Under Eye Bags and Dark Circles.

Noticing bags or dark circles under your eyes? Well do not fear you're not alone.And the good new,  there are fixes for under-eye flaws.

 The first step is figuring out just what the problem is.

Morning-After Puffy Eyes

These can be caused by many things but not limited to seasonal allergies, a cold, a sinus infection,  These are some of the things that can lead to water building up under the eye, the most common cause of puffy eyes. This is because we have the thinnest skin around our eyes, so it tends to be the most effected by the in and out flow of fluids.

For Example if you eat alot of salty food or if your anything like me and have a night of crying while watching a tear jerker movie these can also cause morning after puffyness no matter how much sleep you have. The reason is Water travels from the areas within the body where there is a low salt concentration straight to the tissues where there is more salt. As silly as it may sound this is true regardless of whether the salt comes from tears or soy sauce.

Simple Fixes for Under-Eye Bags

Addressing the underlying cause will help treat these eruptions of puffiness.

Here are steps to try:

• Treat hay fever, if that's the problem. There are non-sedating, over-the-counter allergy meds  that may help. If you have or suspect hay fever, talk with your doctor about how to treat it (whether or not it's affecting your eyes' appearance).
• Try a neti pot. Irrigating the nasal cavity with a neti pot -- a device that looks like a small teapot -- can help relieve fluid buildup caused by allergies, sinus congestion, or a cold.
• Switch your sleep position. Your sleep position may be contributing to under-eye bags. Thanks to gravity, sleeping on your side or stomach can encourage fluids to collect under your eyes. If you're a side sleeper, you may notice a heavier bag on the side you sleep on.  If you  wake up with puffy eyes try sleeping on your back and add an extra pillow under your head.

It may sound funny but some of our  everyday habits, including rubbing your eyes frequently, going to bed with makeup on, and excessive drinking, can contribute to under-eye bags, too. Sleeping in eye makeup can irritate your eyes, causing fluids to pool. Heavy alcohol drinking causes dehydration,  that weakens the delicate skin around the eyes, making it more likely to sink into a pouch.

Dark Circles

When dark shadows or bags linger, the cause typically is not something temporary, like a few too many cocktails. It might be something you've inherited. Pigmentary issues that cause under-eye discoloration are common more so among people of Asian or African descent. Age also contributes to dark circles. With age, the skin around the eye thins, exposing the tiny blood vessels that lie just below.

Still, you can do something about it.

Did you know that if you pull the skin sideways and the darkness turns blotchy, that's evidence the problem is caused by excess pigment in the area.

Most often, dark circles aren't about changes in the color of the skin at all. Instead, they're created by a loss of volume in the area around the eye. That exposes the orbital bone, creating a hollow trough that shows up as a dark circle. With the delicate eye area one of the first spots to reveal signs of aging, this can happen as early as the late 30s or 40s.

A good concealer, my personal favorites are from Maybelline and are their 

Dream Lumitouch highlighting concealer and their Instant Age Rewind concealer. Some tips on choosing the right concealer and how to apply it. 

For discoloration, choose a concealer that is tinted green or yellow; these will counteract red and dark spots on your skin. For scars or under eye circles, use a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone.

Cover up your under eye circles. Use a concealer brush or your fingertips (the former is more sanitary) to dab concealer under your eyes. Start from the inside corner at the bridge of your nose and go to the opposite corner at your outer lash line. Blend the concealer in around the edges, so that there is not an obvious change in tone between your skin and the concealer.

• Never rub the concealer in around your eyes, as the skin here is damaged very easily. Simply pat or dab the concealer with the tips of your finger or brush in order to blend it.
• Work the concealer up on the inside of your nose if your eyes are deep-set. This area is often neglected by concealer application, and will leave you still looking sleepy.
• Be sure to apply your concealer all the way to the very base of your lash line, directly under your waterline.  

And dont forget to set your concealer with a powder before doing anything else. 

Prevention and Quick Fixes

Here are four things you can do -- without surgery -- to help keep your eyes looking youthful.

1. Don't smoke, and always apply a sunscreen around the eye area. Smoking and exposure to UV rays both weaken collagen and cause premature wrinkling and sagging.
2. Apply a moisturizer to the eye area nightly. You don't need to spend a lot, Almost any drugstore moisturizer will provide the hydration you need.
3. Add a prescription retinoic acid -- a vitamin A cream -- to your daily skin care regimen. It's the single best thing you can use to prevent wrinkles and improve existing lines.
4. To calm puffy eyes, place cold spoons, slices of cucumbers, chilled tea bags, or even a package of frozen peas under your eyes. The cool temperatures -- rather than any special properties of cucumbers or peas -- reduce swelling. And, yes, placing a hemorroid  cream under your eyes might help get rid of puffs too. I know people who swear by it.

Some home remedies can be used to minimise dark circles, brighten the eyes and reduce fatigue:

- Cucumber juice is a common remedy. It should be applied daily around eyes and washed off with plain water after 15 minutes.

- Mixing potato juice with cucumber juice in equal quantities helps if there is puffiness along with dark circles. Follow the same procedure.

- Dark circles can also be treated by mixing cucumber juice with lemon juice in equal quantities. Apply daily and wash off with water after 15 minutes.

- Tomato juice is also said to lighten skin colour.

- Consult your doctor about daily exercises. Include deep breathing exercises in your exercise schedule. This helps to deal with stress and also oxygenates the body.

- Along with external care and a healthy lifestyle, take time off for relaxation, using eye pads. Take cotton wool and make two thick square pads. They can be soaked in cucumber juice or rose water. Lie down, close your eyes and put the soaked pads on them. Keep them on for about 15 minutes. Used tea bags can also be used as eye pads.

- Applying a compress of iced water or cold milk directly over closed lids for 15 to 20 minutes also helps.

Well I think that is all I can think of, do you have any useful hints ant tips or favorite products to help with these common problems please do let me know in the comment. 

I am off to watch this weeks Sons of Anarchy. Stay beautiful and dont forget to Sparkle. 

Vikkie