How To Get Rid Of Dark Circles & Under Eye Bags At Home

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Natural Remedies For Dark Circles And Under-Eye Bags Using Items You Already Have At Home

When we’re anxious and full of worry, our bodies can often suffer the consequences. We may struggle with an inability to get adequate sleep and consequently experience less motivation to exercise, feel fatigued and even be prone to skin breakouts… the list goes on and on. One side effect that many people may deal with due to these cumulative issues is dark circles and under-eye bags.

Darkness and puffiness around the eyes are extremely common beauty concerns. As a beauty blogger, I’m always looking for new, effective home remedies to solve problems like this. Luckily, there are many natural ways to reduce dark circles right at home, without purchasing expensive products or visiting a beauty salon.

So, without further adieu, here are a few home remedies for dark eye circles using items that you (probably) already have lying around your house.

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Home Remedy #1: Ice

Using ice or a cold compress is one of the most effect, time-proven home remedies for dark circles around eyes as well as bagginess and puffiness. Why? Similar to icing an injury, using a cold compress on tired eyes can reduce inflammation and discoloration.

What To Do:

Gently apply a cold compress to the entire eye area for about 10 minutes. This can be done in the morning and/or at night for quick, effective results. Even just a few minutes of using a compress before leaving the house or applying makeup can make a huge difference. It’s also extremely relaxing!

What To Use:

• Bag of frozen vegetables (peas, corn, etc.)
• A metal spoon (put in the freezer for about an hour prior to use)
• Ice packs used for minor injuries
• A plastic baggie filled with ice cubes or snow
• A wet towel (put in the freezer for about an hour prior to use)
• Dry bag of rice or other grains
• Eye/face masks (refrigerate prior to use if possible)

Safety Tip: If using any items from the freezer as a home remedy for dark eye circles, be sure to wrap them in a clean towel to avoid any irritation to your skin.

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Home Remedy #2: Food & Drink

We’ve all seen the classic scene in a movie or TV show showing a woman at the spa with cucumbers on her eyes. But does this actually do anything? The answer is YES! There are many foods and drinks that contain nutrients that are not only good for our diets but have benefits when applied directly to the skin. Here are some ways to use food and drink as home remedies for removing dark circles under eyes fast.

What To Do:

Depending on the type of food you choose to use, you’ll want to prepare it in a way that releases the maximum amount of nutrients onto your skin and apply around your eye area for 10-15 minutes. This can be repeated a couple of times per week. Be sure to clean foods thoroughly before using them as home remedies for dark circles and dispose of them afterward.

What To Use:

• Cucumbers: Because cucumbers are very high in water content, they provide essential moisture to hydrate around your eyes, giving them a refreshed, healthy look. They also contain Vitamin K which helps reduce inflammation and dark circles.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes contain high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that treats and prevents damage to the skin. Cut into slices or blend into a juice and apply around the eye area.
• Lemon or Orange Juice: Vitamin C is one of the main ingredients in many high-end skincare products because of its refreshing, skin-lightening properties. Both lemon and orange juices are very high in Vitamin C – just be sure not to get the juice in your eyes!
• Potatoes: Like lemon juice, potatoes are also very high in Vitamin C. Blending or grating the potatoes will release their juices, which you can then apply directly on your skin or using a soaked cotton ball.
• Milk: Milk contains Vitamin A and retinoids, which are common ingredients in anti-aging skincare products. Soaking a cotton ball in cold milk and applying around the eye area will brighten and rejuvenate dark circles.
• Tea: Many types of tea are filled with antioxidants, which can help remedy inflammation. I recommend putting wet black or mint tea bags in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before applying directly to the eye area.

Safety Tip: Be sure to do a small spot test before you go all in with these home remedies for dark circles. Everyone’s skin is different and you may have adverse reactions. Also, make sure you’re only applying to the area AROUND your eye. Don’t get too close to your eyes; avoid getting any foreign substance in your eye, especially acidic foods like tomatoes and lemon juice (ouch)!

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Home Remedy #3: Facial Massage (Kari’s Fave)

If you don’t have any of the above items, there are some tools and massage techniques that work very well to quickly get rid of dark circles and under eye bags at home.

What To Do:

Gently massaging around your eye area can have huge benefits, is super-relaxing, and can be done every day in the comfort of your own home. Whether you are using a gentle tool or your fingers, be sure to use skincare lubricant to avoid pulling your skin (this can cause wrinkles). Coconut oil and Vitamin A/C/E oils or products designed for your eyes work well and can have anti-aging, anti-inflammatory effects.

What To Use

• Electric Eye Massager: Gentle vibrations from these devices can stimulate blood flow to the area around your eyes, which will visibly diminish the presence of puffy bags or dark circles.
• Ice Rollers: Facial rollers or ice rollers are a great way to reduce inflammation around the eyes. Rose quartz and jade rollers have proven to have healing properties, especially when chilled and incorporated into your skincare routine.
• Eye Masks: Whether made of jade or synthetic materials, a cold eye mask placed over your eyes before a massage is a great way to reduce inflammation and increase the effectiveness of the massage.
• Hands & Fingers: Gently massaging around your eyes simply using your hands and fingers will not only boost blood flow, but can encourage lymphatic drainage. Be sure to use a skincare lubricant. You can watch a tutorial on how to do this here.

Safety Tip: Be very gentle when massaging the skin on your face. Skin is extremely sensitive, and massaging aggressively could lead to skin irritation. Plus, excessive pulling and rubbing of the skin can encourage wrinkles.

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Home Remedy #4: Lifestyle Tips

Here are some final tips to consider that can help both your eye health and your overall health:

• Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night.
• Avoid rubbing or irritating the area around your eyes.
• Moisturize at least twice a day.
• HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE!
• Sleep on your back, rather than on your side or stomach.
• Cleanse your face and remove makeup regularly and gently prior to going to sleep.
• Avoid overconsumption of alcohol, sugar and salt.

And…always be gentle with your eyes and skin!

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For more skincare tips, be sure to check out my post, “Winter Skincare Part 1: Morning Routine” and keep an eye out for Part 2, coming soon!

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