Fashion
How To Avoid Dark Circles When You Wake Up
Late night study sessions or dancing until the wee hours of the A.M. can cause some unsightly patches underneath your eyes. What's worse, they can be a real pain to get rid of. That's why prevention is key to fighting raccoon eyes, so here are seven things you should never do at night to avoid dark circles. Like, ever.
Dark circles can be caused by a ton of different factors, from genetics to diet to sleep deprivation. The reason? The skin around your eyes is particularly thin, so it's easier to damage, and also shows signs of stress quicker than other parts of your face. Luckily, you can protect your skin from dark circles by moisturizing the area (read: wearing eye cream), using sunscreen religiously, staying hydrated, and eating well. But if you do all of these things and you are still waking up with an almost permanent shadow underneath your peepers, it could be thanks to your nighttime routine.
Before you reach for those expensive creams and prescription medications, consider making simple changes to your nighttime routine first. Below are seven common things you might be doing before you go to bed that could be the reason you're waking up with dark circles.
1. You Take Hot Baths
Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, $30, Ulta
Hot water and steam can worsen your dark, puffy under eyes. Instead of taking a hot bath, wash your face with cool water to soothe your skin. Cold water can reduce the swelling under your eyes, which is what causes puffy dark circles to appear. Take things one step further and use these cooling gels from Skyn Iceland. They infuse the under-eye area with things like Icelandic glacial waters and concentrated doses of firming ingredients to de-puff and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. You Consume Alcohol
Too much alcohol dehydrates you, making skin look dull and dry. If you're battling under eye circles, skip the nightcap and reach for water or tea instead.
3. You Smoke
Holly Golightly Satin Sleep Mask, $14, Broad and Jones
As if you needed another reason not to smoke. Smoking will only put more pressure on your blood vessels and make your dark eyes worse.
4. You Skip Sunscreen
pur~lisse Blue Lotus SPF 30 Essential Daily Moisturizer, $55, Purlisse
OK, maybe sunscreen is something for your morning routine, but if you can find a moisturizer with sunscreen — go for it!
5. You Chow Down On Salty Snacks
Salt dehydrates, exacerbating the problem. Instead of bringing the corn chips into bed with you for a midnight snack, opt for moisture-packed fruits and veggies.
6. You Forget To Moisturize
MYRRHACULOUS FACE OIL, $46, Fatco
Lack of moisture is the main culprit in most skin problems, so it's important to hydrate both internally and externally. You should always remember to moisturize your face least twice a day. Consider FATCO’s Myrrhaculous Face Oil, which contains a blend of concentrated rich oils and essential oils, all of which have anti-aging and healing properties. Win.
7. You Go To Bed Thirsty
The Beauty Chef’s HYDRATION Inner Beauty Boost, $40, Beauty Chef
Staying hydrated internally is just as important as slathering on moisture, if not more so, so remember to drink up before you go to bed! Try sipping on The Beauty Chef's Hydration elixir, an organic, bio-fermented and coconut-infused probiotic designed to support gut health and enhance your skin from the inside out. Delicious and nutritious — YAS.
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