Light up your eyes

Tired of looking haggard with those dark under eye circles? It’s one of the most common cosmetic complaints affecting nine out of ten people. But fret not. Here’s how you can bring out the brightness in your eyes.

Why the darkness?
You could be born with a sharp nose (high nose bridge) and deep-set eyes so naturally your eye circles appear dark. You will need plastic surgery to flatten the nose bridge, and push up the eye sockets to make the dark circles disappear. Some people are born to have genuine dark circles. They would need a lighter shade of foundation to conceal them.

Some suffer from insomnia — lack of adequate rest and sleep. Medical/psychiatric treatment has to be sought to treat the insomnia. Once this person gets to sleep normally, his/her dark circles will automatically go. People who burn the midnight oil overstress their eye muscles. They should avoid staying up too late.
Pigmentation after childbirth or due to side effects of some drugs could be a cause of dark circles, as these hyper-pigmentation marks around the eye area appear like dark circles. It is a problem with hormonal imbalance, and requires medical treatment. At times the body’s hormonal system can get back to normal on its own, and the dark circles gradually disappear.

Eye massage will also help to improve conditions (unless you have a high nose bridge) by stimulating blood circulation.

Make up cure
In the mean time stop piling on the make-up. Too much can actually make matters worse. Instead, apply the correct concealer after foundation rather than before. This way you can place it exactly where you need it. Try using a fine brush to apply the concealer. You’ll find you use less and it looks much more natural, not heavy.

Use a moisturising, light reflecting under eye concealer. Or go for a demi-matte concealer in a shade close to your skin tone. Too light a colour will look ashy and obvious.

For the best result, tip your head forward and look up into a mirror — this will really highlight the dark circles. Now apply the concealer and blend.

When you put your head up the dark circles will have disappeared.

Protect your peepers

* Always wear sun glasses before going out. Sun exposure speeds up the ageing process and leaves the delicate under eye skin dry.
* Massage dark circles with cold cream for 15 minutes before going to bed.
* Apply a paste of turmeric powder and pineapple juice under your eyes.
* Dip cotton balls in rose water or chilled water and keep it over the darker areas for 10 minutes.
* Almond oil is excellent skin food. Massage under and around the eyes daily for two weeks.
* Apply a paste of powdered almonds and milk under the eyes. Slurp this juice to get rid of those tainted circles.
* Drink tomato juice with some mint leaves, lemon juice and salt. Tomato contains lycopene, an antioxidant.
* Apply a paste of fenugreek mixed in milk on the dark circles at night. Wash off in the morning and watch dark circles vanish for good.
* Close your eyes and cover your eyelids with slices of raw potato or cucumber for 15-20 minutes. Wash with warm water and apply cream. Potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase, which is used in cosmetics as a skin lightener.
* Apply lemon juice on the dark circles two times a day.
* Apply crushed mint around the eye to freshen and brighten your eyes.
* Drink at least ten glasses of water everyday.