It has happened to all of them: you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and see yourself there with a dark halo, sometimes accompanied by a slight swelling. What are we talking about? Well, of our “beloved” dark circles, of course. Those who live in dark circles know how annoying they can be. The situation becomes even more frustrating when they invariably present themselves after eight hours of sleep.
And their only purpose is to make us grow old in a moment, giving us that tired and beaten air that, let’s face it, does not give to anyone . Sometimes not even our favorite concealer can do something to make them invisible. If dark circles have always been your concern, you are in the right place. The time has come to find out why they appear and the effective remedies to eliminate them permanently. Ready to say bye-bye to dark circles?
What Are Dark Circles?
They are a blemish linked to the presence of a dark bluish-purple shading under the eyes, sometimes accompanied by swelling and bags in the sub ocular area itself. Generally, the darkening of the periorbital area is due to poor local microcirculation and a lower thickness of the lower eyelid, which is more transparent and favors the visibility of the capillaries (especially in the case in which there is vasodilation).
Bags And Dark Circles: What’s The Difference?
Bags and dark circles are two different things, but they affect the same area, that is, the area under the eyes.
- Dark circles are characterized by dark halos that are bluish and somewhat sunken and swollen. Their appearance is often due to a slowdown in blood microcirculation.
- The bags under the eyes, on the other hand, are due to a loss of elasticity of the tissues, manifest themselves with the swelling but are not always accompanied by discoloration.
Dark Circles Causes
Identifying the cause of dark circles is crucial to tackling the problem appropriately. Multiple factors determine the appearance of dark circles, including:
- Genetic predisposition
- Advancing age: over the years, the skin around the eyes becomes thinner and more transparent (because less collagen is produced), making the small underlying veins more visible
- Lifestyle: Stress and low physical activity can promote premature aging of the skin
- Smoking: it is one of the factors that cause the degradation of collagen, making the skin thinner
- Lack of sleep: causes a slowdown in blood circulation around the eyes, resulting in the typical blue and purple color
- Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to water retention and consequently to the appearance of dark circles and bags under the eyes.
- Dehydration: when skin tissues tend to retain less water, they become thinner, making the capillaries underneath the epidermis more visible
- Excessive sun exposure: UV rays can accelerate the skin’s aging process.
- Incorrect nutrition: iron deficiency can affect the health of the skin and, therefore, consequently lead to the formation of dark circles
Types Of Dark circles.
To get rid of them, you need to know that not all dark circles are the same. There are three types:
- Dark circles: they have a color closer to beige and brown and are the result of hyperpigmentation of the face area (generally, they are common in people from the Mediterranean basin)
- Red, dark circles: the reddish color is given by excessive vasodilation of the capillaries and small vessels of the dermis of the periocular area
- Blue and purple dark circles: have a bluish-purple color; they are caused by what is known as stagnation of the microcirculation.
Dark Circles: Natural Remedies
There are some effective natural remedies to combat dark circles. Here are which ones:
- Chamomile: beneficial for reducing dark circles thanks to its emollient and decongestant action. Apply a cotton pad soaked in cold chamomile to the dark circles
- Cucumber: Use the famous cucumber slices. Cut the vegetable into round pieces of about two centimeters, wash them, and put them in the freezer for a few minutes. Then lie down and put them in your dark circles for about 15 minutes.
- Bicarbonate: has antibacterial and purifying properties. It stimulates microcirculation and exerts a decongestant and anti-fatigue activity. Dissolve a little baking soda in a cup of chamomile or green tea infusion. Then with the help of a soaked cotton pad, apply the mixture over the entire eye area.
- Tea Bags: Wet 2 tea bags with cold water for about 30 seconds. Then place it on the eyes, leaving it to act for 10 minutes. Rinse your eyes and face with cool water.
Dark Circles: Specific Cosmetics
The good news is that you can lessen dark circles by choosing the right skincare products. Always check the composition of the products you use for the eye area: the two magical ingredients are vitamins C and K. They brighten the skin and help strengthen blood vessel walls. Another very effective ingredient to counteract this imperfection is caffeine, which has an anti-edema action (that is, it prevents the formation of edema).
If, on the other hand, the dark circles are due to an accumulation of melanin, opt for products containing lightening or depigmenting agents (such as licorice extract). If the dark circles are accompanied by swelling (bags), in addition to using appropriate cosmetics, try to sleep with your head slightly raised; this prevents excessive blood flow to the eyes.
Remember: make sure your skin has the right amount of hydration. Choose a moisturizing eye contour that contains hyaluronic acid. Last but not least, always apply a cream with a sun protection factor: it is the gesture that saves your eye area from premature aging.
Dark Circles: Targeted Treatments
When you have stubborn dark circles, it is better to opt for targeted treatments that a specialist can only carry out:
- Chemical peels: remove the superficial layers of the skin, making it toned and radiant
- Filler ( hyaluronic acid or collagen): they can fill the furrows of dark circles and improve the appearance of the skin, making it less opaque and less transparent
- Carboxytherapy: for those not afraid of invasive methods, carboxytherapy consists of injecting carbon dioxide through a needle. This treatment improves the vascularization of the skin and reduces periocular hyperpigmentation.
Dark Circles: Useful
advice to maintain a fresh look; here are some beneficial suggestions:
- Always make -up before going to sleep and gently do it, without rubbing your eyes (try the micellar water)
- Get the habit of massaging the eye area; useful both against bags under the eyes and for dark circles
- Please avoid the use of excessively fat or occlusive products, as they could only worsen the situation
- For the day, use products for the eye area with sunscreen to protect the skin from the damage of UV rays
- Follow a healthy and balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidant substances
- Avoid smoking and, if possible, reduce stress.
How To Hide Dark Circles With
makeup to mask the dark circles well; the first thing to do is to choose the right concealer. The effect of the concealer, first of all, must be camouflage. In these cases, it is essential to analyze your color palette. If your dark circles turn gray, choose a corrector with an orange or fishing tip. If, on the other hand, they tend to a bluish color, opt for nuances closer to yellow. On social networks, there are several tutorials showing how to erase dark circles.