Our delicate eye area is one of the first areas of the face to show signs of stress, irritation and ageing. The muscles and skin around the eye area are constantly in use, responsible for continually changing facial expressions along with squinting and blinking thousands of times per day. The skin around our eyes is also the thinnest of all areas of the face, making it more prone to dehydration and irritation.
While some of you may reach for an eye cream to defend against eye bags and dark circles, it’s important to remember that beauty is holistic and skin health should be viewed from inside and out. Let’s take a closer look at some common causes of puffy, dark under eyes and how you can reduce contributing factors from the inside out.
WHAT CAUSES PUFFY EYES AND DARK CIRCLES?
Puffiness under the eyes is common as we age thanks to the weakening of the tissue and muscles around the eyes. Dark Circles also become more prevalent as we age and for some of us can be passed down through our genes (thanks mum and dad!).
In addition to ageing and genetics, there are a number of other factors that can contribute to those pesky bags and dark circles under your eyes, and determining causes can often lead to solutions that will help reduce their severity.
Fluid Retention
If you love extra salt on your food, I have bad news for you! Too much salt in your diet can cause fluid retention and this excess water shows through puffiness in the body, often most obviously in the under eye area. If you’ve over-indulged in salty meals it’s likely you’ll wake up the next morning with puffy under eyes. To reduce any swelling, try cutting salt out of your diet or at least limit intake for a couple of days while drinking extra water to help flush the sodium out of your system.
Lack of Sleep
Many studies have shown that not getting enough beauty sleep can significantly contribute to under-eye swelling and dark circles under the eyes. Sleep is so important for our overall skin health as it gives our skin a chance to repair and rejuvenate while we get some shut eye. Regularly missing out on the recommended 7-9 hours sleep per night can weaken the muscles around your eyes and contribute to a breakdown in collagen production which we all need to keep our skin plump and firm.
Allergies
Allergies are a common cause of swelling around the eye area and can lead to additional eye discomfort such as redness and itchiness if not treated straight away. Common eye allergies can include different types of pollen, dust, animals, fragrance and mould. When your skin comes into contact with an allergen, our protective mast cells produce histamine to fight the allergens. If you have allergies that cause eye puffiness or irritation it’s best to avoid the cause where possible and carry an antihistamine that is recommended for you to settle any flare ups as quickly as possible.
Poor Lifestyle Choices
Not enough sleep or too much sleep can lead to tired, dull skin. Fatigue can also cause the blood vessels around the eye to dilate, resulting in the fine tissue underneath the eye to appear darker that usual. Under eye bags can also cause shadows that create dark rings underneath the under eye swelling. So, if you want to minimise swelling and dark circles, commit to the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep every night! In addition to more rest, increasing water intake and healthy food choices, along with a suitable skincare routine can assist with revitalising tired eyes.
Skin Tone & Sun Exposure
People with darker skin tones can be more prone to pigmentation, leading to dark spots or more noticeable circles around the under eye area. Too much sun or lack of sun protection can also lead to sun damage and an increase in melanin production around the eye area. Slip, slop and slap everyday to prevent under eye damage and discolouration.
EYE PRODUCTS TO DE-PUFF AND BRIGHTEN THE UNDER EYE
The skin around our eyes, also known as the periocular area, is up to 10 times thinner than the surrounding areas of the face. This area of the face is also lacking oil glands, making it more susceptible to dryness and irritation. When you combine these factors with a decline in collagen and elastin production, you can see why it’s so important to have a dedicated eye care routine using products designed to support this highly used, delicate area.
Dark circles and puffiness is a common problem. As mentioned above, lack of sleep, poor nutrition and not enough water intake can all contribute to dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. If you’re taking care of yourself through diet and lifestyle, that’s great! But it’s also important to ensure you’re using suitable skincare products to support the delicate eye area to prevent premature ageing.
LAMAV’s Anti-Dark Circle Eye Gel instantly soothes puffy, tired eyes and will help to diminish dark circles with regular use. It instantly hydrates and brightens, leaving you with a fresh, youthful glow. This Eye Gel contains natural, potent bio-actives to deliver instant and long term benefits:
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that promotes visibly brighter and evenly-toned skin by protecting the skin from oxidative stress. It brightens the under eye, while reducing hyperpigmentation and supports collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Kakadu Plum has the highest concentration of nutrient-available vitamin C of any fruit in the world. This antioxidant powerhouse fights off free radicals and assists to reduce the signs of ageing.
Derived from seaweed, Chorella Vulgaris is a microalgae rich in amino acids. It supports collagen production and preserves elastin to keep skin under the eyes smooth and firm. This powerful nutrient assists with skin restructuring while correcting and reducing pigmentation and dark circles around the eye area.
Rumex Extract (a natural plant extract) is used to treat hyperpigmentation by inhibiting the enzyme (tyrosinase) which causes the development of pigmentation in skin. The result is a more even-toned under eye area.
Licorice Root Extract is known as nature’s skin brightener, as it contains compounds to lighten the skin and reduce the signs of pigmentation. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties to help improve skin healing and reduce puffiness.
Use LAMAV’s Anti-Dark Circle Eye Gel twice daily after cleansing, applying serums and prior to moisturising. Dispense one pump and use your ring finger to delicately pat the gel from inner to outer under eye area.
DE-PUFF UNDER EYES WITH THESE MUST HAVE BEAUTY TOOLS
Including LAMAV’s Quartz Gua Sha & Facial Roller skincare tools in your daily eye-care routine will particularly benefit the under eye area as they gently massage the skin, stimulating lymphatic drainage and encouraging collagen production while reducing inflammation and smoothing puffy under eyes.
Use of LAMAV’s Gua Sha and Facial Roller after applying your eye cream will also enhance your skin’s ability to absorb and utilise the bio-actives in your skincare!
For a soothing AM eye treatment, place LAMAV’s facial roller in a hygienic bag in the refrigerator while you shower. After skincare application use the small roller to gently glide over LAMAV’s Anti-Dark Circle Eye Gel from inner to outer under eye. You’ll stimulate blood flow while encouraging lymphatic drainage, say bye bye to morning under eye bags!
