No matter your daughter's age or how much sleep she gets each night, she can still get dark circles under her eyes. Dark blood vessels cause these undereye circles, and dermatologist Ranella Hirsch notes that this condition is genetic. Blood pooling beneath the eyes creates circles with a bluish tone, but yellow or brown circles result from a buildup of melanin, which can be caused by excessive sun exposure. While nothing can rid your daughter of her dark circles permanently, you can help her reduce their appearance with the right products and application.
Step 1
Have your daughter sleep with her head propped up on an extra pillow. This will help keep excess fluid from pooling under her eyes, which can lead to puffiness in the morning and make dark circles look worse.
Step 2
In the morning, place cold, steeped black tea bags on your daughter's closed eyelids, and have her leave them on for a few minutes, says Dr. Francesca Fusco. She notes that black tea contains tannin, which will help to constrict the swollen blood vessels that cause undereye circles.
Step 3
Have your daughter wash and dry her face, and then help her apply a brightening eye cream that contains light-diffusing ingredients. "Allure" suggests Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Under-Eye Brightening Cream, which promises to reduce the appearance of dark circles and moisturize the undereye skin. This product also claims to brighten dark circles upon application and to lessen their appearance every time you apply it. Use a finger to dab the cream under and around your daughter's eyes and gently rub it in.
Step 4
Apply foundation or concealer to hide your daughter's dark circles. Makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua suggests using a brightening foundation that matches your child's skin tone. A lighter color will only draw more attention to the area.
"Cosmopolitan" recommends Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation. This product contains Mica crystals to reflect light and help camouflage imperfections. Use your finger or a small brush to dot the makeup under her eyes, and then blend it in. Repeat this step until you achieve the desired coverage. Keep the foundation in place by dusting your daughter's closed eyes with a loose powder.
Tips and Warnings
- Have your daughter wear sunglasses whenever she is outside to protect her delicate undereye skin from UV rays. This will also help prevent the buildup of melanin that can lead to dark circles or make them worse. Allow the eye cream to absorb into your daughter's skin for 10 minutes before applying concealer or foundation. This will prevent her makeup from creasing.
Things You'll Need
- Pillow
- Black tea bags
- Brightening eye cream
- Brightening foundation
- Loose powder
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