It is a truth universally acknowledged, that every woman, of whatever age she may be, must have at least once faced the gruesome battle of dark circles under her eyes.

Even after all the patented formulas the industry has come up with, the best way to rid dark eye circles still remains as: the concealer. But is there more we can do?

This post will run you through the elements of our lifestyle which lead to dark circles, and also offer simple solutions!

Leading Causes of Dark Circles

Your Sleep Patterns, Of Course

The science behind sleep deprivation and its effects on your eyes is this: Lack of sleep results in the widening of blood vessels around the eyes, which causes a greater amount of blood pooling and creates a dark tint around them.

Unhealthy Habits

A cigarette or a glass of wine may bring temporary relief, but it's counterproductive for good skin. Consumption of alcohol or nicotine dilates your blood vessels, which makes the dark circles even more visible. Moreover, nicotine is also responsible for sleep deprivation.

In addition, what you eat, how much water you consume, and how much you sleep are some of the many other factors that affect skin.

Your Makeup

We understand how you must be feeling. Et tu, Brute? This is the ultimate betrayal! However, we really do subject our eyes to eye-liners, mascaras, and concealers on a daily basis. If any one product isn't suitable for your skin, it'll prompt reactions that result in irritation, excessive blinking and scratching, that causes the dark under-eye circles to get... well, darker.

Bad Genes?

Disclaimer: We're not asking you to blame your folks. It is a possibility that the skin you've inherited is very thin and prone to blood pooling under your eyes, which means that the veins under your eyes are more visible than others.

The Sun, UV Rays and Melanin

Sun exposure causes the formulation of melanin, a pigment that gives your skin its colour. When more melanin is produced around the eyes, it gives them a darker colour. This process is called Periorbital Hyperpigmentation.

It breaks down collagen which holds your skin together and makes your blood veins more obvious. Another reason why global warming is bad for everyone!

A Diet Heavy on Salt and Caffeine

No surprises there — sodium and caffeine cause your body to retain fluids. This leads to puffy eyes and discolouration under the eyes. Dehydration (from caffeine, or simply by not drinking enough water) can also slow down blood circulation, causing blood vessels to become enlarged and darker.

So the next time you get munchies, think twice and avoid snacks like salted chips which are high in sodium.

Tips to Eliminate Dark Circles

Now that we know what causes the pesky dark eye circles, let us look at how we can make little changes in our daily routine to avoid the dreaded dark eye circles.

First Things First, Get More Sleep!

We totally understand how ridiculous this proposition sounds - you have deadlines to meet or early morning classes to attend. However, the benefits of beauty sleep can end up being the answer to a number of your skin ailments.

Add More Pillows

Sleeping on your back (which is also good for your back) and adding more pillows under your head will steer the blood away from pooling under your eyes. Pretty simple, right?

Apply Something Cold 

An add-on to your night routine could be cold tea bags or ice cubes wrapped in a cloth to be applied to your eyes.

This will help get rid of the discolouration around your eyes. It will also take away some of the puffiness from your eyes and, as an added bonus, help you relax before bedtime.

Wear those Sunglasses

Now that we have established the repercussions of sunlight coming in contact with your eyes, invest in the good pair of sunglasses with decent UV protection and get into the habit of wearing it when it's sunny. Protection is always a good idea! 😉

Put Extra Care into your Makeup Removal Routine

There are days when you just want to scrub your makeup out with whatever, cuddle with your pillows and sleep forever! As good as this sounds, it is probably a very bad idea.

To avoid the harmful makeup effects on skin, take extra care to cleanse your skin. Using a soft cotton pad is advisable, do not rub, scratch or pull.

And...Say Hi to an Efficient Skincare Routine!

What you need is the right skincare products, loaded with ingredients that are really equipped to fight against dark circles.

The combination of products we swear by in this regard consists of:

• Serum: to restore elasticity and prevent oxidative stress
• Day Cream: to keep skin hydrated through the day
• Night Cream: to repair skin damage and say goodbye to stress

Treat your skin to these every night, and bam! Your dark eye circles will take a back seat.

Not sure where to start?

Delegate to us!