How To Conceal Dark Circles Like a Pro
Puffy eyes anyone? Well you’re not alone; the biggest pain in the butt is waking up in the morning to puffy dark eyes.
It doesn’t just happen after a certain age or from allergies, there are many reasons why this can happen. But whatever the reasons, the good news is that we have the fool-proof quick tricks to get rid of puffy eyes
How to Reduce Puffy Eyes + Dark Circles
PART I: Prevention
Eye Drops
These always make the whites of your eyes shine and sparkle!
Sleep on your Back + Use an Extra Pillow
“If dark, puffy bags under your eyes seem to be the morning problem, consider sleeping on your back with an extra pillow so that fluid doesn’t pool overnight. Keeping your pillow protected from allergens (dust and dust mites) with a protective encasement can also help when allergies are the culprit,” says Rebecca Tung, a dermatologist in La Grange Park, Illinois.
Get hypoallergenic silk pillowcases to benefit your skin & hair here.
Tea Bags
via misswhoo.com
The oldest trick in the book but they work! Here’s a new spin on it though. You can do one of two things to see what works best. Either put an ice cube on top of each tea bag while they are on your eyes, or put the tea bags in the freezer for 10-15 minutes then put them on your eyes. Regular tea bags or green tea should do the trick.
“Caffeinated tea, which contains natural tannins, is a mild diuretic and long used by grandmothers and runway models for reducing eye puffiness. Soak two tea bags in warm water, then chill the bags for a few minutes in the refrigerator. Place one tea bag on each eye for five minutes, and your eyes will feel fresh and look brighter,” says Karen Hammerman, a dermatologist in New York City.
Spoons
This is a fun one. Put two spoons in the freezer for about 20 minutes 30 tops and place them on your eyes. Spoons are great because the curved shape really gets those hard to reach places. Metal gets really cold so this method is good for soothing spring time allergy, itchy, water eyes. A flexible frozen eye mask works too. While your at it, keep your eye cream in the fridge too.
Cucumber slices
I know. People say it’s a myth, or a placebo. But they’re mostly water, and they have a natural anti-inflammatory soothing effect too. Keep them chilly before putting them on.
Antihistamines
If you struggle with seasonal allergies, this can make a huge difference. Talk to your doctor or allergist about taking an antihistamine, or using special eye drops.
Preparation H
I’m not joking.
“Prep H causes blood vessels on muscle walls to constrict. This will give a slightly longer-lasting effect than putting cucumbers on your eyes but may be irritating for some people. I would only use this for special events,” says Annie Chiu, a dermatologist in North Redondo Beach, California.
Essential Oils
If you’re into essential oils, you’ll be happy to know there are several oils that combat under-eye puffiness and dark circles. Try mixing an essential oil with coconut oil and rubbing it under your eyes. Rose geranium, fennel, lavender, German chamomile and rosemary essential oil are hailed as the best essential oils for getting rid of under-eye bags.
PART II: Conceal It
Well, you will be happy to find the simplest way to conceal these nuisances. For a fastest, simplest and most effective way to conceal those eye bags, here are three simple steps that you must definitely follow:
Step 1. Prep
If you wish to flawlessly and naturally conceal your dark circles, you should prep your skin by hydrating and nourishing the skin surrounding the eyes. Use a hydrating and moisturizing face mask to achieve this. The first thing you have to do is to thoroughly clean your face the put on the face mask and leave it for about 10 minutes. If you fail to provide the eye area the moisture and nourishment it needs, you will end up with a cakey and creasy eye area upon application of the concealer.
This is done so that you can be able to seal in excess moisture that the mask has. After spraying, you can distribute the liquid in your face with the use of your hands or a tissue. You just have to ensure that your hands are completely clean.
To fully provide the eye area its much needed moisture, you can use an eye cream to seal it all in. Apply only a small amount then spread it by using your ring finger to dab it around the eyes. Lightly tap it so as to prevent rubbing the skin which would cause wrinkles in the long run. Through dabbing and tapping, you can improve the circulation of blood in your eyes.
Step 2. Conceal
Since your face is already well moisturized, the best form of concealer would be a dry one. To achieve the proper color, you would need two different concealer shades. First shade you need is the warmer color with red undertone. Second, you would also need a skin tone with yellow undertones. Use a brush to dab alternately between the different concealer shades. Apply the concealer only on the darkest area. Avoid stroking the brush, just dab. Avoid applying on the lash line.
After that, use a highlighter to add more texture to the eye area. The rationale behind using different textures is to fully imitate the texture of the natural skin. This will help you build depth, making it look more natural. Put highlighter in the side of your hand and use it as a palette. Apply highlighter into your dark circles with the use of a brush. Using this, you are free to apply into the entire eye area, even the lash line.
Step 3. Set
After all the concealing, you can now finish everything with the use of a thermal spray. This step allows the effects of make up to last for the whole day.
Now that you have a smooth and skin surface, you can now apply the rest of the make up and kiss those dark circles goodbye!
More Lifestyle Tips to Help
- Diet: AVOID SALT. Salt (sodium/ processed foods) & alcohol cause water retention. Try lowering your intake of those that and see what happens. Drink plenty of water and try more anti-inflammatory foods.
- Sleep: Yes, you should be getting lots of it, but also keeping your head a little more elevated as opposed to sleeping flat will help fluid retention.