How to Make Under-Eye Circles and Puffiness Disappear!

You wake up one morning to find that two dark, unattractive under-eye circles have spontaneously appeared on your face. Maybe you stayed up too late, maybe you stayed out in the sun too long, and maybe you didn't do anything at all. The exact cause of under-eye circles is unclear, but there's a lot you can do to hide them. Here is the regimen for anyone wishing to reduce and disguise under-eye circles:

Be Mentally and Physically Healthy
Dark under-eye circles are often signs of bad health, bad sleep hygiene, and depression. Basically, make sure you take care of yourself- exercise regularly and eat fruits and vegetables, and practice good emotional health practices.

Don't Smoke!
It's a well-known fact that smoking causes lung cancer and other devastating conditions, but not many people realize what smoking does to your skin, and primarily, your facial skin. Think of the smoker's you know- do they look young and beautiful? Is there skin glowing? Probably not. This is because smoking prematurely ages your skin, promoting deep wrinkles, dry skin, and yes, under-eye puffiness and coloration. If you need help quitting, check out Smokefree.gov

Moisturize
Under-eye circles can be worsened by dry skin, so keep your under-eye area with a higher quality vitamin-K facial lotion. Vitamin-K discourages accumulation of blood in areas close to the skin (i.e. bruising), and many scientists say the vitamin also improves under eye blemishes. Dove and Eucerin brands both carry lotions containing Vitamin K.

Get Plenty of Sleep, But Not Too Much
Both being tired and having too much rest can make under eye circles appear darker. Get a good night's sleep (7-8 hours for most adults), but don't get more than 10 or 11 hours of shuteye.

Protect Your Face from Sun Damage
Excessive sun exposure can burst tiny blood vessels in your face, causing broken capillaries, spider veins, dilated veins, and even darker under-eye circles. Use a facial lotion with at least SPF 15 daily to combat this cause of under-eye spots.

Find a Great Cover-Up
Okay, so now you've done all you can to lessen your under-eye circles, but you still need a way to hide the remaining dark coloration. Don't try to decide on which under-eye cover-up looks the best on you; instead, have a free makeup consult at Sephora, The Body Shop, Ulta, or any other reliable makeup store. Follow your consultant's advice, and your under eye circles will be practically invisible.

These tips helped me successfully manage and hide my under-eye circles after long nights of studying and long days in the sun; I hope they help you, too. Good Luck!