They say the eyes are the window to the soul. All of that emotional intensity aside, they also show the most about your age and your health. Dark circles, puffy eyes and crow's feet are the biggest concerns held by both men and women, alike. While aging gracefully is the epitome of class, there’s no need to tack on extra years or have people asking you if you are currently suffering a bout of insomnia since you look so tired. So, it's best to know why these “challenges” occur and how you can remedy them without blowing the bank on the plethora of under-eye products on the market promising to turn back the clock, erase any imperfections, clean your house and do your taxes.
Causes of under eye issues
Dark Circles
Millions of dollars have been spent, thousands of hours stolen and buckets of stress sweat have plagued the lives of those of us who suffer from dark shadows under our eyes. Old wives tales will tell you that dark circles under your eyes are a sign of illness, lack of sleep or general moral failing. While that’s true to some extent, in reality, dark circles are mainly more visible on people who have thinner, paler skin because the intricate network of minute veins in that area of the face are closer to the surface. That being said, there are some things you can do to minimize the appearance of dark circles that don’t include spending hours watching makeup tutorials.
Puffy/swollen eyes
If you didn’t spend the previous night out partying like it's 1999 or sobbing to Korean dramas but you’re still waking up with puffy eyes, there are a few main culprits making giving you this annoying baggage (pun entirely intended). Heredity aside, consuming too much sodium, being dehydrated, alcohol consumption, allergies and illness are the most common causes of under eye bags and general puffiness.
Wrinkles/“crow’s feet”
This one isn’t exactly a mystery. The older we get, the more we develop wrinkles. We lose skin elasticity as we age, meaning all of those awesome moments that make us smile widely, laughing with joy, and generally enjoying life will eventually leave their beautiful memories etched around our eyes in delicate fine lines. Crow's feet really are a wonderful sign of a life well lived, if you think about it, but they can also make you look a bit older than you prefer. But you will find that if you have fair skin these fine lines may appear earlier, deeper and more frequently than people with darker skin tones. Smoking, drinking alcohol and sun damage also age you considerably, so avoid those culprits to the best of your ability.
Remedies
Water
You’re going to hear this one a lot, but you have got to drink plenty of water…like, a lot. First of all, because keeping yourself hydrated will keep absolutely give your skin a more firm, supple appearance. Second, because it will improve your blood flow. If dark circles are caused by visibility of the blood vessels around your eyes then you need those little buggers to be working at peak performance. Staying adequately hydrated will help your circulation. And in a beautiful twist of fate, drinking more water actually reduces swelling and puffiness
Sleep
Something many of us pretend is only for the weak or boring, is pretty much the fountain of youth. Lack of sleep will cause premature aging, for sure give you perms-puffy eye, and give you circles under your eyes that rival those donned by the harbingers of the zombie apocalypse. Hate to break it to you but there’s no trophy at the end of life for the person who slept the least and crammed the most into their day. Learn to manage your time, learn to say no to things that you don’t need or want to do, and learn to respect your body’s needs.
Green tea bags
Sometimes you’re going to wake up with puffy eyes, that’s just life. And the older you get the more often it will happen. If you wake up in the morning and need a quick fix, grab some green tea bags, soak them in cool water for a minute, squeeze out the excess water, and then lay them across your eyes for 10-15 minutes. The tannins and natural diuretic properties will move water out of the cells around your eyes and increase circulation to reduce puffiness.
Eye cream with hyaluronic acid
This nifty stuff sounds scary but it’s really just a safe and effective ingredient found in many creams that is a naturally occurring in the body. You can give the skin around your eyes a little boost of support by applying a thin layer of eye cream with hyaluronic acid once or twice a day.
Collagen supplements
Collagen is purported to help support skin, hair, and nail health. Our bodies produce less collagen as we age which reduces skin elasticity and hair an nail growth. While nothing is guaranteed, some people have found that taking a regular collagen supplement helps support healthy skin. Increased elasticity in your skin will help build up that thin skin under and around your eyes could reduce the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles.
Get your annual physical
Sometimes under eye circles and puffy eyes can be signs of health problems. Anemia, allergies and various vitamin deficiencies can manifest themselves in these ways, so you should check with your doctor to make sure nothing else is lurking in the shadows. Plus, you really need to have a physical every year, so if vanity is what gets you there, so be it.
