DARK CIRCLES UNDER THE EYES
Are dark circles your major concern when focusing on the eye area? There are many factors here to consider when dealing with this problem. The main reason dark circles appear in the first place is that the skin around the eyes is extra thin. It's one of the thinnest areas on your body. This becomes more prominent as we age because skin cell rejuvenation slows down. If repair can't catch up by creating enough collagen and elastin and keratinocytes we end up with even thinner skin. The thinner skin means you can see the delicate blood vessels underneath. This creates a blueish or reddish hue to the area underneath the eyes.
To make matters worse these tiny veins become more permeable. That means that blood can leak out of the capillaries and pool in the area, exacerbating the problem. Age-related hormone changes (like a drop in estrogen during menopause) often results in thinner skin under the eyes, so circles appear darker or redder.
Dark circles don't always result from health issues, Genetics also plays a role. A primary cause has been found to be heredity. Not only that you might have inherited thinner skin but you may also have inherited pigmentation that settles in this area. Or, you may have inherited deep set eyes that creates shadows under the eyes. genetic information someone inherited from their parents may cause the skin beneath the eyes to be darker than the surrounding skin. If your parents or siblings have darker skin beneath their eyes, it is more likely that you will have them too.
Life style factors that worsen dark circles:
LACK OF SLEEP Not getting enough sleep is one of the most common causes of dark circles under your eyes. When an individual does not sleep enough, it creates vasodilatation and increased blood flow. When the vessels under the eyes dilate, it creates the dark bluish color under the eyes. Sleep issues are major contributing factors to those dark circles. Sleep deprivation can cause the periorbital area to become thinner and thus show the blood vessels under your skin. Also the eyelids can become puffy with lack of sleep. This too can create a shadow under the eyes.
SMOKING Dark circles may result from the stasis of blood vessels. That is when blood flow slows down and pools in one area. This is caused by a mixture of lifestyle factors which include smoking, getting too much sunlight, or spending long periods of time staring at screens.
FOOD ALLERGIES The most common culprits are gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn, peanuts, and nuts. These "allergy shiners" as they are often called by dermatologists, cause dark under eye circles. You may be sensitive or allergic to something you aren't even aware of. So when your under eyes darken try to remember what you've eaten lately.
ARE THERE INGREDIENTS THAT HELP MINIMIZE DARK CIRCLES?
Annoyingly, as with most persistent skin concerns, dark circles aren’t exactly easy to get rid of. Here's a list for your consideration of what can be most helpful:
DAILY SUNSCREEN USE
This helps to prevent overproduction of the pigment caused by the sun which affects many people even more so in the eye area. If you have dark circles make sure you consistently wear sun glasses as well. Many offer UV protection which is important when you're in a sun situation. Sunscreen also helps prevent excessive skin thinning - a hallmark of sun damage.
RETINOL
Nightly use of a gentle retinol, when used around the eyes, helps reprogram the cells back to a state of homeostasis. That means a return to functioning at their best. This helps strengthen the tissue. Retinol also has a mild exfoliating effect to smooth the area.
VITAMIN K
In general Vitamin K helps with wound healing. In eye creams it's there to brighten the under-eye area. It does this by repairing capillary permeability (leakage) that contributes to dark circles. This is why Vitamin K creams work so well on bruises. Vitamin K can be found in our Eyelift Brightening Cream.
CUCUMBERS
Cucumbers? Yes cucumber slices! It's not just some old wives tale. Cucumbers contain Vitamin K as well as anti-inflammatory and hydrating ingredients.. Daily use of fresh cucumber slices can help improve capillary permeability, thus reducing circles under the eyes due to leaky blood vessels. They also help hydrate and sooth this area when applied cold from the fridge.
NIACINIMIDE
Niacinamide has been shown to help reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes by inhibiting melanin (pigment) production thus reducing hyperpigmentation. Additionally, niacinamide can help strengthen the skin's barrier function and improve circulation, which may contribute to a brighter and more even-toned under-eye area over time. Niacinamide is one of the performance ingredients found in Regenerize Longevity Eye Serum.
HESPERIDIN METHYL CHALCONE
If you're one of those that say, "If you can’t pronounce an ingredient name you shouldn’t put it on your face". You should know that Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone (HMC), may be a mouthful but it's actually a natural ingredient derived from citrus fruits and other plants. The HMC found in plants helps protect them from environmental stressors. In skin, its a type of flavonoid that decreases capillary permeability, thus reducing redness from capillaries under the eyes. Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone is one of the performance ingredients found in Anti-Puff Gelle and is recommended for morning use.
VITAMIN C Your Vitamin C serum is more than an antioxidant, and collagen stimulator. Vitamin C also has a brightening effect that can lighten the area under your eyes if the problem is pigmentation. When a gentle and stabilized version of Vitamin C is used daily it's one of the best tools in your medicine cabinet to keeps your skin looking youthful and bright. Vitamin C esters can be used around the eye area without irritation.
Even though you can never completely eliminate dark circles, you can help lighten their appearance with a great serums and eye creams. Because there are so many factors you might opt for a good concealer in the mean time to hide the darkness.
Elizabeth believes in "Longevity Skincare", the idea that beautiful skin can endure throughout one's lifetime when utilizing the best that science and nature has to offer. LONGEVITY is a science - based skincare line that appreciates skin of all ages. LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee provides hydration, nutrition and protection from environmental aging. Your skin will receive high performance ingredients to help energize and repair its cells, resulting in a healthy skin with an enduring, vital glow.