Dark Circles

Even if you aren’t a new mommy, chances are, you know exactly what I’m talking about…these pesky rings affect 9 out of 10 women!  One of the main causes is lack of sleep, but there are a bunch of other reasons too, like allergies, diet, sun damage, age and even your genes.   Eye creams say they can help, but they can also get pricey.  But not to worry – there are ways you can lighten them naturally! Here are 3 surprising and natural ways to brighten your eyes:

1.) Double up on pillows:  If your dark circles are caused by enlarged blood vessels, double up on pillows at night to prevent the blood from building up under the skin around your eyes.  Your skin is thinner there than anywhere else on your body, so sleeping in a more elevated position will drain the fluids in your body downwards.

2.) The frozen spoon trick: This one is fun – take a frozen spoon and gently press the back of it against your eye area.  The coolness of the spoon causes blood vessels around your eyes to constrict, which lessens the “bruised” effect.

3.) Potatoes: Some people swear by this crazy trick, even though there isn’t scientific backing.  Supposedly, potatoes contain a lot of iron, which provides oxygen to your skin cells and in turn reduces dark circles.   I recommend putting a potato in the fridge beforehand so you get the benefits of the cooling effect too!  After that, just thinly slice your potato and place the slices over your eyes like a cucumber.

4.) Licorice extract: If hyperpigmentation is the reason you have dark circles, try licorice extract.  Licorice is known for its skin brightening properties – the glabridin part of the licorice plant stop pigmentation according to the National Center for Biotechnology.  Just place a few drops on a cotton ball or cotton swap and lightly dab over your eye area each day.  You can read more about how licorice can lighten your skin here.
And of course, there’s always the tried and true cucumber slice remedy! That’s one of my go-to’s :)
Have you heard of any of these methods?  If you try them, tell me what you think