Dark circles are relatively common occurrences, but annoying for some people and even difficult to remove, but not impossible.
Dark circles do not represent anything serious on their own, they are simply the result of swelling of the tissue just under the eyes.
The causes of swelling can be multiple, among these we find an inadequate sleep schedule, fluid retention due to excessive salt consumption, sun exposure, and even occur during allergy episodes.
On the other hand, they can be completely natural and the result of family inheritance.
If you want to reduce the accentuation of these dark circles or eliminate them completely, here are nine different homemade alternatives:
1. Cucumber slices
Cucumber is a well-known homemade option to treat puffiness, bags or wrinkles on the skin around the eyes, and its preparation is quite simple.
The effectiveness of the vegetable lies in its water, vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content; responsible for the rejuvenating effect on the skin.
When applied to the skin in the form of slices, its components diffuse into the dermis. The liquid moisturizes the area, avoiding the formation of wrinkles or bags and gives the skin its own elasticity.
Contains vitamin C and protective acids (such as lactic acid) that have antioxidant properties that prevent the loss of our skin’s integrity.
The latter, lactic acid, also exerts a photoprotective function. That is, it increases the skin’s resistance to UV rays by stimulating its repair and the formation of new cell layers.
It also inhibits the synthesis of melanin in the applied area, avoiding the accentuation of dark circles caused by prolonged exposure to the sun.
To prepare it, place a cucumber in the refrigerator. It should be very cold, but not frozen. Take it out and wash it off, then cut it into slices and apply on your eyes.
As the slices come to room temperature, you should replace them with ones that are still cold. For them to take effect, you must do this for at least 15 minutes.
2. Chamomile tea
Tea is not only a delicious and healthy drink, but also a moisturizer for your skin.
The drink is rich in caffeine (even more than coffee) and antioxidants, such as flavonoids and tannins, which contain essential oils necessary for leather.
These reduce swelling and swelling of the skin, and its relaxing properties restore its elastic capacity to the skin, preventing its distension when fluids accumulate in it.
To use them, we recommend preparing a chamomile infusion and letting it cool. We take a portion or cotton disk large enough to cover our eyes and moisten in the infusion.
Then, apply the moistened cotton over your eyes and let it sit on your eyes for the whole night.
3. Cold spoon
Applying cold spoons is a recommended method, which is similar in effectiveness to using a cold compress.
The skin around our eyes is highly vascularized, that is, there are many small blood vessels. These can dilate and an accumulation of fluid occurs in the area, coming from the arteries.
Cold causes your body to constrict blood vessels in the area to prevent heat loss (this is the normal body response to cold). As the circulation is now diminished, the accumulated liquid decreases.
To apply this method, just place two spoons in the fridge or freezer long enough to chill.
Place them on the skin under your eyes and wait a few minutes. You will observe how the swelling of your skin has decreased considerably.
4.Aloe Vera
The gel extracted from the pulp of aloe vera has historically been used by many cultures as a natural medicine against burns, irritation, infections and even combat dark circles and puffiness.
It is rich in flavonoids, which act as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, and also glycosaminoglycans, which are a type of protein used by our skin to maintain its firmness.
Furthermore, given its consistency and chemical composition, it is very rarely an irritant. Moisturizes the skin, promotes skin repair, removes excess natural oils and gives the area a nice shine.
Its vitamins and minerals also spread to the dermis where it has been applied.
Select the most prominent leaf you can find, as it will have the greatest amount of pulp. Wash it, cut the outer surface to expose its interior.
You can keep the extracted gel inside a glass and refrigerate it for days.
To apply it, all you have to do is take a little and massage the skin around your eyes, slowly and scrutinizing each portion. Let the gel act for a few minutes and wash your skin well.
5. Tea bags
Applying compresses moistened with tea infusion is not the only way to use its benefits.
The tea bags can be used as cold compresses that act on the eyes to relieve dark circles or bags.
Its content and nutrients diffuse from its content to the dermis, allowing the greatest possible absorption. The cold will also help reduce swelling.
