HOW TO GET RID OF DARK CIRCLES & EYE BAGS

Dark circles are caused by the thin layer of skin below your eyes showing the blood vessels more clearly than the skin on other areas of your face. The skin around your eyelids, called ‘periorbital skin’, is on average only 0.5mm thick, while the skin on the rest of your body is on average 2mm thick.

Dark circles can also be caused by something known as ‘periorbital hyperpigmentation’. This is a condition that results in more melanin being produced by the skin below the eyes, making it appear darker.

WHAT CAUSES DARK CIRCLES?

Dark circles can be caused by genetics, but lifestyle factors like not drinking enough water throughout the day and late nights and early morning can also have an effect.

Here are a few common causes:

• Lack of sleep. It’s an obvious one, but late nights are a sure-fire way to wake up with tired-looking eyes.

• Dehydration. Your body retains water when it’s dehydrated, which can cause puffiness.

• Not protecting your skin from the sun. UVA/UVB rays can cause your skin tone to look dull and uneven and increase the appearance of dark circles.

• Your age. When we get older, it’s natural for skin to thin and lose its plumpness, which can make the skin around our eyes appear darker.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP PREVENT THE APPEARANCE OF

DARK CIRCLES?

Check out our skincare essentials for helping your gently reduce the appearance of dark circles:

1. Gently remove make-up. Our Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover is specially formulated for sensitive skin and leaves skin feeling softer and gently cleansed.

2. Apply an eye mask. Our Drops of Youth™ Bouncy Eye Mask has a bouncy texture that instantly cools the skin around your eyes, leaving eyes feeling refreshed and looking healthier.

3. Moisture daily. Try our refreshing Drops of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream or help reduce the appearance of dark circles with our Oils of Life™ Eye Cream Gel.

WHAT ARE EYE BAGS?

Eye bags are a mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes. As we age, the tissues around our eyes, including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids, can naturally weaken. Normal fat that helps support the eyes can move into the lower eyelids, causing them to appear puffy. Fluid can also accumulate in the area below the eyes, which can also cause eye bags.

WHAT CAUSES EYE BAGS?

Eye bags can be caused by genetics, but lifestyle factors play a role too. Here are a few common causes:

• Salty foods. Too much salt in our diets can cause the body to retain more fluid than usual, which can cause eye bags.

• Lack of sleep. It goes without saying that getting earlier nights whenever you can helps reduce the appearance of tired-looking skin.

• Allergies. If you suffer from allergies, your skin can retain more fluid than usual, which can build up in the area below your eyes.

• Smoking. Exposure to external aggressors like smoke can cause skin to look and feel less fresh and healthy.

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE EYE BAGS?

To help reduce the appearance of eye bags, check out our top tips and tricks below:

1. Cool down. Dampen a clean washcloth with cold water. Next, apply to the skin under and around your eyes for a few minutes using mild pressure. This will leave skin feeling cooled and refreshed.

2. Cut down on fluids before bedtime and reduce salt in your diet. This will reduce the fluid retention that can cause bags under the eyes.

3. Don't smoke. Smoking can leave skin looking less healthy and dull and increase the appearance of bags under your eyes.

4. Use tea bags as an eye mask. Soak two tea bags, chill them in the fridge and pop them over your eyes for five minutes. It sounds strange, but trust us! The tannins in tea bags are known to help soothe the skin around the eyes and reduce the appearance of puffiness and blood vessels.

5. Sleep with your head slightly raised. Use an extra pillow to prop your head up. This can help prevent fluid from accumulating around your eyes when you sleep.

There are some things we can do to help reduce the appearance of dark circles, including healthy lifestyle choices and finding your perfect skincare routine.

To help prevent the appearance of dark circles, check out our top tips and tricks below:

1. Be gentle. The skin around your eyes is delicate, so try to remove or apply make-up gently with products that care for your skin. Keep reading to find out about our must-have products to help you prevent and conceal dark circles.

2. Leave phones outside the bedroom. If you struggle falling asleep, get into the habit of cutting down your screen time before bedtime. Leave your phone outside the bedroom and invest in an alarm clock. Simple. It’s called ‘beauty sleep’ for a reason.

3. Stay hydrated. You need to drink at least 2 litres of water a day to keep your body working properly.

4. Eat well. Help improve your diet by cutting down on salt, sugar, fizzy drinks and, you guessed it, alcohol.