Tips against dark circles
Where I used to be able to leave the house effortlessly after three hours of sleep, since I passed thirty I at least need a dab of concealer to apply. Stress, too little sleep, colds, allergies, and greasy food are culprits for dark circles and bags under your eyes. All nice and well, but what can you do to prevent this misery?
1. Sleep
Make sure you get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. We know that lack of sleep causes bags, but being outside also significantly weakens your immune system.
2. Tea bags
Are you, like me, a huge tea lover? Then recycle your bag after you've made your cup. Store them in the fridge and place them under your eyes for ten minutes in the morning. The cold from the bag and the theine stimulate blood flow in the vessels under your eyes. The tannins in tea will help reduce swelling and discoloration under your eyes. Especially black tea and chamomile tea work well.
3. Water
Dehydration causes the blood vessels under your eyes to enlarge and swell, resulting in dark circles. So always make sure to drink a few liters of water daily.
4. Protect yourself from the sun
Even if you can handle the sun well, always apply sunscreen, especially on the sensitive skin under your eyes. If you wear foundation, make sure it has a minimum SPF of 25. And yes, a fancy pair of sunglasses can never hurt.
5. Vitamin C
To avoid dark circles and bags, it's best to buy a moisturizing cream that contains vitamin C and antioxidants. Dab the cream under your eyes with your fingertips and let it slowly absorb before applying another cream or foundation.
6. Free breathing
It's that season of runny noses and sneezing fits again. A stuffy nose means an abundance in your sinuses, but also in the area under your eyes. A nasal spray or rinsing your sinuses with salt water is the best solution. But unfortunately not the most pleasant...
7. Sleep on your back
I am really a stomach and side sleeper, and that's unfortunately not good for a smooth face. Sleeping on your side or stomach causes fluid to accumulate faster. When you sleep on your back, the fluid will be distributed instead of pooling in one place.
8. Quit smoking
Smoking is not only very bad for your health, but did you know that smoking causes problems with your blood vessels, making them more visible on the surface of your skin? As I mentioned earlier, the skin under your eyes is very thin, which makes the vessels show even faster.
9. Potatoes
You probably already knew that cucumber has a cooling effect. But what you might not be familiar with is the healing properties of the potato. Cut two thin slices of potato and place them under your eyes for at least fifteen minutes. The enzymes help lighten your skin and remove waste from it.
10. Hydrating eye cream
A good hydrating eye cream is essential as you approach thirty (or have already passed that miserable number). Because the skin around your eyes is so thin and contains fewer sebaceous glands, it's important to keep the area around your eyes hydrated.
11. Foods high in potassium
Healthy foods rich in potassium are important if you often suffer from fatigue around your eyes. So peel an apple more often, snack on a handful of unsalted nuts, or bite into a tomato.
