Are dark under eye circles or puffy eyes destroying your confidence? Have you ever applied your concealer so thick that your friends started calling you “raccoon eyes”? Have your eyes ever looked so puffy that your co-workers ever accused you of pulling an all-nighter or thought you just watched The Notebook and cried your heart out?
How to Get Rid of Dark Circles Under Eyes (BEST Remedies)
Puffiness and dark circles under eyes are the result of a number of potential things that can happen in the body. I personally like to suggest a more holistic approach. Meaning, let’s not just look at the surface, let’s not just cover it up. Instead, let’s address the cause of the problem. Even the best eye cream for dark circles and puffiness isn’t going to solve the issue from the root.
What causes dark circles under your eyes?
The reason why some people are prone to having dark circles under eyes is that the skin around the eyes is very sensitive, thin, and full of blood vessels. Black circles under eyes can be triggered by a number of things, including physical and emotional stress, smoking, or excessive alcohol consumption.
I can already hear some of you saying, “But I don’t smoke and I don’t drink that much.” Well, for others, circles under eyes are a symptom of a skin condition, such as eczema or atopic dermatitis. Other common causes of dark eye circles can include loss of sleep, dehydration, allergies, gluten intolerance, and even a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
What causes puffy eyes?
Under eye puffiness is common when you age, but it can happen prematurely for a variety of reasons. One of the young ladies in my research department once told me that her puffy eyes made her feel decades older than she really was.
Puffy eyes can be caused by hormone changes, stress, allergies, and water retention – especially after we sleep. Luckily, an effective puffy eyes remedy can be made in the comfort and convenience of your own home.
Home remedies for puffy eyes and dark under eye circles
Drink lots of water
A common contributor to both dark circles under eyes and under eye puffiness is dehydration. Water not only keeps you hydrated, but it also helps your body detox and flush out toxins.
But notice, I said to drink lots of water! Soda and other beverages will not help get rid of puffy eyes or dark eye circles because they don’t provide the same type of hydration as water. So, make sure to include several bottles of water in your daily diet. Drinking water has many other health and skin benefits as well.
Make sure you get enough sleep
To reduce the appearance of dark or puffy under eyes, try slowly adjusting your schedule so you can get a good eight hours of rest. This is the time that collagen is rebuilt in the body. Your body cannot repair itself properly (and help get rid of puffy eyes or dark eye circles) if you do not get enough sleep.
Watch your intake of vitamins and minerals
Did you know that your diet may play a huge role in the appearance of your eyes? Too much sodium in your diet can cause under eye puffiness, so try to limit the salt in your meals.
Puffy eyes and dark eye circles can be caused due to a lack of vitamin B12, which is anemia related. Also note that vitamin K, folic acid, and vitamin B6 must be included in your multi-vitamin. If you are going through extreme stress, you may want to consider regular vitamin B injections for quick absorption to prevent puffiness and dark circles under eyes. This is the first vitamin to be depleted in your body while going through stressful moments.
Research the best eye cream for dark circles and puffiness under your eyes
Basic eye creams will help fight wrinkles, but new technology takes these creams to a whole new level, delivering multi-effects to help increase circulation, reduce skin stress, and deliver nutrients that can lessen dark circles.
If you suffer from puffy eyes but not dark circles under eyes, I suggest looking for a light eye gel instead of a heavy puffy eyes cream that can weigh the eyes down. Look for one that can help balance the moisture level and reduce puffiness. For dark eye circles, use a dark circle eye cream to target problem areas at night. For more serious cases, look for a multi-effects product that addresses all your needs and apply it twice each day.
Try this DIY skin care regiment for puffy eyes
Cold water is more effective than hot water in reducing the appearance of under eye puffiness, so always be sure to cleanse your face with cool water.
There are a few useful home remedies for puffy eyes that will prevent and get rid of swelling under the eye. Take a cucumber from the refrigerator and cut off a few thin slices, placing them on under puffy eyes for a couple minutes. Damp tea bags chilled in the refrigerator are another great compress for puffy under eyes — simply apply them over your eyes for a few minutes a couple times a week.
Get rid of puffy eyes and dark eye circles for good!
You are beautiful. Don’t let a little concern such as puffy eyes or dark under eye circles distract from your beauty! With these few simple steps, you can look your best every day!
Self tanners are probably one of the most beloved (and most abused) products in beauty. As a beauty expert, people are always asking me, “What’s the best self tanner around, and are there any self tanners that don’t streak?”
How to Properly Apply Your Favorite Self Tanner (BEST Self Tanning Tips!)
The reality is, it may not be your self tanner that is the problem. Don’t worry; I am going to share with you how the professionals do it.
Why do self tanners tan so unevenly?
Learning how to keep self tanner from streaking is essential to having a smooth, even, natural-looking tan. Self tanners react with the proteins in your skin to provide a healthy tone on the surface. This means your body’s normal function of shedding dead skin cells becomes totally counterproductive, creating uneven coloring and shortening the time between applications.
The best way to apply self tanning lotion is starting on clean, moisturized skin. Before applying self tanner, make sure to shower, shave and then use a large grain body exfoliator to scrub away all the dead skin cells. Pay special attention to any dry, rough skin areas – like elbows, heels, and knees, etc.
How to apply self tanning lotion — the right way
Choose self tanning products that is closer to your skin tone, not the final color you desire. A lot of women want to choose a color that is too dark, but that causes the tanner to streak more easily and make it obvious when you miss a spot.
Before applying self tanner, rub a light moisturizer on your elbows, knees, heels, tops of your feet and backs of your hands at least ten minutes before applying the self tanner. Dry, rough skin will absorb more of the self tanner and create darker, uneven areas.
