With any skin care issue it seems like "fast results" are never fast enough. And any woman who's ever suffered with dark under-eye circles will tell you that getting rid of them is never as easy as it should be. We'd like to do our part to help speed things up for you with 5 specific (not-so-secret) secrets to get rid of dark circles.
Okay, so this "secret" might seem obvious, but it's important. When you don't get enough sleep, your skin is likely to be paler than normal. This is a problem because blood vessels beneath the skin's surface become more visible when you're pale and appear as dark patches under the eyes.
A lack of sleep can be the cause for both occasional and chronic dark circles depending on how distorted your sleep schedule is. If you're not getting between 7 and 8 hours of restful sleep each night, take a look at what's getting in the way. Sometimes this is all you need to solve the problem.
Dehydration is the cause of many skin issues and under eye circles are no exception. When you don't drink enough water each day it can lead to your blood vessels becoming more visible. They can get dilated or swollen and when this happens under the eyes it's not pretty.
Water also helps to remove toxins from the body which can result in better looking skin. Surprisingly it also helps prevent water retention which can cause puffiness and under eye bags. Aim for at least 8 glasses a day and perhaps more depending on your activity level.
Dark circles and other skin problems can be caused by a vitamin deficiency so it's worth checking with your doctor to see if this applies to your situation. Vitamin K and iron are examples of nutrients that may be a factor. It's important to take vitamins and minerals in the right amounts, so please don't try to guess what your body needs. Talk to your doctor and get the tests he or she recommends.
An added benefit of meeting with your doctor is discussing and ruling out any medical conditions that may be the cause of your dark circles. All the "quick fixes" in the world won't help if you've got an underlying condition that needs to be treated first.
This isn't really a secret, but you'd sure think it was considering how most of us eat these days. Eating healthy foods can solve so many health and beauty problems and it's so easy to do once you get in the habit and see the benefits for yourself.
Don't believe me? Just try to have bad skin when you cut out processed and greasy fried foods. By eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and lean proteins you'll give your body the nutrition it needs to stay healthy. Your skin will glow and your dark circles will improve too, especially when they're caused by a vitamin deficiency. Most people find that circulation and sleep issues are improved with a better diet as well.
Most moisturizing creams can be used around the eye area so long as they're not irritating and you take care not to get them in your eyes. However, when you have dark circles it makes sense to get a cream or serum specifically designed to address the issue.
Select creams with high-quality ingredients designed to lighten dark circles, moisturize and firm the skin if needed. Because the skin under the eyes is often thinner than the rest of your face and a cause in and of itself for dark circles, you may want to consider a product that helps boost the collagen produced naturally in your skin.
If you suffer from dark circles on a regular basis, you're encouraged use each of the 5 secrets if they're applicable to your situation - you'll get the best results that way.