Look Weekend Fresh, on a Weekday: 6 DIY Remedies for Eliminating Dark Under Eye Circles

By Jordan Willard | April 28, 2015 0 Comments

I know it’s only Tuesday, but does anyone else secretly wish that today was actually Saturday, and we could just hit the snooze button and sleep in? Don’t get me wrong, I actually love going to work; every weekday morning, I rise and shine to greet the day, with a smile on my face. However, a long, hard day of hustling on my grind is exhausting, and though I can still feel fresh and perky with only a few hours of sleep under my belt, the abbreviated amount of weeknight ZZZ’s shows more and more on my face, with every passing day. Like any strong curly queen, I always want to give off the impression that I can handle pressure with grace and poise. I try not to let anyone see me sweat, even if working on a particularly complex project that requires a couple late nights. However, my outwardly calm demeanor seems to have caused my stress and exhaustion to manifest in other ways, primarily via the bloated discoloration around my eyes. I get horribly unattractive dark, puffy, raccoon like circles around my eyes, causing me appear incredibly exhausted and at least ten to fifteen years older than I actually am. I must say, I am not a fan of this look.

Dark circles can be caused by a number of reasons; sometimes it’s due to genetics, sometimes it’s due to allergies, but the most common causes of dark circles are stress and sleep deprivation. Whatever the cause, it is completely unfair that these puffy circles serve as a dead giveaway to a busy, demanding lifestyle. Tired of always looking tired, I took to the internet and found some great DIY remedies that I can concoct, using things right in my kitchen. Looking haggard and beat is not a mandatory aspect of being a successful professional, so here are some easy DIY tricks to eliminating dark, under the eye bags and circles, to help you look weekend rested, radiant, and fresh, even on weekdays.

all images are on 4/28 pinterest board

1. Cold Cucumbers and Michelle Phan’s Cucumber Eye Pads

We’ve all seen this method used as spa and in the movies, but the cool, hydrating effect of cucumber slices really does help reduce puffiness around the eyes. Just take two slices of cucumber, rest them on your eye lids, and lay back for an ultra soothing, hydrating experience.

Video blogger Michelle Phan takes this traditional method up a notch, by creating cucumber pads While slices work very well, I personally prefer these cucumber pads because they are much more flexible, and actually bend with the curves of your face. I also have found the concentrated juice concoction to feel slightly more soothing than slices alone. Check out the video on how to make Cucumber eye pads right here:

source: youtube.com, user: Michelle Phan

What You Need:

• Cucumber slices
• A Blender or Juicer
• Water
• Cotton Pads
• A Bowl
• A Sandwich Bag
• A freezer

For more on this DIY method, Click Here.

2. Raw Potato Method, by Indianbeautyspot.com

Similar to cucumber slices, raw potato slices can also provide a cooling hydration, to tired, baggy, puffy eyes. Also, raw potato slices can actually lighten up skin tone, as the cooling effect breaks down the swelling collection of blood vessels under the eye that causes the skin to appear dark and almost bruised.

What You Need:

• Medium to thick slices of raw potatoes.

How to Apply:
For a few nights, attempt to sleep with one slice of cold, raw potato over each eye. Overtime you will notice reduced swelling and change in skin’s coloring under the eye.

For more on this DIY method, Click Here.

3. Cold Tea Bags

This is my go to eliminator for bags and dark circles, when I need to reduce the puffiness ASAP!

What You Need:

• Herbal Tea Bags
• Cold Water

How to Apply:
Dampen two tea bags in cold water. Place one bag over each eye, and allow them to rest over your lids for 5 to 10 minutes.

For more on this DIY method, Click Here.

4. Tomatoes and Turmeric, by Stylecraze.com

Tomatoes also possess certain properties that help improve under eye skin discoloration, and combined with turmeric and lemon, this remedy will also decrease swelling.

What You Need:

• 1 teaspoon of fresh tomato juice
• ½ teaspoon of lemon juice
• A pinch of turmeric
• Gram Flour (aka chickpea flour, or garbanzo bean flour, or besan).

How to Apply:
Combine this mixture, and apply it under the eye. This combo does have a bit of a kick, so it is important to leave your eyes closed the entire time it is on. After about 10 to 15 minutes, rise it off.

For more on this DIY method, Click Here.

5. Parsley Eye Mask, by HelloNatural.co

Parsley is rich in vitamin C and vitamin K, both of which help reduce eye puffiness.

What You Need:

• A Bundle of Fresh Parsley
• Yogurt
• Hot Water
• Cotton Balls or Cotton Pads

How to Apply:
Finely chop up parsley, then with a wooden spoon, muddle the leaves so that the natural juices of the parsley are released. Add a tablespoon of the hot water OR yogurt and mix in with the parsley leaves. Though the original recipe suggests using either hot water or yogurt, I have found that using about a teaspoon of each creates a nice texture that I find soothing on my skin. If using both, just be sure to use warm water, rather than hot. Once the mixture has cooled, take a cotton ball or cotton pad to soak up some of the concoction, then apply it under each eye for 10 to 15 minutes.

For more on this DIY method, Click Here and Here.

6. Lemon and Almond Oil by Blog.Freepeople.com

This method is fast, simple, and can be applied overnight, so you can wake up in the morning looking as fresh as you feel.

What You Need:

• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Almond Oil

How to Apply:
Combine the fresh lemon juice and the almond oil, to make a like astringent. Gently dab the mixture under the eye, before bed.

For more on this DIY method, Click Here.

Give these methods a try, and don’t forget to tell us your favorites in the comments!

 

 

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All images sourced via pinterest