Anyone who has experience knows that to remove self tanner from hands can be frustrating and time consuming. So when applying self tanner, always use latex gloves to protect your hands. Start at your ankles and work your way up one leg at a time, using small circular motions. When done, remove the gloves. Use a makeup sponge to blend over the tops of your feet and backs of your hands.
Wait several hours for the self tanner to develop, then you can apply again or even the next day to help deepen your tan. Also, if you miss a spot, the second application will help overcome any mistakes. Once you have a base self-tan, you can always choose a darker shade – but don’t do it too fast. You want your tan to look natural and even.
Apply a light weight moisturizer every morning and again at night to help extend the length of your tan. Do not use an exfoliator again until you are ready to re-start the cycle. Also, please be aware that a self tanner can look natural, but it is not a base tan. If going out in the sun, make sure to wear appropriate SPF protection.
Use these easy self tanning tips to revive your beautiful, natural glow!
With these simple self spray tan tips, you will be turning heads and making everyone jealous! You go, girl!
Yup, you heard me right — an oil-based natural skin care product that is completely oil-free. And it’s about time. Everyone’s looking for a face moisturizer that will keep skin hydrated all day without being greasy or clogging pores. On the other hand, there are plenty of skin care products that claim to moisturize but leave your skin dried out after just a few hours.
The BEST Moisturizer for Oily Skin and Open Pores (And It’s NATURAL!)
Squalane oil is a natural oil product that works incredibly on skin. It has a complicated history within the beauty market, which is probably why squalane skin care hasn’t kicked every other moisturizing product out the market. But now it’s looking to be a multi-million dollar industry — it works that well!
What is Squalane?
Squalane is a lipid found naturally in both plant and animal fats. In the past, most squalane oil came from extracting squalene (not the same substance as squalane) from shark liver fat and hydrogenating it to produce squalane. (We’ll talk more about the importance of the hydrogenation process in a bit.) Using shark fat was the most cost effective way of producing it. But now the particular species of shark used to make squalane is in danger of being hunted to the point of extinction.
Squalane from plant-based products, like olive oil or coconut oil, work just as well on our skin — but they’re a lot more expensive to manufacture than shark oil. However, a recent breakthrough in the beauty industry offers the possibility of created sugar-based squalane as a renewable alternative.
What Sets Squalane Apart
There’s a reason why so many of even the best skin care products do a mediocre job of moisturizing our skin. Most skin hydrating oils on the market are based in polyunsaturated oils. Unsaturated oils have at least one double bond within their fatty acid chains — and the more double bonds within a fatty acid chain, the less stable the compound will be. Polyunsaturated oils have several double bonds, which makes them even more unstable.
So what does that mean when it comes to skin care? Products that contain polyunsaturated oil will go rancid when exposed to heat — so they’re actually making your skin age more quickly by oxidizing on your face! Polyunsaturated fats can even cause skin cell damage when exposed to UV rays.
Unlike most other beauty products, squalane is a saturated fat. Saturated fats have no double bonds within their fatty acids — only single bonds. This makes saturated fats like squalane much more stable and safe to use than unsaturated fats, like squalene. Squalene does not work as well as a skin care product, so it will sometimes undergo the hydrogenation process to convert it to squalane.
Benefits of Squalane
If you’re looking for natural skin care that is gentle, non-greasy and leaves you moisturized all day, look no further than squalane. As soon as you apply a bit of it to your skin, you’ll feel the difference right away. This light oil seeps into your skin without clogging your pores. You won’t believe how soft and moisturized your skin will feel all day.
With squalane, you don’t have to worry if you’re using the best moisturizer for your skin type. Squalane oil is suitable for all skin types — it won’t dry out oily skin or make dry skin greasy. Because it is indeed an oil, some people are turned off by it immediately, thinking that if they use squalane, acne will be the outcome. In fact, squalane can help slow down overactive oil glands. And for those with dry, cracked skin, squalane has incredible soothing properties. This makes squalane perfect for those suffering from psoriasis or eczema.
Not Just a Trend
Squalane skin care is definitely a hot topic in the beauty industry right now. But unlike a lot of beauty products that come and go, squalane has been around for a long time. It’s just that so many people are miseducated about it (like using harsh squalene products instead of squalane) that it sometimes gets a bad rap. The better we’re able to harness a renewable resource for it, the more accessible it will be.
No matter how you look at it, squalane is here to stay.
Summer Skincare Essentials for Back to School!
Let’s face it – not all of us take care of skin in the summer, especially when it’s such a busy time for most women. The kids go back to school. Extracurricular activities start again. And after a lazy summer, life seems to become about getting this child here and that child there. It becomes so easy to be tempted to skimp on yourself, including your summer skin care routine – all for the sake of time.
Skin care in summer sometimes has to take a backseat, but back to school time for the kids should be a back to school time for your skin. I want to share with you a few skin care tips for the summer so you can repair sun damaged skin as well as how to prepare your skin for the upcoming dry winter months.
Repair Sun Damaged Skin with This Summer Skincare Routine
Reverse damage from the summer sun by regularly exfoliating with a natural exfoliator, such as dark brown sugar, oatmeal, nut powder, or brown rice powder. To start, try this all-natural, organic summer skin care recipe:
Honey and Almond Facial Scrub
- 4 Tablespoons almonds
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 1 ½ Tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons honey
To make this organic summer skincare product, grind the almonds into coarse crumbs or powder with a blender or food processor. Mix well and apply to face. After a few minutes, rinse gently with warm water. Finish this summer skincare routine by moisturizing with your favorite moisturizer.
My favorite moisturizers for skin care in the summer are those that contain high levels of Hyaluronate (or Hyaluronic Acid). This is a natural hydrating ingredient that draws moisture from the air and binds it to skin cells. Even if you need oily skin care for the summer, you want to avoid products that contain too much water because it may actually prevent skin repair.
