Dark circles under the eyes come from two sources. Blood vessels can sometimes be seen through the thin skin under the eyes, appearing as dark circles, especially as your skin thins with age. Another reason the skin under the eyes may look dark is from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This refers to brown pigments collected under the eyes that may be hereditary. Rubbing your eyes because of allergies or irritation from contact lenses may also lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. There isn't much you can do about hereditary brown pigmentation, but using eye cream, getting enough sleep and using home remedies can clear up dark circles.
Step 1
Make a paste consisting of orange-lentil flour, lemon juice, tomato purée and turmeric powder. Mix the ingredients until you get a consistency similar to a face mask. Apply the paste to the dark area under your eyes. Use the tip of your ring finger to apply the paste, beginning at the inner corner of your eye and gently dabbing the paste to the outside of the eye. Do not pull at the delicate under-eye skin as you apply the paste, or you may irritate the skin and increase the dark circles. Wash the paste off after 15 minutes.
Step 2
Make a home remedy with cucumber juice to apply to your dark circles. Grate cucumbers so you can juice them. Collect the juice in a small bowl. Dip two cotton balls into the juice. Apply the cotton balls to the skin under your eyes. Lie down if you wish and let the cotton balls sit on your skin. Dr. Savitha Suri, a practitioner of Ayurveda, says that this is the best remedy to clear up dark circles.
Step 3
Apply a nightly eye cream after you wash your face. Use an eye cream with botanical lighteners to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Lighteners (like kojic acid and licorice) are particularly effective against post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Heidi Waldorf, M.D., a New York City dermatologist, says that eye cream will thicken the otherwise thin skin that shows the blood vessels under the eyes. Try Cosmedicine Eye Specialist Essential Moisture Treatment and Bioré Daily Recharging Enliven Cooling Eye Gel.
Step 4
Go to bed at the same time every night. Sleep seven to eight hours each night, as recommended by Dr. Suri to clear up dark circles.
Tips and Warnings
- Concealer under the eyes can hide dark circles, according to a "Real Simple" magazine article “How To: Conceal Under Eye Circles.” Foundation should not be used, because it can dry out the skin around the eyes. Apply concealer after eye cream. Use a thin makeup brush to gently apply the makeup. Concealer should be applied at the inner corner of the eye, because the circles are darkest there. Move outward from the inner corner. Continue dabbing the concealer on the skin gently, without tugging on the skin.
Things You'll Need
- Orange-lentil flour
- Lemon juice
- Tomato purée
- Turmeric powder
- Cucumbers
- Bowl
- Cotton balls
- Eye cream
- Cosmedicine Eye Specialist Essential Moisture Treatment
- Bioré Daily Recharging Enliven Cooling Eye Gel
- Concealer
- Makeup brush
- Eye cream
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