It is recommended to use green tea bags because it has a higher flavonoid content than black tea.
Prepare a tea as you normally would, but do not throw away the teabags. Take them to the refrigerator to cool enough (a couple of hours).
Apply the bags on your eyelids and let them act for around twenty minutes.
6. Potato wedges
The potato is a vegetable rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and many other benefits.
The high liquid content acts as a moisturizer and relaxer for the skin. The antioxidant effects protect the skin from free radicals, slowing down the aging of the skin that accentuates dark circles.
Its rich content of zinc, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and B6 are used by the cells of the dermis to maintain a constant state of turnover, where dead cells are replaced by new ones.
Finally, they help reduce hyperpigmentation that certain people suffer from in the skin around the eyes.
To prepare them, take a potato and wash it. Then, remove its surface and cut it into thick slices.
Then, place the slices on your eyelids. Let them rest for at least twenty minutes.
7. Almond oil
Almond oil is part of the so-called essential oils. It is these same oils secreted by the pores of our skin to constantly lubricate our skin.
It is rich in unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which help the skin synthesize omega-3. These trap and eliminate free radicals that damage and age the skin.
It is also rich in vitamin A, which stimulates the production of new skin cells, and vitamin E, which mitigates the damage caused by the sun’s UV rays.
Finally, it is also an excellent option to give your skin back that complexion and luster that it may have lost due to environmental factors.
Before going to sleep, apply some almond oil to your hands and massage into the skin in circular motions. Let the oil sit overnight on your dark circles.
8. Wet towel
The use of cold compresses relieves the physical signs of dark circles or bags due to contraction of the small blood vessels of your eyelids and the skin under your eyes.
Select a wet wipe of your choice and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
In the next morning, you should extract it and apply it on your eyelids for 5-10 minutes. If you wish, you can moisten the towel with an infusion of chamomile to enhance the effect.
9. Cold milk
We discussed earlier how certain types of acids, such as lactic acid (rich in alpha hydroxy acids) are beneficial for the skin.
Milk contains a certain amount of lactic acid, so it can also be used as an exfoliant and rejuvenator.
Its mineral and vitamin content is absorbed by the skin, as well as its amino acids. This helps build proteins, such as collagen and proteoglycans, which keep your skin healthy.
Also, by applying cold milk, you reduce swelling and swelling of the skin.
Refrigerate the drink long enough for it to be cold. Take two cotton discs and you must moisten them in cold milk. Remove excess liquid and apply to your eyelids.
Keep the cotton pads against your eyelids until they reach room temperature. Then, repeat the procedure three to four times with a new pair of cold cotton balls.
How to prevent dark circles
In addition to the aforementioned treatments, we recommend applying other changes in your life, in a general way, to reduce the presence of dark circles or bags.
1. Improve the quality of your sleep
Dark circles are a very common sign of exhaustion, which occurs after little sleep. Select a healthier bedtime that fits your lifestyle.
2. Make-up remover
Although makeup itself is not harmful to your skin, leaving it on your skin for long hours can cause dark circles to appear or even dryness. When you get home, we recommend removing makeup from your face, especially before bed.
3. Moderate your salt intake
Sodium chloride has a powerful effect on the hydration of your body. By consuming large concentrations of it, your body retains the liquid. That increase in retained fluid can be deposited on the skin under your eyes.
4. Improve your diet
A diet high in processed sugars and saturated fats favors the storage of fats in different parts of your body. Between these, under your eyelids. It seeks to reduce the consumption of foods that do not provide benefits.
5. Drink water
Staying hydrated is key to keeping your overall condition in top condition. If you consume little liquid, your body will decrease the amount of sodium and water that you expel in your urine. This fluid retention favors dark circles.
6. Protect your skin from the sun
The sun’s UV rays are seriously harmful to the general condition of your skin. In those most susceptible, this leads to hyperpigmentation of the area around your eyes and the appearance of dark circles and/or bags.
7. Exercise is essential
Introducing more hours of physical activity in your life favors the general state of your body. That, indirectly, improves the condition of your skin.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.