Do you ever catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and see the eyes of a tired woman staring back at you? Does this affect your self-esteem or depress you? Do you wonder why you even have them and how to get rid of them? We've been all there. Dark circles are not a serious skin problem, but they make people look tired, exhausted, unhealthy and older than their years. Unfortunately, a good night's sleep alone won't alleviate those circles. If left untreated, dark circles will not only dull your overall appearance but can also lead to serious health issues. Some of the main causes behind the dark circles or shadows are heredity, ageing, hormonal changes, prolonged crying, long hours in front of a computer, stress, lack of sleep, unhealthy diet, a disturbed lifestyle and many more. However, you can still minimise their appearance and, in some cases, remove them completely. If you're sensitive to chemical-based products, you can easily get rid of unsightly shadows under your eyes using these home remedies. Rose water: Rose water rejuvenates the skin and has a soothing effect on tired eyes. It also works as a good skin toner. Soak cotton eye pads in pure rose water for a few minutes. Put the soaked pads on your closed eyelids. Leave for about 15 minutes. Follow this remedy twice daily for a few weeks. Tomatoes: Tomatoes have natural bleaching properties and also make the skin soft and supple. Mix one teaspoon of tomato juice with a half teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently apply this mixture on the dark circles and allow it to sit for ten minutes. Rinse off with water. Repeat this remedy twice a day for a few weeks. For maximum results, you can also drink a glass of fresh tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt once or twice a day for about a week. Tea bags: The caffeine and antioxidants present in tea can be highly beneficial for getting rid of dark circles, as well as puffiness under eyes by shrinking the blood vessels and reducing fluid retention. Chill two used green or black tea bags in the refrigerator for about half an hour. Place one tea bag over each eye and leave for ten to 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and wash your face. Repeat once or twice a daily for a few weeks. Be careful not to get the tea in your eyes. Raw potatoes: The natural bleaching agents present in potatoes can help lighten dark circles and get rid of puffiness around the eyes. Grate one or two raw potatoes to extract the juice. Soak a cotton ball in the juice and place it over your closed eyes. Make sure the juice covers the dark circles under your eyes as well as the eyelids. Allow the juice to sit for ten to 15 minutes. Rinse well with cool water. Repeat once or twice a daily for a few weeks. You can also use thick potato slices instead of potato juice. Almond oil: Almond oil is very beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. You can also use vitamin E oil. Before going to bed, apply a little almond oil over the dark circles and gently massage it into the skin. Leave on overnight. The next morning, wash off with cold water. Follow this remedy daily until the dark circles disappear. Cucumber: Cucumbers have skin-lightening and mild astringent properties, plus a soothing and refreshing effect. Cut a fresh cucumber into thick slices and chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Put the slices onto the affected skin area for about ten minutes. Wash with water. Repeat twice a daily for about a week or more. You can also mix cucumber juice with lemon juice in equal amounts. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture under your eyes. Leave on for 15 minutes and then wash off with water. Follow this remedy daily for at least one week.
