Those who suffer from dark under-eye circles already know what a pain they can be. No amount of concealer (or even sleep!) seems to help the dark color disappear. Because as it turns out, these circles don't actually show up because of a lack of rest... Let's go over the root problem and see which natural remedies will finally eliminate dark circles once and for all.
Forget everything you've been told about under-eye bags because they aren't caused by too little sleep. The reason the dark color is so obvious in that spot is because the under-eye area skin is way thinner than the rest of the skin on our face, making the blood vessels more prominent. Many of us are genetically predisposed to having extra thin skin under the eye, but there can also be environmental factors that influence the thickness of the area. Allergies, sinus problems, or smoking can all impact the amount of blood circulation. Also, as we age, the elasticity in the skin is lost, which again, makes the blood vessels more visible to the naked eye.
Now that we know what truly causes under-eye bags, how can we get rid of them? Unfortunately having deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can make eye bags worse since a lack of them causes fewer amounts of oxygen to be brought to the body tissues, and in turn, this causes bluish veins to be more distinguished. Two of the most important vitamins needed to combat this are iron and vitamins K and B12. An easy way to ensure you get them in is to eat a balanced diet filled with anti-inflammatory and whole foods.
A topical remedy for dark circles is sweet almond oil since it contains vitamin A, an antioxidant that's known for reducing the appearance of under-eye circles. And since this vitamin is also anti-inflammatory it moisturizes and softens the delicate skin. What a win-win! Another remedy that can easily be done at home is using tea bags since the caffeine in the tea restricts blood vessels, making them less visible. It's also noteworthy to add that there are antioxidants and tannins that calm the skin down. First place the bag in boiling water to steep for a few minutes before putting it in the fridge for 20 minutes to cool down. Finally, place the tea bag on top of your eyes for 15-20 minutes. For both a quick and long-term fix invest in a gua sha tool to massage the under-eye area with the almond oil (very carefully)! The Chinese medicine technique can reduce puffiness, aid in detoxification, and can even reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles. You'll thank us later.