The eyes are the window to the soul, such a common metaphor because we express so much with our eyes; feelings, emotions and thoughts. The eyes can tell us a lot about a person therefore our job is to look after them.
The eye area is actually complex because we may have just one specific concern like dark circles or redness under the eye, puffiness or fine lines, sagging of the upper lid or underneath the eye and fluid pockets or we may have a combination. As we age gracefully, more often than not, we develop a combination of concerns. The skin under our eyes is very thin and therefore tends to show signs of aging sooner. How many times have you felt on top of the world and then someone turns round and says “Wow you look tired!” It has happened to the best of us, I am sure. So let’s see what we can do about it.
Today, I’m targeting dark circles and how to combat them but over the coming weeks, I will look at other eye area concerns so we cover all bases.
Dark circles can be hereditary or the result of blood vessels under the surface. Certain products can help but if they are hereditary, nothing can get rid of them permanently and completely. A lack of sleep and having an excess amount of salt in your diet can make them worse.
Tips for combating those dark under eye circles:
- Get plenty of sleep – I know this can be easier said than done but try adding into your routine a power nap in the afternoon if you are not getting enough sleep in the evening. It will make a difference.
- Wear sunscreen under the eye – you can get sun damage and pigmentation under the eye which will make any darkness tendency under the eye 10-times worse. The Ultrasun SPF30+ eye cream is fantastic and really protects the eye area.
- Reduce your alcohol and salt intake – dehydration makes dark circles look worse so reduce your intake and up your water consumption.
- Take an antihistamine if summer allergies are affecting your eyes – there are certain times during the summer that my eyes get dry and itchy because I have a pollen/plant allergy. This can make under eye circles even more prominent. Take an antihistamine for a few days as and when it hits.
- Check your iron levels – pale skin with darkness under the eyes can be a sign of anemia. If you are feeling more tired than usual, go to your doctor and get this checked.
- Use the right eye serum, eye creams and keep them in the fridge – there are certain moisturisers which say you can use them under the eye and if you use the original Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream for example, you can at a younger age use it around the eyes. Once you enter your 30s and/or start having eye concerns, it is really important that you use a separate area specific treatment product in order to see a better result.
- Use an eye gel mask and keep it in the fridge – a mask of any kind is a treatment and they treat specific concerns. If dark circles are a concern, it is an important product to add to your routine. You can freeze teabags or spoons to help minimize the dark circles as an option. A lot of brands now have eye strips which are in sealed sachets. Similar looking to a sheet mask but these are for the eye area and cut for the eye area. Once per week, take 10 to 20 minutes for yourself, apply your eye mask or eye sheets and relax. These are also great eye brighteners for all those Christmas parties on the horizon. For more information, see my video below.
In the Amazon links below, I have recommended brands which I have tried and tested in terms of eye serums, creams and masks. If you are unsure about what to try, please get in touch.
Have a fabulous week!
Shirt: Osé Boutique
