*Under the eyes - dark circles and eyebags!
I totalllllyyyyy understand how you girls feel. I hate dark circles and eyebags too.
...Because dark patches and puffy pouches under your eyes = SUPER UNATTRACTIVE!!!
I'm not being mean, I just thought emphasizing on how horrible it looks would motivate you girls (and guys out there) to do something about it :)
Your eyes are the windows to your soul, your eyes are the most important part of your face - without nice eyes, having good complexion or a sharp nose would be pretty much pointless.
Thankfully for me, I don't have very dark eye patches, neither do I have obvious eyebags.
Please don't ask me how I managed to be free from it, it's all about being dedicated from the very start. If you've been taking good care of your health and skin all the while, I don't see a good reason why you should be having major problems with your looks - unless you've inherited some bad genes.
Just like there's no point in stressing over how to turn fairer now when you were out there tanning in the past.. (because you probably have a horrible load of pigmentation that cannot be saved now)
I have received emails from girls asking me a bunch of random, (and some useless + stupid) "beauty questions" - it reallyyyy pisses me off..
It's not so much about what other people recommend, it's about finding out (by YOURSELFF) what actually works for you.
There would be so much more good looking girls around if they were dilligent in making themselves look presentable.
Honestly, I hate looking at really bad make up - the kind of girl who only knows how to apply lip gloss and eyeliner.
If you want to be pretty, then do everything you can about it! Don't half-fuck around man. It looks pathetic.
Random but important note: Girls, please please trim your eyebrows & draw them well, there's no point applying make up when you have horrible bushy eyebrows like that. Nice eyebrows say alot about a person..
Moving on,
There are many, many reasons that may cause eyebags and dark circles.
And even though everyone I know has been believing the bullshit that dark eye circles / eye bags are directly caused by the lack of sleep, it is actually not true.
So if you have bad problems with dark circles and eye bags and you're praying that sleep will cure them, well then keep praying.
Just because you only got 4 hours of sleep last night doesn't mean you've formed weird dark circles under your eyes during that short period of time.
The lack of sleep and any other form of fatigue only causes the skin to look more pale, thus the dark circles (that were originally there) would become more obvious.
Just like how stars are only visible at night - they were always there, just not that obvious.
So now you can go mock at your friends' stupidity, and pretend that you never believed dark circles and eyebags are caused by the lack of sleep.
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As we sleep, gravity causes fluid to collect under the eyes. That puffiness can create shadows, giving the impression of dark circles. Puffiness can also create those familiar under eye bags.
The very first step you should do is identify your problem (in this case, dark circles and eyebags) then find out what's causing it.
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#1) Nasal Congestion: The area under the eyes is the thinnest and most delicate skin on the face. It's webbed with tiny blood vessels, and anything that causes those blood vessels to dilate or get wider will make them show through the skin more.
One of the most common causes of under eye circles is nasal congestion, especially from allergies. (such as mild allergies to your dog's fur, your boyfriend's new cologne, etc.. Are you having an allergy that you aren't aware of?)
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#2) Heredity: When blood passes through the large veins close to the surface of the skin, it can produce a bluish tint. The more transparent the skin -- an inherited trait -- the darker the circles appear.
Some people are just more likely to develop dark circles or bags under their eyes. For a sneak peek of your future, check out your parents' faces.
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#3) Diet: Watch what you eat girls! A diet that isn't balanced, or one that is lacking iron or is too high in sodium will contribute to dark circles. (some girls may notice dark circles when having their period, due to the lack of iron)
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#4) Age: Under eye bags are the result of fat accumulating in the eye area and water retention. This can happen with age as the area around the eyeball weakens, and loses the elasticity. Age can also make skin thinner and less elastic. As you sleep, gravity causes fluid to collect in the lower eye lid.
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#5) Medical Conditions: Any medications that cause blood vessels to dilate can cause circles under the eyes to darken. Because the skin under the eyes is very delicate, any increased blood flow shows through the skin. Another cause of dark circles may be bad blood circulation.
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Those are the top 5 "causes" of dark circles and eye bags. Look through carefully & think hard which may be the ones affecting you!
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Basic Do's and Dont's:
- If you already have under eye circles, stay out of the sun. Sun exposure makes dark circles darker by bringing more pigment to the skin's surface.
- Don't rub your eyes, it just increases the intensity of the darkness under your eyes (not forgetting more fine lines as you grow older!)
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And I think this is the part most of you have been waiting for....
HOME REMEDIES!
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For most people, treating puffiness will significantly reduce the appearance of under eye bags. So what works?
A cold compress of any sort will help, but cucumber slices and cold tea bags may work especially well. Both contain natural compounds that help reduce puffiness.
Relax, and leave them on your eyes for 15-30mins. (So who said putting cucumber slices on your eyes looks stupid and is useless?!)
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Extra Pillows at night: Propping your head higher while you sleep will also reduce puffiness by encouraging fluids to drain away from the eye area.
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Cardio exercise increases blood circulation and may help the dark circles to disappear!
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Smoking and eating foods high in salt both increase fluid retention in the eye area. Following a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and not smoking can all reduce the risk of under eye bags. Remember to have sufficient iron~
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There are numerous products in the market that promise to make under eye bags and circles less visible. What works for one person may not work for someone else, so expect some trial-and-error to find a good product.
Dermatologists recommend looking for products that contain vitamin C, vitamin K, alpha hydroxy acids, or kinetin.
And that's the end of it!
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If all else fails, don't overlook the obvious: concealer, foundation, and lots of it!
It doesn't have to be expensive, Watsons sells Za Concealer (im using it) for only $13.90
The only "permanent" way to get rid of true under eye bags is a surgery called blepharoplasty, which removes the excess fat and skin. Dermatologists can also offer laser treatments or prescription creams.
"Whitening" of dark under eye circles does not work, so don't be fooled into buying those!
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Hope you girls will have prettier eyes from now on~~ ;)
After you've tried out the remedies I've recommended, do let me know if in the future it works for you okay!
xoxo,
Jess
