Dark under-eye circles and puffiness are no doubt, distressing for Black women and men, especially since they’re impossible to ignore and their appearance can immediately age you.

First, a little knowledge is power. It’s necessary to understand the causes and the most effective ways to treat them. Also known as periorbital, be mindful that dark circles and puffy eyes could be attributed to several factors. It may be caused by medical issues or it can be age, heredity or even a genetic trait, as African American skin is more also prone to hyper-pigmentation (the darkening of areas of the skin caused by too much melanin being produced in the body).

So, we’ve given you 9 do’s below, for doing away with them!

1. DO understand it takes more than enough sleep. Raising your head by doubling up on pillows can prevent blood from building up under your eyes. Adjusting your sleeping position to improve circulation (try on your back) can help too.

2. DO be conscious of habits. Rubbing our eyes excessively if they are irritated can negatively affect the already fragile skin and cause even more discoloring.  The consumption of too much alcohol and salty foods can also contribute to the body retaining water, resulting in puffiness.

3. DO partake in a diet rich in antioxidants and vitamin K. Overall, a good diet that’s high vitamin K – found in leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli and collards, along with other generally healthier food choices – can potentially work towards eliminating your under-eye bags and dark circles. These nutrients help with  circulation and blood coagulation.

4. DO drink plenty of water to reduce puffiness. Whatever you eat, make sure to wash it down with lots of water every day to eliminate dehydration, so your body won’t have the urge to hold on to fluids that cause your eyes to puff up.

5. DO cool them off with a compress. The  application of a cold compress on your eyes for 5 to 15 minutes aids in constricting blood vessels – especially in the morning. Eyes love wet tea bags, cotton balls soaked with cold milk and rosewater, face cloths or cucumber slices. Tannin and natural chemicals found in the tea bags have astringent properties which constrict body tissue, leaving eyes looking more well-rested. Rosewater’s several healing properties include the restoration of PH balance in the skin to lower hyper-pigmentation. Cucumbers’ anti-inflammatory properties help to soothe irritated skin. Relax!

6. DO consider lymphatic massage using tools such as a jade roller. This is an ancient Chinese skincare tool used to rev up circulation, lymphatic drainage, the skin’s elasticity and to reduce puffiness in the eye area. Lymphatic massage is said to aid in the production of collagen and with sinus problems, the drainage of lymph nodes and detoxification.

7. DO get a high quality eye serum. The prepared product you use should address the special needs of the eye zone. Your under eye area is typically prone to visible signs of fatigue as well as aging including fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and moisture loss. You want a product that will revitalize the sensitive eye area with natural ingredients like seabuckthorn. Seabuckthorn promotes cell tissue regeneration, aiding in the healing of wounds and restoring skin tissue. The constant rubbing of your eyes can cause friction and traumatized skin in need of cell regeneration.

8. DO be effective with your cosmetic cover ups. A creamy concealer matching your skin tone after applying your eye cream, followed by loose powder can do the trick. A cosmetic base with yellow tones could also counteract the blues in your skin.

9. DO see the doctor with no improvement. A medical professional can determine if  your dark circles and puffiness come from an allergy, changes in hormones, B12 deficiency, poor circulation or something more serious like an under active thyroid or kidney problems.

Taking a few minutes to soothe your eyes will not only help you look younger and refreshed, but force you to take a well-deserved timeout for just you.

As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care