Learn about what causes dark circles and under-eye bags and how to reduce them
By Carla Snuggs
Two issues that plague many women are bags or puffiness under the eyes and dark circles. Both can make you look tired and age you significantly. Posh Beauty Blog has your back. Keep reading for the causes and solutions for dark circles and puffy eyes.
Dark Circles
So, what causes dark circles and how can we treat them? Grace Gutierrez, an esthetician and founder of True Grace Skin Care in Newport Beach, California says, “Dark circles can have different sources, but the most common ones are for lack of sleep or poor diet.”
“The quickest tip (and less messy) is to make a strong black tea (be sure it has caffeine) and leave it in the refrigerator to get a cold tea. Make compresses with cotton pads and apply on your eyes for 10 minutes (you can use the tea bags as well). The caffeine will help with circulation and inflammation in the area that makes the small blood capillaries show through the skin giving the skin that bluish color. I always have these pads ready in my studio for my facials,” says Guitierrez.
“Another tip: If you have time, process one peeled cucumber, and apply on your eyes over thin gauze as a mask for 10 minutes. The anti-inflammatory properties of the cucumber work great for dark circles. Choose an eye cream with some of these ingredients to help every day with dark circles: stem cells, Vitamin K, and cooper. I love to keep some of my eye products in the refrigerator, since the will work faster, especially in the morning.” True Grace skincare product line includes a Cellular Eye Cream created with the latest stem cell technology.
Under-Eye Bags
So what about those pesky under eye bags? Tsippora Shainhouse MD, FAAD. board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills and a clinical instructor at the University of Southern California, says there are 3 main causes of under-eye bags:
1. Hereditary - You have had this since you were a kid and so do your family members
2. Vascular congestion - the blue vessels under the thin eye skin are enlarged, swollen. This is common is people with allergies.
3. Loss of the under-eye fat pad, the natural fat that sits under the thin eye skin. We lose our facial fat as we age, and the fat separates into islands that can leave an obvious crease under the eye.
With that in mind, Posh Beauty Blog has rounded up some effective treatments for dark circles and under-eye bags for a variety of budgets.
The Trufora Perfecting Eye Treatment
Trufora, one of my fave vegan and cruelty-free brands has an amazing eye treatment - Trufora's Perfecting Eye Treatment. It has a hydrating cream base that is great for the delicate eye area and addresses the specific issues and signs of aging that are unique to the eye area: dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, loss of hydration and firmness. The metal tip applicator is designed to simplify application to the eye area and immediately brighten the skin.
Orogold 24K Dark Cricle Eye Solution
OROGOLD’s 24K Dark Circle Eye Solution is formulated using Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Gold to brighten the look of dark under eye circles. The light solution absorbs quickly and hydrates delicate skin around the eye area. You can purchase it on it's own or in the OROGOLD 24K Exclusive Eye Kit. Truly worth every penny of the splurge.
Le Mieux TGF-B Eye Firming Mask
Le Mieux TGF-B Eye Firming Mask is one of my fave self-care day treatments. This cooling eye-mask erases the appearance of expression lines, dark circles and puffiness. The micro-delivery system energizes and soothes the eye area while stimulating collagen and elastin production. This anti-aging formulation includes Hyaluronic Acid, three unique peptides, Lavender Hydrosol, Red Algae Extract and Marine Collagen ($15 at Myskincarebox.com).
EmerginC Eye Light Serum
If you're looking for one product to handle multiple anti-aging concerns, try EmerginC Eye Light Serum. An active roll-on serum, this formulation is designed to combat the signs of aging, puffiness and dark under-eyes circles as well as brighten. This luxurious serum includes super-Antioxidant Astaxanthin, Grape Stem Cells, Seaweed, Kombucha, Green and White Teas, Yerba Mate, Pine Bark, Hyaluronic Acid and Mallow. Purchase: EmerginC.com
Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment
Murad has outdone itself with this treatment. When I used Murad Professional Eye Lift Firming Treatment 2 to 3 times per week, I noticed a huge reduction in under eye puffiness and fine lines. This professional-strength treatment infuses the delicate eye area with exclusive, proprietary surface-filling and firming technologies that instantly lift, firm and visibly reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. 86% of users noticed a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in one week. To use simply apply a layer of the product to a clean under-eye area then apply pad under each eye and press lightly. Lift off eye pads after 15 minutes and gently pat in any excess product.
Mad Hippie Eye Cream
If you haven't tried any of the Mad Hippie products, don't walk – run to your nearest Walgreens. Mad Hippie has some of the most affordable and effective natural skincare products around. That said, Mad Hippie Eye Cream makes the list; with over 16 actives, this eye cream is rich and conditioning and liberates skin from wrinkles and discoloration, revealing younger looking eyes. Mad Hippie eye cream is formulated with Eyeliss and Regu-age (peptide formulas that reduces the appearance of dark circles and puffiness under the eyes), Matrixyl 3000, Chamomile Extract, Pomegranate, White Tea Vitamin C and Argan Oil. Purchase: Madhippie.com
Radical Skincare Eye Revive
I love using Radical Skincare Eye Revive during my night time skincare routine. It keeps the skin around my eyes super hydrated and I wake up with much less puffiness. Eye Revive contains effective ingredients like Apple Stem Cell, Malachite, Green Coffee extract.
Green Coffee and Grape Seed Extract serve as strong antioxidants. Green coffee is also a form of caffeine that tightens the eye area
Malakite, a stone extract, provides strong antioxidant and detoxifying benefits and serves as a general skin protector.
Hyaluronic Acid provides a unique delivery system for hydration with five times the water transport capacity of hyaluronic acid
Oat Protein Extract helps increase skin hydration while reducing both roughness and wrinkles
Cucumber oil: Cools the skin, helps with inflammation and dark circles
Eye Revive also incldues rare Swiss Apple Stem Cell, gatuline, shea butter, jojoba and licorice to hydrate and regenerate skin cells to reveal youthful skin.
Karin Herzog Oxygen Hyalu Lift
Diminish the signs of aging like dark circles and under-eye bags with this triple threat: active oxygen, hyaluronic acid and retinol. Upon contact with skin, a micro-massage effect flushes out debris and toxins, allowing nutrients to efficiently be absorbed through the capillary walls. This boosts skin’s ability to hydrate and nourish, accelerate cell regeneration and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You don't massage it in, you simply apply a thin layer. This fluid anti-wrinkle cream has a high penetrative power and will be absorbed rapidly. Purchase: Karinherzog.com
Disclosure: Press samples were provided by some of the brands/PR for editorial consideration, product testing, photography and honest review.
Images courtesy of Virtualclinic365.blogspot.com and Beauty.au
How do you treat your dark circles and under-eye bags? Leave your comments below!
