Your eyes are the most expressive part of your face. But with growing stress and a lack of sleep, darker skin under your eyes can ruin their beauty and make you look tired, fatigued or drained. The best way to get rid of dark circles is to prevent them in the first place. You may not be able to completely stop them from occurring, but if you change your lifestyle you may prevent them from reoccurring. A healthy and balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruit, a good night's sleep, wearing sunglasses while out in the sun and spending fewer hours before the computer will all help. The amount of water you drink is also important. Your skin needs water in order to maintain its health and look at its best, and you will never get rid of dark circles if you're constantly dehydrated. Here are some environmentally friendly remedies to remove under-eye dark circles. Cucumber: As a coolant and natural astringent, cucumber causes the skin tissues to contract. It also contains antioxidants that can reduce puffiness around the eyes. Put a finely sliced cucumber in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Take the cold slices out, and then place them on each eyelid. Leave them on for 10 minutes and then rinse. You can also grate a cucumber and extract the juice. Refrigerate, and dip in a wad of cotton wool, then place it on your eyes. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse.
Orange juice: The antioxidants found in orange juice can help to stop premature aging. Oranges are also rich in Vitamin C that can help to reduce dark circles and give your eyes a natural glow. Mix a third of a cup of orange juice with one teaspoon of glycerine. Apply this mixture over the dark circles. Massage clockwise and anticlockwise for a few minutes. Leave for 10 minutes and then rinse with tap water. Use on a regular basis for a lasting effect.
Tea bags: Cold tea bags cause skin tissues to shrink, leaving your eyes looking less puffy. This makes the skin around your eyes look vibrant and glowing. Refrigerate two used or soaked tea bags for 10 minutes. Place them on each eye for 10 to 20 minutes and then rinse with cold water. For an effective result, repeat one to three times a day. Chamomile tea is best because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Mint leaves: The Vitamin C in mint makes the skin around the eyes appear brighter, and the menthol in the leaves improves blood circulation, reduces any blue tint and rejuvenates the skin. Blend a punch bowl of mint leaves and apply them to the affected area. Leave for 10 minutes then rinse.
Milk: The Vitamin B12 in milk naturally lightens dark skin. Milk also contains Vitamins A and B6, which help to build new skin cells. The selenium in milk protects the skin from harmful free radicals. Soak two cotton pads in cold milk and squeeze out the excess. Place the pads on the dark circles and leave for 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Repeat three times per week.
Potato: The natural bleaching property of potatoes can help to lighten the skin under your eye and prevent puffiness as well. Grate a raw peeled potato and extract the juice into a bowl. Make an equal amount of potato juice and cucumber juice, and soak two cotton pads in the mixture for one minute. Place the pads on your dark circles for 15 minutes and then rinse with cold water.
Coconut oil: This contains Vitamin E and antioxidants that can help to repair damaged skin cells and dryness. Coconut oil is also rich in lactic acid that tightens the skin. Apply extra virgin coconut oil on clean under-eye skin before going to bed and gently massage in a clockwise and anti-clockwise direction for a few minutes. Leave it on overnight.
Tomatoes: These contain antioxidants that can reduce discolouration around the eyes. They are also natural bleaching agents. Mix a teaspoon of tomato juice with a teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of flour to make a paste. Apply this to the affected area and leave for 20 minutes and then rinse with cold water. You can also apply a mixture of equal parts of only tomato and lemon juice after washing your face in the morning. Leave for half an hour and then rinse. Repeat daily until the dark circles disappear.
Almond oil: Almond oil contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant known to reduce the appearance of dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Mix one teaspoon of almond oil with a few drops of lemon juice and massage the mixture around your eyes for two minutes at bedtime. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse with cold water.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 8 April, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
