12 Sep 2016
No matter your age or gender, none of us are immune to dark circles under our eyes. Many people come to our spa in Hereford to help look more rejuvenated and refreshed, which includes dealing with those pesky dark circles!
We like to prescribe lots of relaxation during our guests’ visit and enjoy a wonderful facial from our range, such as English Rose Radiance, which is designed to restore your skin’s youthfulness.
But, as ever, the first step to solving something is finding the cause and eliminating it!
So… what exactly are dark circles?
Improve skin health
The dark colour you see under your eyes is either the result of natural excess melanin or blood vessels being visible beneath the skin. If you have puffy bags under your eyes, the shadows they create will contribute to this dark appearance.
The thinner and fairer the skin under your eyes, the more the blood vessels will be visible. As we age this skin becomes thinner, revealing capillaries underneath.
We recommend using collagen boosters such as retinols (a form of vitamin A), which increase cell turnover and generate firmer, thicker skin below the eyes. The thicker the skin, the less visible those vessels will be.
Our Collagen Infusion Facial uses the same principle. It hydrates and firms skin, reducing fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles. Natural skin-care products such as the ones we use often use carrot oil, rosehip seed oil, or tamanu oil, which are super-packed with vitamin A.
Get some sleep
If you ask people why we get dark circles, the one reason you’ll probably hear is not enough sleep.
The truth is, when your body is tired it creates more cortisol, a chemical that helps you stay awake. Among other things, cortisol increases the volume of blood in your body, including in the vessels below your eyes. As the skin under your eyes is pretty thin compared to anywhere else on your body, it’s easier to see when there is more blood – which may appear as dark purple, blue or green.
Get at least seven hours of sleep a night and hopefully you can reduce the levels of cortisol and in turn, the appearance of dark circles!
Banish the excess fluid
Another cause of dark circles or puffy bags is build-up of fluid below the eyes. This could be due to illness, allergies, or simply excessive salt consumption which leads to the body retaining more fluid than usual. Drinking plenty of water will help to eliminate this excess fluid throughout the body.
Many of us suffer with allergies. As well as causing puffiness, constant rubbing of itchy eyes can mean broken blood vessels. To alleviate symptoms, try using anti-allergy eye drops.
Give me caffeine
Don’t bin that tea bag after your morning cuppa! The caffeine in tea or in coffee granules is an excellent remedy for tired eyes.
Caffeine functions as a vasoconstrictor, tightening the blood vessels around the eye area and lessening dark circles and puffiness. Lots of special eye creams and products contain caffeine – there’s plenty of choice out there. However, if you do want to try the cheaper, kitchen sink method, make sure you allow your tea bags or coffee grinds to cool completely before you apply them to yours eyes. Warmth will actually increase circulation – the opposite of what you want.
Cold, thin cucumber slices or chilled teaspoons will do a similar thing in the morning as a fast trick to reduce swelling.
The appeal of concealing
If all else fails, or your dark eyes are the result of aging or hereditary skin colouration, concealer is a fantastic little piece of everyday magic.
Concealer is a staple in the makeup world and is proving popular among men who want to hide blemishes and perfect the appearance of their skin.
Concealers come in all types of textures, shades and finishes for different areas of the face. If you’re aiming to conceal and brighten dark circles, make sure you’re picking up the right kind.
Choose a shade lighter than your natural skin tone to help brighten the area around your eyes. The paler the shade, the more the product will disguise your dark circles. Avoid products with a matte finish and instead look for words like illuminating or light reflecting – those will contain shimmer or other pigments that will draw light to your eyes and reflect it outwards.
Be an artist
If your dark circles are really strong, you may want to try colour-correcting makeup palettes or pencils. These are products that work to combat specific colouration issues with the skin. As a general rule:
Pink/Peach – brightens Green – neutralises redness Orange – neutralises blue tones
These can be used by themselves but be sure to apply small amounts, otherwise you could swap dark circles for green circles! Otherwise use as a base and apply a natural-coloured concealer over the top for fantastic results.
If you’d like to learn more about any of our rejuvenating Hereford spa treatments and relaxing facilities, please fill out the enquiry form below or call 01432 370222.