Goodbye Dark Circles - Jane’s Tips for Erasing Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes
Say Goodbye to Dark Circles & Puffy Eyes
At some point in our lives, most of us have looked in the mirror only to find those dreaded dark circles looming under our eyes. We’ve quickly dabbed on some concealer and gone about our day as normal. We’re here to tell you, you don’t have to just deal with dark circles and puffy eyes, we have solutions for you.
We often associate dark and puffy eyes with a lack of sleep, but did you know there are other causes?
Let’s talk about the various causes of those pesky dark circles, home remedies to help reduce the appearance under the eyes, and a few janegee products that can help erase pigmentation and reduce eye puffiness.
The Skin
If you were to touch the skin under your eye, you may notice it feels softer, more tender, and all around different than the skin on most other areas of your body. This is because the skin here is much thinner and therefore has less fat to conceal the tiny blood vessels. The blood vessels are more visible under this translucent skin, often appearing as dark circles.
Genetics
Dark circles can be hereditary or genetic. You may have been born with more melanin-pigmentation in your skin.
Lack of sleep
The most common assumption of the cause of dark circles and puffy eyes of lack of sleep. And that assumption is often correct. According to the CDC adults between the ages of 18-60 are recommended to get 7+ hours of sleep per night. I think it’s safe to say, life gets in the way and we don’t always clock that full 7 hours. Severe exhaustion or lack of sleep can cause the body excess stress. This high level of stress can cause your body to produce more cortisol in an effort to keep you awake and alert. By doing so the cortisol constricts blood vessels or dilates them making them bigger and more visible in the eye area. The average American gets only 6.8 hrs of sleep per night.
Allergens in the air
Allergies are a leading cause of inflammation and pigmentation around the eyes. When you have an allergic reaction your body releases histamines which also dilate the blood vessels. Depending on your allergies and the time of the year, you may notice more pronounced dark pigmentation under the eye area.
Age
We’re sorry to say this but with age, comes changes to your skin. Mature skin becomes thinner and as a result of that blood vessels appear giving the eye area a soft bruised look.
Vitamin Deficiency
Another cause of dark circles under the eyes can be a vitamin deficiency, specifically Vitamin D. It is always a good idea to have your vitamin levels checked annually to uncover any possible deficiencies, as they not only play a big role in your overall health but also a huge crucial role in the health of your skin.
Skincare Products
Be careful of the products you are using around your eyes. Many eye creams are too rich and can cause the eye area to puff and hold fluids. Find a product that is gentle and light enough to be used around the eyes.
Diet & Alcohol
The area around the eyes reflects the state of the kidneys according to the 5 Element Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine. What we put into our bodies has a large impact on the health of our skin. Too much alcohol can overload the kidneys and cause puffiness and water retention.
Additionally, Take a look at what you are eating daily. Too many rich meals heavy in fats, dairy, and salt can also cause fluid retention and lead to the appearance of puffy eyes.
Reducing Dark Circles and Inflammation
Hydrate
Cucumber Water
A few glasses of refreshing cucumber water could make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. The skin of a cucumber holds a key vitamin, crucial to reducing pigmentation around the eyes. Vitamin K treats blood coagulation, which helps reduce the purple bruising effect.
Parsley Tea
Remember, the eyes reflect the state of the kidneys. Your kidneys play an important role in removing excess waste, balancing electrolytes, and the production of hormones. Keeping these organs healthy affects your entire body. This is why we recommend parsley tea. It is a fantastic, natural, and tasty way to flush your kidneys. This can help to reduce fluid retention under your eyes.
Directions: It is as simple as steeping fresh or dried parsley in a cup of hot water. Sit back, relax, and enjoy some you-time over a cup of tea.
The Healing Powers of the Potato
Potatoes naturally contain many natural vitamins that are beneficial to the skin both when topically applied and when consumed.
Due to the skin-healing vitamins in potatoes, a potato compress is fabulous for relieving tired eyes, soothing, and reduces puffiness. Let’s dive into the vitamins you can absorb from Potatoes.
Vitamin K, also found in cucumber skin, treats blood coagulation, which helps reduce the purple bruising effect under your eyes.
B3 Niacinamide is also found in potatoes, if you are deficient in this vitamin the chances are you suffer from dark circles under your eyes. Consuming potatoes, rich in vitamins, or foods specifically high in B3 such as nutritional yeast can help you avoid the dreaded baggy eye look.
Niacin, known for its skin-brightening effect, is well known for treating those stubborn dark pigmented acne scars. This also plays a big role in reducing pigmentation.
How to Make a Potato Compress
Potatoes are rich in water and can stay cool for long periods of time. This is what helps the nutrients get absorbed into the skin. Additionally, the cold temperature of the potato compress works to constrict the blood vessels, lowering swelling and inflammation.
Option
You can also grate the potato to make the compress. Simply place the grated potato between two pieces of paper towel. Press and flatten the grated potatoes between the towel. Place on eyes for 20-30 minutes.
This quick and easy natural treatment is a great trick for anyone leading up to an important date. It refreshes and makes your eyes sparkle, reducing puffiness and dark circles. We always recommend this to our bridal clients!
janegee Product Solutions
It is so important to be conscious of what products you are putting on your skin, especially around the eyes. Making sure you have a product that is not too harsh, overly oily, or too rich is the key. When clients approach with the goal of reducing eye puffiness and dark circles, we typically recommend the following product
Our janegee Eye Oil uses a blend of botanical oils to protect, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin. Vitamin C, E, and Helichrysum essential oil make this product a powerhouse. Helichrysum is made from the tiny, everlasting daisy and is known to reduce the appearance of fine lines and puffiness.
Simply roll under the eye and pat around the area. The eyelid is sensitive, so make sure to be gentle!
Pure Brown Bladderwrack seaweed is known for its mineral, vitamin, and amino acid content hydrating, soothing, and calming the skin.
Apply across the eyelids and underneath the eye area. Cover with a damp tissue and leave on for 15-20 minutes. We don’t want the mask to dry and pull at the delicate skin around the eyes. We want the skin to absorb the minerals and help disperse excess fluids to reduce puffiness
Green Clay Mask will absorb and remove impurities from the skin, revealing its fresh surface and providing a healthy-looking glow. Apply the clay mask the same way as the Marine Mask, being cautious of keeping the mask damp to protect the delicate skin around the eyes.
Our janegee Elixir Corrective Serum is packed with Vitamin B niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Vitamin B communicates with pigment cells to reduce pigmentation, and similarly to Vitamin C, Vitamin B stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and aids in the reversal of sun damage.
And all it takes is one drop! Yes, use one drop of this delightful serum 1-2 times daily, under your moisturizer or face oil, and glide it across the skin's surface. It will penetrate the skin to heal, calm, strengthen and deeply hydrate.
So next time you look in the mirror and see dark puffy eyes looking back at you, know there are many solutions, both home remedies, and products, available at your fingertips! Aim to get that extra hour of sleep in, add vitamin-rich foods and teas to your diet, consider the healing powers of the potato, and take a look at your skincare products. And remember, healthy skin is beautiful skin.
