The key to reducing dark circles is having good habits

Stress, anxiety, lack of rest. Recently, your body has experienced so many changes and emotions that it may have never been exposed to before, and this is reflected in your skin. Specifically, how to reduce dark circles has become a common concern, particularly among women who had never experienced them before and who, suddenly, have seen them appear underneath their eyes.

Dark, reddened, acute, with defined circles or without them. There are many different types of dark circles, and knowing which you are suffering from is the first step in reducing them. These differences can mainly be attributed to your diet, lack of sleep, rest or genetics, with each cause generating a different type of dark circle. What's more, the concern and stress brought about by lockdown measures have contributed to making their appearance all the more severe. Now’s the time to get rid of them for good.

What Cause dark circles?

You’ll have noticed that the skin around your eyes is much thinner that the rest of your face and, as goes without saying, the rest of your body. In fact, the skin in the area around your eyes is up to ten times thinner, meaning it is more delicate and requires more specific care to keep it in perfect condition.

In your attempts to care for your skin properly, sometimes dark circles and puffiness can appear, leading you to wonder how you can get rid of them. To this end, you first need to know the difference between one and the other:

Dark circles are changes in the colour of the skin around your eyes and are caused by different factors, including the excessive production of melanin and dilation in the blood vessels closest to the surface. Over the years, your skin gets thinner, meaning that dark circles are most noticeable in older people.

Puffiness appears beneath the eyes and may or may not be accompanied by dark circles. This is caused by the loss in muscle tone in the area, resulting in the skin sagging. Some women experience puffiness on account of water retention and in these cases, they only appear first thing in the morning.

Now that you know the difference, it’s time to explain the different factors that contribute to their appearance. We’ll have a look at reducing dark circles a little later.

• Lack of rest: the most common reason can sometimes be triggered by stress or anxiety.
• Stress and anxiety, of even feeling sad, are moods that increase tension in your body and this is reflected in your face.
• Genetics, particularly in people with darker skin.
• Alcohol and tobacco consumption.
• An unbalanced or unhealthy diet.
• A sedentary lifestyle.
• Skin disorders like atopic dermatitis, allergies, eczema, vascular problems, conjunctivitis, and even hormonal alterations.

How to reduce dark circles using the right eye contour

It’s easy to think that reducing dark circles and puffiness is an impossible mission, but with the right products and treatments, it is not quite as complicated as you think. If you are suffering from dark circles, it is more than likely that the skin around your eyes is just in need of extra hydration and protection. Have you considered that the eye contour cream you are using might not be right for you?

A hydrating eye contour cream might be the first step in answering your question about reducing dark circles and decreasing their appearance. The skin in this area will feel nourished, in particular if it is sensitive or irritated in some way, and will gradually recover the texture and luminosity you would expect from it. CeraVe eye repair cream contains a mineral and botanical complex that helps with this, reducing the appearance of dark circles. What’s more, as its formula is based on three ceramides, it protects your skin’s natural barrier and strengthens it in particular in this area, which is much more delicate. If you suffer from sensitive skin, it comes specially recommended for you, as its formula is smooth and is perfume-free, meaning it is much more respectful of your skin.

Ideally, you should complement the action of eye contour cream with other habits that respond to your question of how to decrease dark circles:

• Get enough rest, between seven and eight hours of sleep per day, so that tiredness doesn’t take its toll.
• Avoid stressful situations, even though this can sometimes be inevitable, to prevent early ageing. What’s more, remember that your skin is a reflection of your mood.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle and follow a balanced diet to make sure your skin gets the nutrients it needs and keep it healthy.
• Follow a daily skin care routine, keeping your skin clean and using products that provide deep nourishment.
• Avoid consuming alcohol and tobacco.
• Take care with exposure to the sun and especially with delicate skin, using sunscreen and wearing sunglasses.

Now that you know how to reduce dark circles, you’ll have no excuses: pamper your skin with the nutrition and protection it requires every day to keep the area around your eyes looking perfect.