Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
Home remedies by Sheetal Rawal
Even though everybody should be getting a good night’s sleep, many people fail to do so because of poor nutrition and our hectic lives. There are ways to mitigate a lack of sleep; such examples include drinking a morning cup of joe and taking a long shower. However, it is difficult to eliminate those dark circles and puffy eyes. You may not seem tired, but those eyes tell the whole world that you are. There are ways to cover them up, but sometimes makeup just isn’t enough. Plus, I think people may be a little suspicious if you started wearing shades to the office one too many times.
Besides genetics and malnutrition, stress and a lack of sleep can play a significant role in eye area issues like dark circles and puffy eyes. More often, we can relax and get a good night’s sleep during the weekend, but we need help to deal with those puffy eyes and dark circles during the weekday. Did you know that banana, coffee, and cucumber are three natural ingredients that can effectively do that do that? These three ingredients help reduce that puffiness and brighten up your eye area, making you look more alert to everyone you see. Puffy eyes and dark circles do take time to heal, but as long as you are consistent with these remedies, you will gradually see results.
Now, don’t mind us. While you read on to learn what these remedies are, we’ll be over here catching up on some Z’s.
1. Banana & Turmeric Eye Mask for Dark Circles & Crow’s Feet
This remedy can brighten your eye area because it is overflowing with antioxidants. With bananas, there are antioxidants in the fruit and in the peel. Meanwhile, turmeric - well known for its color-balancing properties - is a highly respected antioxidant in Ayurveda
because of the compound curcumin. These antioxidants work well together to decrease the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes.
Ingredients
1 tsp. of mashed banana
1 tsp. of corn or oat flour
⅛ tsp. of turmeric powder
Brewed green tea, as needed
1 banana peel, 2 pieces
Method
Mix banana, flour, and turmeric in a bowl. Add enough green tea to the mixture until you get the consistency of ketchup.
Apply the mixture onto the banana peel pieces and put those over your eyes.
Leave it on for 10 to 12 minutes. Wash off with warm water.
Follow with your serum and lotion.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
2. Cucumber Juice & Vegetable Glycerin for Puffy Eyes
The presence of ascorbic acid (also known as Vitamin C) and caffeic acid calms the skin and helps reduce water retention around the eyes. It is also rich in astringent properties that can naturally tighten sagging skin. Cucumber’s soothing and cooling properties ease any irritation caused by puffiness. Moreover, vegetable glycerin can ensure your eye area is well-moisturized because it is a humectant. If your skin is hydrated, it looks less pigmented.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of cucumber juice
5 drops of vegetable glycerin
Method
Mix ingredients together in a bowl. Dab mixture on with a cotton ball.
Leave it on for 15 minutes.
Follow with your serum and lotion.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
“Before I started using Apsara, my acne was pretty bad, but then over the course of a year’s time, my acne has slowly started reducing, and it’s almost gone now.”
3. Banana & Coffee Mask to Reduce Eye Puffiness
In addition to the antioxidants in bananas, they also contain vital nutrients that are wonderful for your skin, for example, lutein. In particular, they are a rich source of potassium, which is believed to diminish inflammation around the eyes.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of mashed banana
5 drops of Vitamin E oil
Cool, brewed coffee, as needed
Method
Mix banana and Vitamin E oil in a bowl. Add enough coffee to the mixture until you get the consistency of ketchup.
Gently massage your eye area for 5 minutes. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your serum and lotion.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
4. Coffee & Peanut Butter Eye Mask for Dark Circles
People drink coffee to get an extra burst of energy in the morning, but did you know that coffee can make your eyes more alert too? The caffeine in coffee tightens the skin and the blood vessels underneath it, which decreases puffiness and brightens the eye area. Like bananas, peanut butter is a good source of potassium that also helps with reducing inflammation caused by puffy eyes.
Ingredients
1 tsp. of smooth peanut butter
¼ tsp. of turmeric powder
Cool brewed coffee, as needed
Method
Mix peanut butter and turmeric in a bowl. Add enough coffee to the mixture until you get the consistency of ketchup.
Gently massage along your eye area for 5 minutes. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your serum and lotion.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
In this video, you will learn how to make an eye sheet mask that fades dark circles and tightens up your eye area. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel.