues.
You may have had this checked; but if the T3 and T4 both were not checked, you can not get a full picture; and it is possible that just a little nutritional help
or supplements recommended by an ND will get you back on track.
- Injections performed by cosmetic surgeons can fill the hollows, and need repeating every three or four months.
- Pigmentation. Genetic hyper-pigmentation is the most treatable form of dark circles. Your best bet:
Try a lightening cream or talk to a dermatologist about chemical peels or laser resurfacing.
Surgical Options
Called blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery can get rid of dark circles, puffy upper or lower eyelids and hollow, tired looking eyes for years to come.
If you go this route, make sure to find a specialist who has done thousands of eyelids, ask to see before and after pictures
and check with the local medical board to check the surgeon’s history with other patients.
These doctors are showcased in the summer/fall issue of 2009 New Beauty Magazine – go to their websites to read in depth about them. They have a passion about what they do;
they all give back to the community and their first thought is of their patient. No assembly line mentality.
Moisturizers and Camouflage
- The best beauty product for under eye circles is concealer, and most makeup artists agree that it’s important to use one with a slight golden color, as yellow tones counteract dark ones.
- Chamomile has long been known as a natural remedy for skin, and some concealers contain this ingredient which can help cure as it covers.
Concealer is great for dealing with dark circles as long as you get the right shade and apply it correctly. - Some women make the mistake of choosing a concealer that’s too light: then you wind up with reverse-raccoon eyes,
where the whiteness under your eyes looks strange and somewhat alien. The ideal concealer is usually a shade lighter than your foundation.
To some extent, the area under the eyes is somewhat shadier than the rest of your face because the eye sockets naturally are somewhat receded into the face. If your concealer is too light, your eyes will disappear in the glare.
Moisturizer also works well as a base for under eye makeup like concealer because it smoothes the skin and makes it easier to apply a tinted cosmetic.
HOWEVER – you need to use the right moisturizer underneath the delicate eye area because the pores are very small and it can plug them, causing other issues.
Eye Creams Specially Formulated for Hydrating the Eye Area
Eye Treatments for Crow’s Feet
Eye Treatments for Crepey Eyes and Firming
Dark Circle Eye Treatment, Chamomile Serums and Puffy Eyes Help Inexpensive treatment for under eye dark circles and puffiness.
Magnolia Fresh Eyes from MyChelle Dermaceutical - to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles without harsh chemicals or colorants or synthetic fragrances
EyeLash and EyeBrow Strengthening and Lilash/LiBrow – personally recommended
